Now that we have the story out of the way, let’s get down to business of biscuit making. Biscuits are the perfect test for any person who loves being covered in flour. Like a toddler, they cannot be rushed and like a teen, they can have a mind of their own. My friends, I give you my version of the perfect Buttermilk Biscuit:
Ingredients:
- 4 cups White Lily Self-Rising Flour
- 1 teaspoon salt (I use Diamond Kosher)
-1 teaspoon of sugar
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda (yes you’re using self rising but these give a little extra lift!)
-1/2 cup of butter flavored Crisco (1/2 a stick)
Plus additional 1/8 of a cup for greasing baking surface
-1 1/2 cups of buttermilk (Don’t have buttermilk, don’t be sour ;) … you can make it as fast as you can say “I’m out of buttermilk”… measure out as much milk as you need and then add in one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice per cup. Let sit for 10 minutes and you are good to go!)
-3 tablespoons European Butter melted, for brushing at the end
Yields:
12 Biscuits
Method
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, and salt. Once mixed together, take Crisco and break into smaller pieces and add to flour mixture.
Using a pastry blender or your hands, cut Crisco into dough. Breaking up into pea size pieces and a crumbling texture.
Make a well in the center for the flour mixture and pour in buttermilk. I always add in my cup measurement first and then add in my last 1/4 as I need it. If mixture seems dry and does not pull away from sides of bowl, add a touch more of buttermilk, a tablespoon at a time.
Use a spatula to wipe down sides of bowl while working to combine. Once brought together, turn out onto a floured surface.
Knead gently, about 5-7 times, until dough has a smooth consistency.
Then begin the folding portion: flour your rolling pin, and then begin rolling our your dough into a rectangle about 6 in. wide and 9 in. long and about half an inch thick, take bottom side of dough, and fold the dough in half. The bottom edge and the top meet. Turn the dough, to the right once, then roll out again (to about half an inch), and then fold in half and turn back to the left. Complete this folding process 5 times—you are building layers into your biscuits.
Cut out 7-8 biscuits with 2¾ inch biscuit cutter (second to largest in set). Combine and roll scraps and cut out remaining biscuits. **Do not twist the cutter when you push down, this will pinch the seams shut that you just worked so hard to create. Keep the motion up and down, and flour your cutter between each.
Place on a baking sheet or cast iron skillet, pre-greased with Crisco or butter, with sides touching. **Remember, biscuits are friendly and LOVE neighbors!
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter immediately out of the oven.
Click through the pictures below for a step by step of how to make a biscuit
