Angel Biscuits
- 1 envelope active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1/4 cup plus 1 pinch of sugar
- 2 tablespoons lukewarm water
- 5 cups self-rising flour
- 1 cup cold solid vegetable shortening, cut into small pieces
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and the pinch of sugar in the lukewarm water and let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the flour with the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar.
- Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening into the flour until pieces the size of small peas form.
- Add the yeast mixture and the buttermilk and stir until the dough just comes together.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead 5 times; the dough should be soft and moist.
- Transfer the dough to a clean bowl; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Transfer the biscuit dough to a lightly floured surface and knead 10 times.
- Roll out the dough to a 16-inch round 1/3 inch thick.
- Using a 2 1/4-inch biscuit cutter, stamp out biscuits as close together as possible.
- Gather the dough scraps, knead 3 times and reroll, then stamp out more biscuits as close together as possible.
- Discard any remaining scraps.
- Lightly butter 2 large baking sheets.
- Brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter.
- Fold the biscuits in half, brush the tops with the remaining melted butter and set them, unbuttered side down, on the prepared baking sheets.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free place for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 400.
- Bake the biscuits for about 15 minutes, or until browned on the bottom and light golden on top.
- Serve warm.
active dry yeast, sugar, water, flour, cold solid vegetable shortening, buttermilk, unsalted butter
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/angel-biscuits (may not work)