Mile High Biscuits

Submitted by dvbayshore

"I was never able to make good biscuits until I stumbled upon this one years ago in a community cookbook. My family loves these biscuits and they never fail..."

 

• Ready In: 22mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Yields: 24 biscuits
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 4 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3⁄4 cup butter, chilled
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg

directions

1. Preheat oven to 425*F.
2. Blend dry ingredients together in large bowl.
3. Keep butter in refrigerator until required. Slice butter into 4 or 5 thin sections and place over flour mixture. Cut butter in with a pastry cutter, until butter clumps are the size of corn niblets.
4. Pour milk into small bowl; add egg and whisk gently until blended.
5. Make a hollow in centre of flour/butter mixture and pour in milk/egg. Using a large mixing spoon, quickly blend all ingredients until a rough ball of dough is formed. The secret is to blend well, but not NOT over-work the dough. (I sometimes will just use my hands once I get CLOSE to forming.).
6. Pick the ball up in your hands and gently work the dough with 4-5 hand motions to achieve a well-formed ball.
7. Place the ball on a lightly floured surface and roll out with a lightly floured rolling pin until about 3/4 to 1 inch thickness.
8. Cut biscuits to desired size with a SHARP biscuit cutter. This is another key to a biscuit that will rise nicely with a good shape. Never twist while cutting, but cut straight down in one movement, otherwise you will 'pinch' the dough which interferes with rising.
9. Place on un-greased cookie sheet and bake for 11-12 minutes. (Check for doneness at 11 minutes. Biscuits should be light gold.).
10. Serve warm - they are yummiest when fresh out of the oven. Allow to cool completely on a rack before storing. These biscuits freeze well and are nice if re-heated gently in the oven (never in the microwave!).
11. If you like cheese biscuits, go ahead and add 1/2 cup grated cheese before adding in the milk; chives too! ENJOY.
12. NOTE: For a family member who is diabetic but loves biscuits, I modify this recipe to use some soy flour (about 1/3 of the amount) and substitute Splenda for the sugar.