Step 1: Gather the Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour1 tablespoon baking powder1 tablespoon sugar1 teaspoon salt3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar3/4 cup butter or 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup shortening1 cup milk
Step 2: Mix the Dough
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and cream of tartar. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add milk all at once. Using a fork, stir just until mixture is moistened.
Step 3: Knead the Dough
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough by folding and gently pressing it for four to six strokes or just until dough holds together.Pat or lightly roll dough until 3/4 inch thick.
Step 4: Cut and Bake
Cut dough with a floured 2-1/2 inch biscuit cutter; reroll scraps as necessary, and dip cutter into flour between cuts.Place dough circles 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. If desired, brush with additional milk. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove biscuits from baking sheet and serve warm.
Try These Variations!
Greek: Stir 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1/3 cup chopped Kalamata olives, and 1/3 cup snipped dried tomatoes (not oil-packed) into flour mixture.Chile Cheese: Stir 2 tablespoons chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and 1 cup shredded cheese into the milk.Cheddar and Prosciutto: Stir 3/4 cup shredded white cheddar, 1/3 cup sliced green onions, and 2 tablespoons chopped prosciutto into flour mixture.Garlic and Herb: Stir 3 to 4 cloves minced roasted garlic and 1 tablespoon snipped fresh thyme into the milk.Bacon and Blue Cheese: Stir 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese and 2 slices crumbled cooked bacon into flour mixture.Pepper-Parmesan: Stir 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese and 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper into flour mixture. Sprinkle cut biscuits with Parmesan.Chocolate Chip-Orange: Stir 1/3 cup mini semisweet chocolate pieces and 2 teaspoons shredded orange peel into flour. Sprinkle cut biscuits with sugar.Cinnamon and Raisin: Use 2 tablespoons sugar in biscuits. Stir 1/3 cup raisins and 1 teaspoon cinnamon into flour mixture. Sprinkle cut biscuits with cinnamon-sugar.
