Biscuits & Gravy - Master Cookbook Recipe # 168

Name: Biscuits & Gravy - Master Cookbook Recipe # 168
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6-8 biscuits
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 2 cups Self-rising flour; 1/4 cup Shortening (Crisco); A pinch Baking soda; 1-1/8 cup Whole buttermilk; Extra flour for sifting and dusting; 2/3 cup milk or low-fat buttermilk

There is nothing more classic than Southern biscuits and gravy. This recipe uses the "formula L" method for high-rising, flaky biscuits that are the perfect vessel for a rich, peppery sausage gravy.

This is recipe #168 in Tammy’s Master Cookbook.

Prep time: 10 minCook time: 20 minTotal time: 30 min

Cook mode Prevent screen from turning off

Ingredients

2 cups Self-rising flour
1/4 cup Shortening (Crisco)
A pinch Baking soda
The Liquid:
1-1/8 cup Whole buttermilk
Extra flour for sifting and dusting

Optional Liquid Ingredient

2/3 cup milk or low-fat buttermilk

Instructions

Prep Flour: Sift the self-rising flour into a large bowl. Add a pinch of baking soda and whisk together.
Cut in Fat: Add the shortening to the flour. Use a fork or pastry blender to blend it in until the mixture forms pea-sized crumbs.
Mix Dough: Gradually add the buttermilk, stirring just until a thick, sticky dough forms.
Knead: Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface. Sprinkle the top with a little more flour and knead gently 4 to 7 times.
Cut: Pat the dough out to a 3/4-inch thickness. Use a biscuit cutter to cut your biscuits,be sure to press straight down without twisting.
Bake: Place the biscuits close together (touching) on a greased aluminum pan or a cast-iron skillet. Bake at 500°F for about 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown

Notes

Pro Tips -

High Heat is Key: Baking at 500°F gives the biscuits that instant lift and creates a crisp outer crust while keeping the inside fluffy.
Don't Twist: When cutting the biscuits, don't twist the cutter! Twisting seals the edges of the dough and prevents the biscuits from rising to their full height.
Touch Them: Placing the biscuits so they touch each other in the pan helps them rise upward rather than spreading outward, resulting in taller, softer biscuits.