Best Benne Seed Angel Biscuits Recipes

TRISHA YEARWOOD'S ANGEL BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and 3 tablespoons of the sugar.
• In a small bowl, combine the warm water with the yeast and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; stir until the yeast is dissolved. Let stand until bubbles appear, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Using your hands, mix the 1 cup cold butter into the flour, breaking the butter into small pebbles, until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Make a well in the center and add the buttermilk and the yeast mixture. Gently fold the flour into the wet ingredients. Keep mixing until a ball starts to form, then gently knead, 12 to 15 times, to create a smooth dough. Cover with a cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for approximately 1 hour.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and press out to 1- to 1 1/2-inches thick. Fold the dough in half, press again to 1- to 1 1/2-inches thick, and then fold again. Cut the dough using a 2- to 3-inch round biscuit cutter, depending personal preference. Brush the bottom of a cast-iron skillet with some of the melted butter. Place the biscuits in the skillet; brush the tops with melted butter.
• Bake until golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes, depending on size. Brush again with melted butter and serve immediately.

ANGEL BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°. Dissolve yeast in warm water; set aside.
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in yeast mixture and just enough buttermilk so dough leaves side of bowl and forms a ball.
• Place dough on generously floured surface; gently roll in flour to coat. Knead lightly 25 to 30 times, sprinkling with flour if dough is too sticky. Roll or pat 1/2 inch thick. Cut with floured 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Brush with butter. Serve hot.

HELOISE'S ANGEL BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Dissolve the yeast in warm water and set aside.
• Mix the dry ingredients (in the above order) in a bowl, and then cut in the shortening as you would for a pie crust. When it looks grainy or like little beads, it's time to stir in the buttermilk and the yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly but don't overmix.
• The dough is ready to use, or it can be refrigerated in a covered bowl for later.
• When ready to make biscuits, place dough on a well-floured counter or board and knead lightly.
• Roll out (don't overroll or work the dough) and cut with a biscuit cutter.
• Place the biscuits on a greased pan and let rise slightly--this is an important step, especially if you have refrigerated dough.
• Then bake in a 400-degree oven 12-15 minutes.

BENNE SEED BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Place the benne seeds in a shallow pan and roast for 5 minutes. They should be the color of butterscotch and have a delicious toasted smell. If they're not ready, shake the pan to toss and return to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes, but be careful not to burn them.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and teaspoon of salt into a large bowl. Add the lard and work the mixture with a pastry blender or your fingertips until it has the texture of cornmeal. Add the milk and mix well. Mix in the benne seeds. Place the dough on a floured surface, knead for a few seconds and shape into a ball.
• Roll the dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch biscuit cutter, stamp out rounds and lay them on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with a little bit of salt and serve hot. The biscuits may be stored in an airtight tin or jar; reheat before serving.

BENNE SEED ANGEL BISCUITS

Steps:

• In a small bowl stir together yeast, water, and a pinch sugar and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining sugar. With your fingertips blend in shortening and butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add yeast mixture and 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, stirring until a dough just forms, and gather into a ball (dough will be sticky). On a lightly floured surface with floured hands knead dough gently 6 times and pat out into a 10-inch round (about 1/2 inch thick). Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. and lightly butter a large baking sheet.
• With a 2 1/2-inch round cutter dipped in flour cut out as many as possible and arrange, sides just touching, on baking sheet. Gather scraps into a ball and pat out dough. Cut out more rounds in same manner. Brush biscuits with additional buttermilk and sprinkle with benne seeds. Bake biscuits in middle of oven 10 minutes, or until golden, and cool on racks. Biscuits may be made 1 week ahead and frozen in sealable plastic bags. Thaw biscuits and reheat in a preheated 350°F. oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until heated through.