Old Southern Recipe
Ingredients:
– 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
– 1 tablespoon baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 6 tablespoons (85 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
– 3/4 cup (180 ml) cold buttermilk (plus more for brushing)
– 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, for a slightly sweet biscuit)
– 2 tablespoons melted butter (for brushing on top after baking)
Instructions:
1. **Preheat the Oven:**
– Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
– Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. **Prepare the Dry Ingredients:**
– In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar (if using).
3. **Cut in the Butter:**
– Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture.
– Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
4. **Add the Buttermilk:**
– Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the cold buttermilk.
– Stir gently with a wooden spoon or spatula until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix; the dough should be slightly shaggy and sticky.
5. **Shape the Biscuits:**
– Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently pat or roll the dough to about 1/2-inch thickness.
– Fold the dough over on itself a few times to create layers, then pat it out again to 1/2-inch thickness.
– Use a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass to cut out biscuits, pressing straight down without twisting to ensure they rise evenly.
6. **Bake the Biscuits:**
– Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, close together for soft sides or spaced apart for crispier edges.
– Brush the tops lightly with buttermilk for a golden color.
– Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown on top.
7. **Finish and Serve:**
– Remove the biscuits from the oven and brush the tops with melted butter for a rich, glossy finish.
– Serve warm with butter, jam, or gravy.
Tips:
– **Buttermilk Substitute:** If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 3/4 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
– **Extra Fluffiness:** For extra fluffy biscuits, make sure your butter and buttermilk are very cold, and handle the dough as little as possible.
Enjoy!
These **Old Southern Buttermilk Biscuits** are a timeless recipe, perfect for breakfast or as a side to any meal. They’re soft, flaky, and full of buttery goodness—a true Southern comfort food classic.