Baking Powder Biscuits

A southern-style baking powder biscuit that's as perfect for strawberry shortcake as it is with butter and jam or sliced ham and scrambled eggs.

Makes about 12 2-inch biscuits

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2" cubes
2/3 cup milk

1. Pre-heat oven to 450º F.
2. Put flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl and use a fork or whisk to combine well.
3. Add the pieces of cold butter to the flour mixture and with a pastry blender, a fork or your fingers, rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like fine granules.
4. Add the milk and with a fork, stir until a soft dough forms.  Do not over mix.
5. Turn out this dough onto a lightly floured board and give 10 to 15 kneads with the heel of your hand to smooth the dough.
6. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into an 8-inch circle that's about 3/4" thick.
7. Cut out 2-inch circles using a cookie cutter, a plain biscuit cutter, or the floured rim of a juice glass.
8. Press the scraps together, roll it out again, and cut more.  Repeat these steps until you've used all the dough to form about 12 2-inch rounds.
9. Place the biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until the biscuits are medium golden brown.
10. Cool on a wire rack that's been lined with a clean linen or cotton kitchen towel.
11. Let cool for about 30 minutes for the best flavor and result.

Tip:  When putting the rounds onto the cookie sheet, have their sides touch if you want soft sides or let them sit apart if you want crisper biscuits.

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