CHEF JOHN'S BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

Chef John's Buttermilk Biscuits image

This deceptively simple recipe can come out a million different ways with some very minor variations on the ingredients and amounts. This one's my favorite - flaky, but not dry; chewy, but not tough; crisp in just the right spots.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes Biscuits

Time 35m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled in freezer and cut into thin slices
¾ cup cold buttermilk
2 tablespoons buttermilk for brushing

Steps:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl.
Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 5 minutes.
Make a well in the center of butter and flour mixture. Pour in 3/4 cup buttermilk; stir until just combined.
Turn dough onto a floured work surface, pat together into a rectangle.
Fold the rectangle in thirds. Turn dough a half turn, gather any crumbs, and flatten back into a rectangle. Repeat twice more, folding and pressing dough a total of three times.
Roll dough on a floured surface to about 1/2 inch thick.
Cut out 12 biscuits using a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter.
Transfer biscuits to the prepared baking sheet. Press an indent into the top of each biscuit with your thumb.
Brush the tops of biscuits with 2 tablespoons buttermilk.
Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 142.8 calories, Carbohydrate 17 g, Cholesterol 18.5 mg, Fat 7.1 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.4 g, Sodium 321.3 mg, Sugar 0.9 g