Nancy's Buttermilk Biscuits

Biscuits, like scones are one my favorite comfort foods. If it's bread, I'm comforted. They are even easier to make than scones, but have the same satisfying effect. Biscuits are at home with a big hearty breakfast of Bacon and Eggs or are delicious on their own topped with a little jam. Here is how I make them:

Ingredients (1):

3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
bench flour

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl combine the first 4 ingredients and whisk them together. Take 1 1/2 sticks of the chilled butter and cut it into small cubes and cut it into the dry ingredients. You can do this with a pastry blender or your hands. I prefer my hands. Work the butter quickly into the flour mixture until you have a variety of small to pea sized pieces throughout.  Pour in the buttermilk and mix just until the dough starts to come together. The dough should be a bit wet. Now, dust your work surface with flour and turn the rough batter onto the surface. There will be some of the dry mixture that needs to be kneaded into the dough. Knead as few a times as necessary to bring the dough together, making a thick circle of the dough. Cut the dough using a biscuit cutter of the size preferred (I used a 3" cutter). Place the biscuits onto a baking pan so that the sides of each biscuit is touching the side of the next. The more tightly they are tucked in together, the better they will rise. If you'd like the sides of all the biscuits to be more crunchy, leave them separate and they will rise less. Melt the remaining 1/2 stick of butter and drizzle this over the biscuits. Place the biscuits into a 450 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until they are done to your liking. When finished baking, transfer the biscuits to a wire rack to cool.

Note:  I baked my biscuits in the toaster oven (it's summer right now and don't use the regular oven in summer).  They turned out great! I always line my baking sheets with parchment paper or foil, but you don't have to do that. I hope you try these and I hope you love them as much as we do!