Cheap & easy: Biscuits
Few foods instantly elevate the comfort quotient of a meal like a basket of warm, baked-from-scratch biscuits, especially when slathered with sweet butter. Formed from humble, everyday ingredients-flour, buttermilk, butter, baking powder, salt-biscuits are both economical and versatile. Making them takes about 45 minutes from start to finish, and even novice bakers can get the hang of the technique with a little practice.
Tips for the Lightest Biscuits:
Sift the flour twice before measuring and opt for buttermilk over milk, as the acid in buttermilk combines with baking powder to produce the tenderest baked goods.
Try not to overmix the wet and dry ingredients since doing so can toughen the dough and produce less-than-lofty results-save that extra energy for spreading the butter instead.
RECIPE
Ingredients
1/2 cup(s) | unsalted butter |
2 1/2 cup(s) | all-purpose flour (sifted twice before measuring) |
1 tablespoon(s) | baking powder |
1 teaspoon(s) | salt |
1 cup(s) | cold buttermilk |
2 tablespoon(s) | cold buttermilk |
1 tablespoon(s) | melted butter |
Directions
Heat oven to 475 degrees F. Cut butter into small cubes and freeze 15 minutes. Stir dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Cut in butter using either a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingers until mixture resembles a coarse meal.
Stir in buttermilk using a fork just until dough forms. Knead 3 to 4 turns on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7- by 10-inch rectangle. Cut out biscuits using a 3-inch cutter (gathering scraps until all dough is used).
Place 2 inches apart on a baking pan. Brush tops with melted butter.
Bake on top shelf of oven 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
More Biscuit Recipes:
Sloppy Joes with Sweet Potato Biscuits
Pistachio Drop Biscuits with Blood Orange Curd
More from Country Living:
Fresh-Baked Bread Recipes
Easy Brunch Recipes
Homemade Cake Recipes
Recipes with Bacon
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.