Description
Homemade biscuit lovers will adore this classic Joy of Cooking biscuit recipe, highlighting simple ingredients and traditional Southern techniques. Warm, flaky results emerge from careful mixing and precise baking, promising delightful comfort you can savor with butter or jam.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (325 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (113 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks
- ¾ cup (180 ml/g) cold milk (whole or 2% reduced fat)
- 1 large cold egg (50 g), lightly beaten
- 2 ½ tsps (10 g) baking powder
- ½ tsp (2 g) kosher salt
- 1 tbsp (15 g) granulated white sugar (optional)
- milk or cream (for finishing)
Instructions
- Preparation Setup: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) with rack centered. Line baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal non-stick performance.
- Dry Ingredient Blend: Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together in a large mixing bowl, ensuring uniform distribution and eliminating potential lumps.
- Butter Integration: Swiftly work cold butter into dry mixture using pastry blender or fingertips, creating coarse, pea-sized crumbs that promise flaky texture.
- Dough Formation: Create a central well, pour in milk and lightly beaten egg. Gently fold wet and dry ingredients until just combined, maintaining a slightly sticky, shaggy consistency.
- Dough Handling: Transfer to floured surface and tenderly knead 4-5 times, avoiding overworking to prevent tough biscuits. Gently pat or roll to 3/4 inch thickness, ensuring even surface.
- Cutting and Shaping: Dust round cookie cutter with flour and decisively cut biscuit rounds without twisting, preserving clean edges. Arrange on prepared baking sheet with slight spacing.
- Final Touches and Baking: Brush biscuit tops with milk or cream for golden, glossy finish. Bake 15-17 minutes until rich golden-brown and toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
- Serving: Transfer to wire rack, allow brief cooling, and serve warm with a luxurious butter pat for ultimate enjoyment.
Notes
- Butter Handling: Keep butter cold and work quickly to maintain small, visible chunks that create flaky, tender biscuits.
- Mixing Technique: Fold wet and dry ingredients just until combined; overmixing leads to tough, dense biscuits.
- Cutting Precision: Use a sharp, flour-dusted cutter and press straight down without twisting to ensure clean, even biscuit edges.
- Golden Finish: Brush tops with milk or cream before baking to achieve a beautiful, glossy golden-brown surface that enhances visual appeal and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg