This is when things start getting fun! I had learned some biscuit lessons along the way and was ready to really put them into practice with this new recipe.

Where did this biscuit recipe come from?

This one is mine! I was inspired by a few different recipes – the most influential was this one from Bon Appetit.

Why choose this biscuit recipe?

I had family in town and a friend was having a bad week and, well, I thought I should make them all some biscuits. Nothing says “I love you” like a rich, buttery, cheesy biscuit, right?

What is Persnickety about this biscuit recipe?

In some ways, I think this recipe is easier than many. You have to remember to freeze the butter – that must be done ahead of time. And grating the butter is a little persnickety. It is hard to hold onto a stick of butter to grate it! But once that is done, putting everything together is really easy. You don’t have to cut the butter in or wonder if you are working fast enough or if your butter is starting to melt too much. It is already the perfect size, so you just toss it with the dry ingredients.

I have to admit, I got the butter freezing idea from that first biscuit recipe. The Tupeolo Honey one. Remember that? I decided that was an idea I could definitely salvage from that recipe.

The other thing to note is the way the whole piece of dough was put onto the parchment before it was cut out. How much easier is it to cut the biscuits out in place and then just slide the whole thing into the oven? I also really love making these little biscuits. They are almost bite-sized and I can have a couple of them without feeling like I’m going to gain a million pounds in a weekend.

So how was the biscuit?

Is it too immodest if I say “wow”? Honestly, they were really good. Moist, cheesy, with just enough herb and garlic flavor to make them perfect all by themselves. No butter was required for these little gems.

How were the leftover biscuits prepared?

I reheated them in the microwave and also toasted them. Very good, of course. I mean, how could buttery rich cheesy cheddar herb biscuits not be good when toasted?

I also was going to try a new freeze, thaw, rest, bake thing. I put a small piece of cut out dough into the freezer. The idea (from that Bon Appetit recipe) was to thaw them overnight in the fridge, let them rest for 20 minutes at room temp, then bake. But I got impatient and just pulled them out of the freezer and put them into the oven. They still baked up pretty well, just did not rise as much. Oh well. Another time I’ll follow those directions and let you know how they turn out.

>>>Click here for printable recipe.

Cheddar Cheesy Herb Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 cups White Lily self-rise flour
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. dried mustard
• 1/2 tsp. Mrs Dash original (or any combo of herbs you like)
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 T. sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, frozen
• 3/4 – 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 475 degrees. Cover cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix all dry ingredients.
3. Grate cheddar if not using pre-shredded.
4. Grate frozen butter.
5. Add butter to dry ingredients and toss to coat butter pieces with flour. You do not need to “cut in” the butter at this point.
6. Add cheese and toss to coat.
7. Make a well in the center and add 3/4 cup buttermilk. Mix quickly with large spoon or hands. Add more buttermilk, if needed, to make dough moist but not too wet. It will be somewhat sticky.
8. Sprinkle flour onto countertop or pastry board. Dump dough out of bowl onto flour. Sprinkle flour onto dough and rub onto hands. Press dough together quickly and flatten to about 1/2 inch. Fold dough in half. A pastry scraper can be really helpful here to lift up the dough. Sprinkle board, hands and top of dough with flour again. Flatten and fold again. Flatten to about 1/2-3/4 inch.
9. Transfer dough to parchment paper. Press out again if needed. Make into a rough rectangular shape. Using a pastry scraper, knife, spatula or other edge, cut dough into squares about 1 1/2 inches across. You do not need to move the dough after cutting.
10. Put cookie sheet in oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, until tops of biscuits are slightly browned. If you wish, take the biscuits out of the oven a couple of minutes before they are done and brush the tops of the biscuits with butter.
11. Remove from oven, let rest a few minutes, then break apart and eat!
12. Share with someone you love.