Cook’s notes: For a flaky, buttery biscuit, keep the ingredients cold and do not overwork the dough. Liquid measures are approximate, use more or less to achieve a barely moist dough that holds together, but is not wet or elastic.
Ingredients
Makes six 3½” biscuits.
- 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 cup (180 ml) cold buttermilk, plus more for the tops of the biscuits
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt until well combined. Add the in the cubed cold butter and cut into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter (you may also use a food processor for this step) until you have small pea sized pieces of butter. Pour the cold buttermilk into the mixture and gently work it together until the dough starts to come together.
Alternative method: add dry ingredients to food processor and pulse several times to combine. Add cold, cubed butter to food processor and pulse briefly several times, until butter is pea sized. Add buttermilk and pulse until just combined. Do not overwork the dough.
Scoop the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently work it together with your hands. Pat the dough into a rectangle and fold it in thirds. Turn the dough, gather any crumbs, and flatten back into a rectangle. Do not use a roller. Repeat this process two to four more times.
After the final turn, pat the dough into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle (make sure to measure!). Using a floured 3.5-inch biscuit cutter, cut out the biscuits. Continue to gather any scrap pieces of dough, patting it back down to 1/2-inch thickness.
Arrange the biscuits on the baking sheet touching each other. Brush the top of each biscuit with a little bit of buttermilk or melted butter.
Bake at 450°F for about 15-17 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter if desired. Allow to cool for a few minutes, serve.
Credit: Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, Genius Kitchen