Flaky Old Fashioned Biscuit

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup butter or shortening cold
• 1 cup milk or buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
• Grate your butter using a cheese grater and stir into the flour mixture OR cut butter into small pieces and use a pastry cutter to cut the fat into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal or sand.
• Gradually pour in the buttermilk or milk, stirring until the dough just comes together.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean countertop and form it into a ball.
• Press the dough flat until it is 1-inch thick. Use a circle biscuit cutter or a drinking glass to cut out your biscuits. Combine leftover scraps and continue re-pressing and cutting until all dough is used.
• Place cut biscuits on an un-greased baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees for about 12-15 minutes, until the tops are nicely browned. Brush the tops with melted butter, if desired.