Lemon-Poppy Seed Buttermilk Biscuits

Name: Lemon-Poppy Seed Buttermilk Biscuits
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: Makes 9 biscuits
Ingredients: 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder; 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 2 teaspoons poppy seeds; 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest; 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus more for serving; 1 cup buttermilk, plus more for brushing; Sliced strawberries or strawberry jam, for serving; Lightly sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Recipe photo courtesy of Armando Rafael

Serve these brightly flavored biscuits with butter and strawberry jam for breakfast or gild them with fresh strawberries and a billow of whipped cream for dessert.

Source: Martha Stewart Living, April 2017

40 mins 20 mins Makes 9 biscuits

Total Time Prep Yield

Ingredients

Directions

1.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, poppy seeds, and lemon zest for 30 seconds. Toss butter into dry mixture to evenly coat, then press between your fingers to create flower-petal shapes and return to bowl.
2.
Slowly drizzle buttermilk over flour-butter mixture (to evenly distribute) while stirring with a fork. Stop stirring when dough begins to form but mixture is still crumbly. Transfer to center of a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gather dough with your hands, pressing firmly to bind, and flatten it into a 6-by-10-inch rectangle. Lift parchment along a short end of dough and fold in half, forming a 6-by-5-inch rectangle. Turn dough 90 degrees; gently reflatten to 6 by 10 inches. Fold in half again and flatten slightly into a 6-inch square.
3.
To keep things easy, form the dough on the same tray it's baked on. Cut it into thirds in both directions with a large, sharp knife, to form 9 biscuits. Brush tops with buttermilk. Bake until puffed, golden brown on top, and hollow-sounding when tapped on bottom, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a kitchen towel-lined basket; cover to keep warm. Serve with strawberries or jam and whipped cream.

Cook's Notes

Make-Ahead Tip
Biscuits can be formed, loosely covered, and stored in the fridge the night before. Brush the tops with buttermilk just before baking.

Reaching New Heights
For even taller biscuits, trim a scant 1/4 inch from the 4 sides of the dough before cutting into thirds. This exposes the layers after folding and ensures that the biscuits grow in the oven as much as possible.