Perfect Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe:

Step 1

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Toss the butter chunks into the flour mixture.  Refrigerate for a least 1 hour or overnight.

Step 2

Remove the bowl from the refrigerator and, using clean hands, mash the butter chunks between your thumb and index finger into quarter-sized pieces.  Do not handle the mixture too much as you want to keep the butter cold.  Again refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes or longer.

Step 3

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 4

After refrigerating, mix the cold buttermilk into the flour/butter mixture, tossing briskly with your hands or a fork to evenly distribute the buttermilk so no dry bits of flour are visible.  The dough will be sticky but should clear the sides of the bowl.

Step 5

Scrape the biscuit mixture out onto a lightly-floured work surface and gather, with floured hands, into a ball (do not knead).  Roll the dough into a rectangle about 1/4-inch thick.  Fold into thirds and rotate dough 90 degrees, dusting work surface with flour.  Roll out to about 1-inch thick.

Step 6

Using a 3-inch biscuit cutter or drinking glass, cut the dough (press down on the cutter, but do not turn or twist), dipping the cutter or glass into the flour after each cut.  Be sure to cut the biscuits close together, even touching, so you will not have many scraps.  Re-rolling the scraps will make tougher biscuits. Place onto an ungreased baking sheet, close together for soft-sided biscuits or 1-inch apart for crisp-sided ones.

Step 7

NOTE: If you need to hold the uncooked biscuits, the cut dough rounds can be refrigerated for up to 1 hour.

Step 8

Bake approximately 15 to 20 minutes, without opening the oven door, until the biscuits have risen and the tops are golden brown.  Remove from oven and serve warm.

Step 9

Makes 6 to 8 (3-inch) biscuits.