Baking Powder Biscuits

I shared a recipe for biscuits last year (HERE), and I am still a big fan of that recipe but I was looking to make a few changes - 1. I wanted fluffier biscuits in the end and 2. I did not want to use vegetable shortening! I really (really) dislike using vegetable shortening. In fact, this summer, I wrote a post dedicated to things I hate about being in the kitchen (HERE) and at the very top of that list is dealing with vegetable shortening!

I found this recipe on King Arthur flour and it was just what I was looking for - no vegetable shortening necessary and major fluffy biscuits in the end! You can find the recipe HERE.

Start by combining 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 Tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 Tablespoon of baking powder in a medium mixing bowl.

Add in 1/4 cup of chilled butter - press the butter in with your fingers or cut it in using 2 butter knives.

Once you've cut the butter in, or worked it in with your fingers your dough should resemble a course meal.

Then, add in 1 cup of milk, buttermilk or water - I used milk. Use a fork to stir the dough until it begins to hold together. There will likely still be visible pieces of butter in the dough. This is just fine!

The dough is not very sticky so you don't really need to flour your working surface, but you totally could! Roll the dough out to be 3/4 of an inch thick then fold the dough in thirds like a letter and roll it out again to be 3/4 of an inch thick.

Use a bench knife to cut your dough into squares or use a circular cookie cutter to make circular biscuits. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the biscuits for 15-20 minutes. I started with 15 minutes, but put them in for an extra 3 minutes - so, 18 minutes total!

And that's it! How easy, right!? Let the biscuits cool a little bit before you enjoy them! I tested this recipe out in anticipation of the Bean's birthday party and I know they will fit her tea party theme so well!

BAKING POWDER BISCUITS
yield 12-15 biscuits

ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, chilled
1 cup milk (or buttermilk or water)

directions
1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, the salt, the baking powder and the granulated sugar.
2. Once the dry ingredients are combined, press the butter in with your fingers or cut it in with 2 butter knives. Once incorporate, the dough should resemble a course meal.
3. Add the milk and use a fork to stir the dough until it holds together in a ball.
4. Roll the dough out to be 3/4 of an inch thick then fold the dough in thirds like a letter and roll it out again to be 3/4 of an inch thick.
5. Use a bench knife to cut your dough into squares or use a circular cookie cutter to make circular biscuits. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the biscuits for 15-20 minutes.
7. Once baked, transfer the biscuits to a wire cooling rack and allow them to cool for a while before you enjoy them!

Happy November! :)