Angel Biscuits

  • 325 GR (~2½ C) self-rising flour (White Lilly or King Arthur Brand)
  • ½ TSP baking soda
  • 2 TBS sugar
  • 2 TSP instant yeast
  • 4 OZ butter (cold, cut into small pieces)
  • 1 C buttermilk

Oven: 400° F

  1. Mix dry ingredients together. Incorporate butter by 1 of 3 methods:
    • Freeze the butter, grate, then stir into the dry mix.
    • Cut cold butter into small pats, place in a food processor with the dry mix and pulse a few times to produce uneven pea sizes.
    • Cut cold butter into small pats, add to the dry mix and cut in using a pastry blender, 2 knives or your hands.
  2. Make a well in the dry mix, add buttermilk and stir until just moistened; a coarse ball will form.

Handling Methods:

  1. Refrigerator
    • Cover the dough in a bowl. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight (can keep up to 1 week and used in parts).
    • Turn the refrigerated dough out onto a well floured surface and knead/fold in half until smooth and no longer sticky – 6-8 times.
    • Roll out to a ½” or ¾” thick rectangle. Use a 2½” to 2¾” round cutter to cut biscuits.
    • Place on lined baking sheet, cake pan, etc. Brush with melted butter.
    • Bake 12 to 15 minutes to an internal temp of 190F. Golden but not browned.
  2. Freezer
    • Immediately turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and knead/fold in half until smooth and no longer sticky – 6-8 times.
    • Roll out to a ½” or ¾” thick rectangle. Use a 2½” to 2¾” round cutter to cut biscuits.
    • Place on lined baking sheet, cake pan, etc. Brush tops with melted butter.
    • Cover and allow to rise for 1 hour. Place in the freezer for 2 hours.
    • Bake for 16 to 20 minutes to an internal temp of 190F. Golden but not browned.
    • This freezing step produces higher, lighter biscuits when using dough on same day as it allows the biscuits to rise before the butter melts.

NOTE: When making a large batch, it’s convenient to roll out and cut all dough. With handling method #1, any biscuits not to be baked immediately can be frozen, and with handling method #2 simply bake what you need after 2 hours and leave the rest frozen. Cut rounds can be cooked straight from the freezer without thawing, simply add an extra 6+ minutes (20 min max) to baking time.

Yields 6-8 biscuits.