Baking Powder Biscuits

(25)
Yield:
8 biscuits

Master the technique, and this recipe will reward you with rich, flaky, tender biscuits. The trick, as with all biscuits, is to use a gentle touch and not overwork the dough; mix just until the ingredients come together. Once they're baked, serve them warm and let their aroma invite everyone to the table.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

  • 2 tablespoons baking powder

  • 2 teaspoons sugar

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

  • 2 cups heavy cream

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cream; stir until dough just comes together (it will be sticky).

  2. Transfer to a lightly floured work surface, and with floured fingers, pat dough to a 1-inch thickness. Cut out rounds with a 2 1/2-inch cutter, cutting as close together as possible.

  3. Space about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack; let biscuits cool 5 minutes before serving.

  4. Place biscuits on an unlined baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart. Generously brush tops of biscuits with cream. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until biscuits are golden and flecked with brown spots, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer biscuits to a wire rack to cool.

    biscuit stack
    Joseph Scafuro

Variations

Herb Biscuit Variation
Finely chop and then mix together a variety of fresh herbs -- such as rosemary, oregano, thyme, parsley, and chives -- to yield 4 tablespoons. Add herbs to butter-and-flour mixture after butter has been cut in. Proceed with the remainder of the recipe.

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