Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe

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Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits
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Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (12 1/2 oz), plus additional flour for work surface
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp table salt
  • 8 tbsp unsalted butter (1 stick), cold , lightly floured and cut into 1/8-inch slices (see illustration below)
  • note: the dough is a bit sticky when it comes together and during the first set of turns. set aside about 1 cup of extra flour for dusting the work surface, dough, and rolling pin to prevent sticking. be careful not to incorporate large pockets of flour into the dough when folding it over. when cutting the biscuits, press down with firm, even pressure; do not twist the cutter. the recipe may be prepared through step 2, transferred to a zipper-lock freezer bag, and frozen for several weeks. let the mixture sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before proceeding.

Directions:

  1. 1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 450 degrees. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.
  2. 2. Add shortening to flour mixture; break up chunks with fingertips until only small, pea-sized pieces remain. Working in batches, drop butter slices into flour mixture and toss to coat; pick up each slice of butter and press between floured fingertips into flat, nickel-sized pieces (see illustration at right). Repeat until all butter is incorporated; toss to combine. Freeze mixture (in bowl) until chilled, about 15 minutes.
  3. 3. Spray 24-inch-square area of work surface with nonstick cooking spray; spread spray evenly across surface with kitchen towel or paper towel. Sprinkle 1/3 cup of extra flour across sprayed area; gently spread flour across work surface with palm to form thin, even coating. Add all but 2 tablespoons of buttermilk to flour mixture; stir briskly with fork until ball forms and no dry bits of flour are visible, adding remaining buttermilk as needed (dough will be sticky and shaggy but should clear sides of bowl). With rubber spatula, transfer dough onto center of prepared work surface, dust surface lightly with flour, and, with floured hands, bring dough together into cohesive ball.
  4. 4. Pat dough into approximate 10-inch square; roll into 18 by 14-inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick, dusting dough and rolling pin with flour as needed. Following illustrations below, using bench scraper or thin metal spatula, fold dough into thirds, brushing any excess flour from surface; lift short end of dough and fold in thirds again to form approximate 6 by 4-inch rectangle. Rotate dough 90 degrees, dusting work surface underneath with flour; roll and fold dough again, dusting with flour as needed.
  5. 5. Roll dough into 10-inch square about 1/2 inch thick; flip dough and cut nine 3-inch rounds with floured biscuit cutter, dipping cutter back into flour after each cut. Carefully invert and transfer rounds to ungreased baking sheet, spaced 1 inch apart. Gather dough scraps into ball; roll and fold once or twice until scraps form smooth dough. Roll dough into 1/2-inch-thick round; cut three more 3-inch rounds and transfer to baking sheet. Discard excess dough.
  6. 6. Brush biscuit tops with melted butter. Bake, without opening oven door, until tops are golden brown and crisp, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
  7. Note: Making the Layered Look Work for You Getting biscuits with ultra-flaky layers is all in the handling of the dough - a strategic process of pinching, folding, and refolding creates stratified layers of air, fat, and flour. SLICE: Cut butter (coated in flour to prevent sticking) into 1/8-inch-thick slices. PRESS: Pinch butter slices between well-floured fingertips into flat, nickel-sized pieces. FOLD: With scraper or metal spatula, fold dough into thirds (like a business letter). REFOLD: Fold dough into thirds again, rotate 90 degrees, roll out, and repeat process.
  8. Flaky Butter = Flaky Biscuits Working the butter into the flour by hand yields large, flaky chunks of butter, which, when rolled into thin sheets, produce a biscuit with distinct layers. Pebbly pieces result in regular biscuits. Flaky sheets result in flaky biscuits.
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Nutrition Facts

Per ServingPer 100 g
Amount Per 1 Serving
Calories 214.34 Kcal (897 kJ)
Calories from fat 112.4 Kcal
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12.49g 19%
Cholesterol 28.68mg 10%
Sodium 275.98mg 11%
Potassium 203.02mg 4%
Total Carbs 21.66g 7%
Sugars 1.28g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0.81g 3%
Protein 3.74g 7%
Vitamin C 0.5mg 1%
Vitamin A 0.1mg 4%
Iron 1.4mg 8%
Calcium 97.5mg 10%
Amount Per 100 g
Calories 317.68 Kcal (1330 kJ)
Calories from fat 166.59 Kcal
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18.51g 19%
Cholesterol 42.5mg 10%
Sodium 409.02mg 11%
Potassium 300.89mg 4%
Total Carbs 32.1g 7%
Sugars 1.89g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1.19g 3%
Protein 5.55g 7%
Vitamin C 0.8mg 1%
Vitamin A 0.2mg 4%
Iron 2.1mg 8%
Calcium 144.6mg 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Find out how many calories should you eat.

Tastes

  • salty
  • savory
  • bitter
  • sweet
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Recipe Tags

Weightwatchers Points

  • 5.2
    Points
  • 6
    PointsPlus

Good Points

  • saturated fat free

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