Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (plus more for work surface)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 12 tablespoons butter ((1 1/2 sticks) cold, cubed or sliced)
• 1 cup buttermilk (cold & shaken)
• 1 large egg (cold)
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 425°F/218°C Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

2. 2

   Place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl and mix until combined.

3. 3

   Cut in the butter using your fingers, pastry cutter, or food processor until the butter is coated and forms small, pea sized pieces.

4. 4

   Rub mixture between your palms to to flatten the butter into the flour mixture. This helps to create super flaky biscuits. Once you feel that all the butter pieces are flattened, you can move onto your liquids.

5. 5

   In a separate small bowl, combine the buttermilk and egg and beat lightly.

6. 6

   Make a well in the flour mixture, pour in the buttermilk mixture, and gently mix until the mixture is just combined.

7. 7

   Dump the mixture out onto a well-floured board. This dough should be fairly moist and may be sticky, but you should certainly be able to work it with floured hands. Have extra flour handy and use it often to flour your hands and work surface.

8. 8

   Bring the mixture together with well floured hands. Then gently press to form a 10-inch rectangle. Using a pastry scraper, or your hands, fold one side into the center, then the other side (See photos in the post for a visual).

9. 9

   Rotate the dough horizontally and gently form it back into a 10-inch, rectangle. Repeat the same folding technique two more times.

10. 10

    Roll or press the dough out to an inch thick and about 10 inches long. Using a 2½ to 3 inch round cutter to cut out biscuits into rounds or you can use a knife, cut into 2½ inch squares.

11. 11

    Gather the scraps and repeat the process until you use all of the dough. You should have about 8 to10 biscuits.

12. 12

    Transfer to a sheet pan lined with baking paper. Whisk the egg and water together for the egg wash. Brush the tops with the egg wash, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until tops are golden brown.