Description
Delicate homemade angel biscuits float like clouds from Southern kitchens, promising pure comfort. Southern hospitality meets buttery perfection, inviting you to savor each heavenly, flaky bite of pure culinary joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 1/2 cups Lilly white yeast flour
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup cold shortening, cubed
Yeast and Sugar:
- 1 (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup hot water (100 to 110 degrees)
Additional Ingredients:
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup melted butter (for brushing)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast by dissolving it in warm water with a pinch of sugar, allowing the mixture to bloom and become foamy for about 5 minutes.
- Sift together the dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a light and airy foundation for the biscuits.
- Transform the cold butter and shortening into a crumbly texture by methodically cutting them into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or two forks.
- Incorporate the frothy yeast mixture and buttermilk into the dry ingredients, gently stirring until the dough reaches a cohesive, moistened consistency.
- Wrap the dough securely and nestle it in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing the flavors to develop and the gluten to relax.
- Prepare the baking environment by preheating the oven to 400°F (200°C) and creating a lightly floured workspace.
- Liberate the chilled dough onto the floured surface, kneading it gently 3-4 times to ensure smooth integration. Adjust with a sprinkle of flour if the dough feels too tacky.
- Roll the dough into a generous 3/4-inch thick circle, then fold it in half and roll again to maintain an even thickness.
- Craft the biscuits by pressing a cookie cutter through the dough, creating uniform rounds with clean edges.
- Arrange the cut biscuits in a seasoned cast iron skillet or on a parchment-lined baking sheet, positioning them so they barely touch, which encourages rising.
- Lavish the biscuit tops with a brushing of melted butter, creating a golden promise of deliciousness.
- Slide the skillet or baking sheet into the preheated oven, baking for 15-20 minutes until the biscuits transform into a rich, amber-hued delicacy.
- Complete the culinary journey by painting the freshly baked biscuits with a final layer of melted butter, ensuring a lustrous and inviting finish.
Notes
- Activate the yeast carefully by using warm water between 100-110°F to ensure proper activation without killing the microorganisms.
- Chill the dough thoroughly to develop complex flavor profiles and enhance the texture of the biscuits, allowing gluten to relax and creating a more tender crumb.
- Keep butter and shortening extremely cold when cutting into the flour mixture to create flaky, layered biscuits that separate beautifully when pulled apart.
- Experiment with gluten-free flour blends for those with wheat sensitivities, using a 1:1 replacement ratio to maintain similar texture and richness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg