Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits


I made these a while ago during my biscuit/scone phase. Well the biscuit/scone phase never really passes, I just figure I should eat healthier baked goods sometimes! These are basic buttermilk biscuits - though perhaps the instructions make them more complicated than they should be? But I guess this is to try and ensure flakey biscuits. I thought mine could have been flakier though, but that could be my own fault not the recipe's. They are however super buttery, and definitely tasty and comforting fresh out of the oven. Sadly, as with most biscuits, once they cool down they lose some of their magic. I like this recipe, but it's the first buttermilk biscuit I've tried so I'm going to try a few more before deciding which one's best!

Next week I start my summer job (which will hopefully be my part time during school job as well) so I will have less time for food blogging, but more time for making money! Money to buy delicious food and ingredients and I guess pay for important things too like school and our mortgage.


We got this basket full of goodies from a fancy grocery store (that my boyfriend's mom had won). As you can see, Abby has claimed it as her own. She likes chewing on it and sitting in it, but mostly she likes chewing on it.


If this sounds good, you might also like:
Baking Powder Biscuits
Maple Cornmeal Drop Biscuits
Apricot Orange Scones
Caramelized Onion, Sage and Cheddar Muffins

Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits
Adapted from Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins & More

Makes 12 small biscuits.

3 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned in and leveled, plus additional for kneading and dusting (I used 472 g flour.)
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled, plus 2 tbsp melted
1 2/3 cups buttermilk

1. Position the rack in the middle of the oven. Heat the oven to 400F. Have ready a large, ungreased cookie sheet.

2. In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Shave the chilled butter into 1/8 inch slices using a dough scraper or a sharp knife. Add the butter to the dry ingredients, one third at a time, rubbing it between your fingertips to form flake like pieces. Work gently and quickly so the butter doe snot become too warm. You should have both large and small pieces.

4. Add the buttermilk, pouring it around the edges of the bowl. Using a rubber spatula, push the mixture toward the center, working your way around the bowl to blend the buttermilk with the flakes. The mixture will be soft and resemble large curds of cottage cheese. Let stand for 2 or 3 minutes while you prepare the rolling surface.

5. Sprinkle a pastry board or other flat surface generously with flour, about 2 tablespoons. Empty the dough onto the board. The dough will be sticky. With the help of a dough scraper, lift the dough four or five times to coat it with flour. With floured hands, gently knead the dough six or eight times, or just until it forms a "skin" (thin layer of flour on the surface). It's okay if larger particles of butter are visible. Do not overwork the dough or your biscuits will not be tender. When the dough is ready, slide aside and clean the work surface.

6. Place the dough on the flat surface and pat it lightly with floured hands, shaping it into a rectangle. Roll the dough into a 10 x 14 inch rectangle, with the 10 inch side parallel to the edge of the counter. Fold the dough into thirds, like a business letter. To do this, lift the far side of the pastry cloth up and fold the top third of the dough over on itself. Press the dough to align the edges as best you can. Lift the lower edge of the dough and flip the bottom third of the dough over on itself, keeping the edges as best you can. You will now have there layers of dough. Press the top gently with your hands, then roll the dough into a 5 x 15 inch strip, with a thickness of a generous 1/2 inch.

7. Cut the dough into 12 rectangles and place on the cookie sheet inverted, about 1 1/2 inches apart. (This is my easy way of cutting biscuits. I hate rerolling dough.)

8. Brush the tops with the melted butter and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove the biscuits from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes before loosening with a thin metal spatula. Serve the biscuits warm. If baking ahead, warm the biscuits for a few minutes in a 300F oven.

20 comments:

Johanna GGG said...

I was confused and had to look at your index where I discovered I thought these were quite like your baking powder biscuits/scones - I will have to try this to see what a real old fashioned American biscuit tastes like compared to a scone

Deborah said...

I think yours look very flaky! I can't wait to see what other buttermilk biscuit recipes you try.

Steph said...

Those look nice and flaky! I'm trying to find a biscuit that fluffy.. almost like bread.

Sook said...

I love homemade biscuit! I can't wait to try it.

grace said...

ooooh, the fluffy, buttery-ness of it all! i love the unique shape and i love the apparent texture. these are definitely keepers.

Sarah S. said...

The best kitty toys are never meant to be toys at all.

And the biscuits look amazing!

Hannah said...

Mm, they look so tender and flaky! I almost never make biscuits, but now I want to give them a shot.

Lisa Turner said...

Those look just perfect. Scones and biscuits I make often, though not so much this time of year when the humidity drives me out of the kitchen.

Good luck with your summer job.

Bunny said...

They look fantastic , I'll be bookmarking these. Sorry for my absence but I had a killer work week that did me in!

Liz said...

Miam! I havent eat biscuits since I left the US, I miss them so much!!! I keep your recipe, so I will make them for my family. Thanks so much!(And thanks for stopping by my blog ;D)

Jackie @PhamFatale.com said...

Perfect flaky buttery biscuits. Oh they looks soo good!

Katie said...

It's been ages since I made buttermilk biscuits... I'm drooling! And scones...scones would be good...

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Would you believe that I have never seen a rectangular biscuit? I have always had round. They look lovely!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! Abby is ADORABLE!! It just hurts when they're as cute as her!

deniseginley said...

Hey, I've been following your foodblog on the sly for quite some time, but I wanted to comment to say this is like my go-to baking blog, the recipes here always turn out so delicious!

Amy said...

Mmm those buscuits look wonderful! And Abby just keeps on being too adorable!

Pattern Patisserie said...

Those are the flakiest looking biscuits I have ever seen...I wish I had one right now, they look delicious!! Yesterday I found REAL buttermilk at my local food co-op...it is made by Kate's in Maine...I will have to try using it in this recipe.
Thanks for visiting my blog...Patricia

Beth said...

Looks yummy! My husband would love these.

CookiePie said...

YUM - those look so delicious!

Melle Marion said...

I 've never taste those biscuits but I feel like prepare them!