Layered Biscuits Recipes

LAYERED HAM AND CHEESE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Pulse the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and 1/2 cup of the Cheddar and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-size bits of butter remaining. Add the buttermilk and pulse a few times, until the dough just comes together.
• Turn the dough out onto a work surface that's lightly dusted with flour, then pat into a 7-by-7-inch square that's about 1 inch thick. Scatter half of the ham and 1/4 cup of the Cheddar on half of the dough, then fold the other half of dough over like a book; gently pinch the edges to seal. Pat the dough out again into a 7-by-7-inch square, scatter the remaining ham and 1/4 cup of cheese on top and fold the dough over like a book. Press once more into a 7-by-7-inch square.
• Use a sharp chef's knife to cut the dough into 12 even rectangular pieces. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and brush the tops of each piece with additional buttermilk. Bake until the biscuits are puffed and well browned, 18 to 20 minutes.

SUPER-LAYERED BISCUITS

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Grate the butter using the large holes of a box grater and add to the flour mixture. Quickly toss the butter with the flour mixture by hand until the butter is evenly distributed and coated with flour. Slowly drizzle the buttermilk over the flour mixture, using a fork to incorporate, until the mixture comes together in a shaggy dough. (There may be some dry bits remaining; don't overmix.)
• Turn the dough out onto a cutting board or work surface (the dough does not need to be floured at this point or for the first round of layers). Pat the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle, about 12 inches by 8 inches, using a bench scraper, bowl scraper or ruler to keep the edges straight. Cut the dough into 6 even pieces using a sharp knife and stack the pieces on top of each other, making sure to line up the edges. If any large bits of dough come off, gently press them back while taking care to maintain the shape and even thickness. Any small bits of dough that fall off can be tucked away between the stacked pieces. This creates the first set of layers. The dough may seem like it's not hydrated enough, but it will come together.
• Lightly dust the work surface and stack of dough with flour. Use a rolling pin to press the stack down and roll out back to a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle, about 12 inches by 8 inches, making sure the layers of dough stay lined up and even with one another (see Cook's Note). Dust the surface of the dough once more lightly with flour. This helps to provide definition between the layers. Cut the dough once more into 6 even pieces and stack them on top of each other to create a second set of layers. Repeat dusting, pressing down, rolling out, dusting, cutting and stacking one more time, dusting the work surface with flour as needed, to create a third set of layers, 18 layers total.
• Roll out the stack of dough to a thickness of about 1 1/2 inches. Cut out 9 biscuits with a floured 2 1/4-inch round cutter and place on the prepared baking sheet. Do not twist the cutter or it will seal the sides and prevent the layers from rising. Press together the remaining scraps of dough and cut out 3 more biscuits. Transfer the rest of the biscuits to the prepared baking sheet and transfer the baking sheet to the freezer while the oven preheats and until the biscuits are thoroughly chilled, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Brush the biscuit tops with buttermilk, taking care to keep the sides dry. Bake until the tops and bottoms of the biscuits are golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Brush the warm biscuits with melted butter as desired and serve.

LAYERED BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sugar, and stir until well mixed; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add butter, and use a pastry blender or two knives to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it is the size of peas. Add buttermilk, and mix with a spoon just until it forms a sticky dough.
• Transfer to a lightly floured work surface, and bring dough together. Roll dough into an 8-by-11-by-3/4-inch rectangle, and sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon sugar in the center section of the rectangle. Use a bench scraper or a spatula to lift the ends, folding the rectangle like a letter into thirds toward the center. Before folding the second end over, sprinkle another 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon sugar onto the opposite flap. Fold the second flap over. Give the dough a quarter turn, and repeat the rolling, sprinkling, and folding. Transfer dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Remove from refrigerator, and return to work surface. Roll to a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle, and repeat sprinkling and folding method as in step 2 (when rolling out the second time, do not fold). Cut out with a 2 1/4-inch round biscuit or cookie cutter, and transfer to a baking sheet.
• Sprinkle tops with remaining cinnamon sugar, and place in 500 degree oven for 4 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees. Continue baking until biscuits begin to brown all over, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven; cool on a wire rack. Serve warm.

FLAKY LAYER BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• Sift together dry ingredients into a large bowl.
• Grate butter into dry ingredients and combine in 2 or 3 batches.
• Add buttermilk and mix until mixture is all crumbles. Hand knead/fold until all remaining dry ingredients are combined into a single ball.
• Turn out dough ball onto a floured surface and roll out into a rectangle approximately 1/2" thick. Fold thirds , rotate 1/4 turn and repeat until dough has been rolled and folded 5 - 7 times. Roll out final time 1/2" and cut biscuits.
• Place on baking tray (optionally, brush top of biscuits with melted butter) and put in oven for 15 - 18 minutes until golden brown on top.

APRIL'S PERFECT LAYERED BISCUITS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat your oven to 350.
• 2. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
• 3. Cut the butter into chunks and cut into the flour until it resembles course meal.
• 4. If using a food processor, just pulse a few times will only take 3 or 4 pulses.
• 5. Add the buttermilk and mix JUST until combined. VERY IMPORTANT! over mixing will kill the biscuit.
• 6. If it appears on the dry side, add a bit more buttermilk. It should be wet.
• 7. Turn the dough out onto a floured board and Gently, gently PAT the dough out (do NOT roll with a rolling pin)until it's about 1/2" thick. Fold the dough about 4 times, gently press the dough with fingertips to flatten to make it about 1 inch thick.
• 8. Cut biscuits out with a biscuit cutter or cup. 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. So try and get as many biscuits as you can out of the first round.
• 9. Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet- if you like soft sides, put them touching each other. If you like "crusty" sides, put them about 1 inch apart- these will not rise as high as the biscuits put close together.
• 10. Bake for about 10-12 minutes- the biscuits will be a beautiful light golden brown on top and bottom. Careful not to overbake.
• 11. The key to making delicious biscuits is to not overmix, and to touch them with your hands the least amount possible..using a food processor will help to keep you from over mixing, and when you do touch them, use your fingertips instead of your palm because the palm is warmer than the fingers. Also use very very cold ingredients.