Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients

• 2  cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the board
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold
• 1 cup buttermilk (approx)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¹⁄₄ teaspoon baking soda

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 450°F.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl, then cut the butter into chunks and cut into the flour until it resembles course meal.
3. If using a food processor, just pulse a few times until this consistency is achieved.
4. Add the buttermilk and mix JUST until combined.
5. If it appears on the dry side, add a bit more buttermilk. It should be very wet.
6. Turn the dough out onto a floured board.
7. Gently, gently PAT (do NOT roll with a rolling pin) the dough out until it’s about 1/2″ thick. Fold the dough about 5 times, gently press the dough down to a 1 inch thick.
8. Use a round cutter to cut into rounds.
9. You can gently knead the scraps together and make a few more, but they will not be anywhere near as good as the first ones.
10. Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet- if you like soft sides, put them touching each other.
11. If you like”crusty” sides, put them about 1 inch apart- these will not rise as high as the biscuits put close together.
12. Bake for about 10-12 minutes- the biscuits will be a beautiful light golden brown on top and bottom.