Caramelized Onion Biscuits

• 
  
  2 large yellow onions, halved lengthwise, trimmed, and thinly sliced lengthwise
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. vegetable oil
  
  


• 
  
  3 Tbs. granulated sugar
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
  
  


• 
  
  8 oz. (1-3/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed for shaping the dough
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 tsp. kosher salt
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. baking soda
  
  


• 
  
  4 oz. (8 Tbs.) very cold unsalted butter
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup very cold buttermilk
  
  

Cook the onions:

At least a few hours and up to a day ahead of making the biscuits, put the onions and the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and translucent, 8 minutes. Add 2 Tbs. of the sugar and the balsamic vinegar, and continue cooking and stirring until the onions are very soft and caramelized, 10 to 15 minutes. If the onions brown too much or the bottom of the pan gets too brown before the onions are soft, add some water, about 2 Tbs. at a time. Let the onions cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, chop coarsely, transfer to a container, seal, and refrigerate until cold.

Mix the dough:

Heat the oven to 500°F and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Put the flour, remaining 1 Tbs. sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to distribute the ingredients evenly.

Cut the butter into small bits and toss with the flour. With a sharp knife or a bench knife, cut the cold butter crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack 3 or 4 slices and cut them into three even strips. Rotate the stack a quarter turn and cut the strips in half. You should create 6 small bits of butter per slice. Toss the butter bits into the bowl with the flour mixture. Continue cutting all the butter in the same manner and adding it to the flour mixture.

When all the butter is in the bowl with the flour, use your fingers to separate the butter bits (they tend to stick to each other), coat all the butter pieces with flour, and evenly distribute them throughout the flour mixture. Don’t rub the butter too hard with your fingertips or palms, as this will melt the butter. You’re just trying to break the butter pieces apart, not blend the butter into the flour.

Give it a little stir. When all the butter is evenly distributed, add the cold buttermilk and stir with a large spoon until all or most of the flour is absorbed by the buttermilk and the dough forms a coarse lump, about 1 minute. 

Pat and fold the dough:

Pat and fold the dough. Dust a work surface with flour and dump the dough onto the floured surface, cleaning out the bowl with a spatula or a plastic bowl scraper. Dust the top of the dough and your hands with flour, and press the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle a small amount of additional flour and one third of the caramelized onions on the top of the dough. Fold the dough over on itself in three sections, as if folding a letter (also called a tri-fold). With a bench knife or metal spatula, lift the dough off the counter and dust under it with flour to prevent sticking, if necessary. Dust the top with flour and press the dough out again into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle on another third of the caramelized onions and repeat the tri-fold. Repeat this procedure one more time (three times in all), with the remaining caramelized onions.

Cut and bake the biscuits.

After the third tri-fold, dust under and on top of the dough, if needed, and roll or press the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick oval. Dip a 2-inch or 2-3/4-inch round biscuit cutter in flour and start cutting biscuits, dipping the cutter in flour between each biscuit. Press straight down to cut and lift straight up to remove; twisting the biscuit cutter will seal the sides and interfere with rising. Use a bench knife or spatula to transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, placing them about 1/2 inch apart.

Gently gather any scraps of dough, pat and roll out again, and cut more biscuits from the remaining dough. You can gather and roll the scraps two times total and still get good results (the more times you roll out, the tougher the biscuits will be).

Put the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the temperature to 450°F. Bake for 8 minutes; rotate the pan 180 degrees; continue baking until both the tops and bottoms of the biscuits are a rich golden brown and the biscuits have doubled in height, revealing flaky layers on the sides, 4 to 6 minutes more. It’s all right if some butter seeps from the biscuits. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a cooling rack, leaving the biscuits on the pan. Cool the biscuits for at least 3 minutes and serve them hot or warm (they will stay warm for about 20 minutes).

Anise-Orange Scones

The licorice-like flavor of anise accents orange in these delicious drop scones. They would be a welcome accompaniment to savory foods, like glazed ham, or at a weekend brunch. 

• 
  
  1 medium orange, peel only
  
  


• 
  
  2/3 cup sugar
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. McCormick® Gourmet Collection Anise Seed 
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/2 cups flour
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/2 tsp. baking powder
  
  


• 
  
  1/2 tsp. baking soda
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. salt  
  
  


• 
  
  1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into pieces
  
  


• 
  
  1/2 cup golden raisins
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup sour cream
  
  


• 
  
  2 eggs
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract 
  
  

Heat oven to 375°F. Remove 6 (3-inch long) strips from orange with vegetable peeler. Place in food processor with sugar and anise seed. Process until peel is finely ground, scraping sides once. Reserve 1 Tbs. of sugar mixture; set aside.

Place flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in food processor with remaining sugar mixture; cover. Process to mix well. Add butter; process until mixture forms fine crumbs. Place mixture in large bowl. Stir in raisins.

Mix sour cream, eggs and vanilla in small bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add to flour mixture; stir until a soft dough forms. Drop by heaping 1/4 cupfuls 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with reserved sugar mixture.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until scones are golden on top. Remove to wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

These biscuits come together in no time and are delicious with any meal of the day. Serve them for breakfast with country ham and gravy, use them to make a sandwich for lunch, or pair them with crispy fried chicken at dinner. This recipe is easily doubled.Watch the videofor a step-by-step demonstration on how to make these light, fluffy biscuits. 

• 
  
  9 oz. (2 cups) chilled all-purpose flour, preferably White Lily; more as needed
  
  


• 
  
  2 Tbs. baking powder (preferably aluminum free, such as Rumford)
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 tsp. kosher salt
  
  


• 
  
  4 oz. (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, plus 2 Tbs., melted
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup buttermilk; more for brushing
  
  

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 375°F. Chill a food processor blade and bowl as well as a large mixing bowl. Line a cookie sheet with parchment.

Pulse the flour, baking powder, and salt in the food processor until combined. Add the cold butter and process with ten 1-second pulses; the butter should be the size of small peas. Transfer the mixture to the chilled mixing bowl. Add the buttermilk, moving your hand, with fingers apart, in circles to incorporate it into the dry ingredients. The dough is mixed when it just barely comes together.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Pat and roll it into a 1-inch-thick square. Using a floured 2-1/2-inch round biscuit cutter, cut out as many biscuits as you can, dipping the cutter in flour between cuts to prevent sticking and making sure to lift the cutter straight up, without twisting. Arrange the biscuits on the parchment-lined sheet so they touch. 

Gently gather the remaining dough scraps and press them into a 1-inch-thick rectangle. Cut out as many biscuits as you can and arrange them on the sheet, snug against the others. You should have 6 or 7 biscuits. 

Brush the tops of the biscuits with buttermilk and bake until golden-brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with the melted butter. Serve warm. 

Flaky Cheese Biscuits

Because of all the delicious cheese, these biscuits may spread a bit as they bake, but they're so good, it really doesn't matter how they look.

• 
  
  8 oz. (1-3/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed for shaping the dough
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. granulated sugar
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 tsp. kosher salt
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. baking soda
  
  


• 
  
  4 oz. (8 Tbs.) very cold unsalted butter
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup very cold buttermilk
  
  


• 
  
  2 cups grated sharp Cheddar, Gruyère, Gouda, or provolone
  
  

Mix and fold the dough:

Heat the oven to 500°F and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to distribute the ingredients evenly.

With a sharp knife or a bench knife, cut the cold butter crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack 3 or 4 slices and cut them into three even strips. Rotate the stack a quarter turn and cut the strips in half. You should create 6 small bits of butter per slice. Toss the butter bits into the bowl with the flour mixture. Continue cutting all the butter in the same manner and adding it to the flour mixture.

When all the butter is in the bowl with the flour, use your fingers to separate the butter bits (they tend to stick to each other), coat all the butter pieces with flour, and evenly distribute them throughout the flour mixture. Don’t rub the butter too hard with your fingertips or palms, as this will melt the butter. You’re just trying to break the butter pieces apart, not blend the butter into the flour.

When all the butter is evenly distributed, add the cold buttermilk and stir with a large spoon until all or most of the flour is absorbed by the buttermilk and the dough forms a coarse lump, about 1 minute. 

Pat and fold the dough:

Dust a work surface with flour and dump the dough onto the floured surface, cleaning out the bowl with a spatula or a plastic bowl scraper. Dust the top of the dough and your hands with flour, and press the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle a small amount of additional flour and one-third of the cheese on the top of the dough. Fold the dough over on itself in three sections, as if folding a letter (also called a tri-fold). With a bench knife or metal spatula, lift the dough off the counter and dust under it with flour to prevent sticking, if necessary. Dust the top with flour and press the dough out again into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle on another third of the cheese and repeat the tri-fold. Repeat this procedure one more time (three times in all), using the remaining cheese.

Cut and bake the biscuits:

After the third tri-fold, dust under and on top of the dough, if needed, and roll or press the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick oval. Dip a 2-inch or 2-3/4-inch round biscuit cutter in flour and start cutting biscuits, dipping the cutter in flour between each biscuit. Press straight down to cut and lift straight up to remove; twisting the biscuit cutter will seal the sides and interfere with rising. Use a bench knife or spatula to transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, placing them about 1/2 inch apart.

Gently gather any scraps of dough, pat and roll out again, and cut more biscuits from the remaining dough. You can gather and roll the scraps two times total and still get good results (the more times you roll out, the tougher the biscuits will be).

Put the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the temperature to 450°F. Bake for 8 minutes; rotate the pan 180 degrees; continue baking until both the tops and bottoms of the biscuits are a rich golden brown and the biscuits have doubled in height, revealing flaky layers on the sides, 4 to 6 minutes more. It’s all right if some butter seeps from the biscuits. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a cooling rack, leaving the biscuits on the pan. Cool the biscuits for at least 3 minutes and serve them hot or warm (they will stay warm for about 20 minutes).

Caramelized Onion Biscuits

• 
  
  2 large yellow onions, halved lengthwise, trimmed, and thinly sliced lengthwise
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. vegetable oil
  
  


• 
  
  3 Tbs. granulated sugar
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
  
  


• 
  
  8 oz. (1-3/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed for shaping the dough
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 tsp. kosher salt
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. baking soda
  
  


• 
  
  4 oz. (8 Tbs.) very cold unsalted butter
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup very cold buttermilk
  
  

Cook the onions:

At least a few hours and up to a day ahead of making the biscuits, put the onions and the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and translucent, 8 minutes. Add 2 Tbs. of the sugar and the balsamic vinegar, and continue cooking and stirring until the onions are very soft and caramelized, 10 to 15 minutes. If the onions brown too much or the bottom of the pan gets too brown before the onions are soft, add some water, about 2 Tbs. at a time. Let the onions cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, chop coarsely, transfer to a container, seal, and refrigerate until cold.

Mix the dough:

Heat the oven to 500°F and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Put the flour, remaining 1 Tbs. sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to distribute the ingredients evenly.

Cut the butter into small bits and toss with the flour. With a sharp knife or a bench knife, cut the cold butter crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack 3 or 4 slices and cut them into three even strips. Rotate the stack a quarter turn and cut the strips in half. You should create 6 small bits of butter per slice. Toss the butter bits into the bowl with the flour mixture. Continue cutting all the butter in the same manner and adding it to the flour mixture.

When all the butter is in the bowl with the flour, use your fingers to separate the butter bits (they tend to stick to each other), coat all the butter pieces with flour, and evenly distribute them throughout the flour mixture. Don’t rub the butter too hard with your fingertips or palms, as this will melt the butter. You’re just trying to break the butter pieces apart, not blend the butter into the flour.

Give it a little stir. When all the butter is evenly distributed, add the cold buttermilk and stir with a large spoon until all or most of the flour is absorbed by the buttermilk and the dough forms a coarse lump, about 1 minute. 

Pat and fold the dough:

Pat and fold the dough. Dust a work surface with flour and dump the dough onto the floured surface, cleaning out the bowl with a spatula or a plastic bowl scraper. Dust the top of the dough and your hands with flour, and press the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle a small amount of additional flour and one third of the caramelized onions on the top of the dough. Fold the dough over on itself in three sections, as if folding a letter (also called a tri-fold). With a bench knife or metal spatula, lift the dough off the counter and dust under it with flour to prevent sticking, if necessary. Dust the top with flour and press the dough out again into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle on another third of the caramelized onions and repeat the tri-fold. Repeat this procedure one more time (three times in all), with the remaining caramelized onions.

Cut and bake the biscuits.

After the third tri-fold, dust under and on top of the dough, if needed, and roll or press the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick oval. Dip a 2-inch or 2-3/4-inch round biscuit cutter in flour and start cutting biscuits, dipping the cutter in flour between each biscuit. Press straight down to cut and lift straight up to remove; twisting the biscuit cutter will seal the sides and interfere with rising. Use a bench knife or spatula to transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, placing them about 1/2 inch apart.

Gently gather any scraps of dough, pat and roll out again, and cut more biscuits from the remaining dough. You can gather and roll the scraps two times total and still get good results (the more times you roll out, the tougher the biscuits will be).

Put the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the temperature to 450°F. Bake for 8 minutes; rotate the pan 180 degrees; continue baking until both the tops and bottoms of the biscuits are a rich golden brown and the biscuits have doubled in height, revealing flaky layers on the sides, 4 to 6 minutes more. It’s all right if some butter seeps from the biscuits. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a cooling rack, leaving the biscuits on the pan. Cool the biscuits for at least 3 minutes and serve them hot or warm (they will stay warm for about 20 minutes).

Flaky Cheese Biscuits

Because of all the delicious cheese, these biscuits may spread a bit as they bake, but they're so good, it really doesn't matter how they look.

• 
  
  8 oz. (1-3/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed for shaping the dough
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. granulated sugar
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 tsp. kosher salt
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. baking soda
  
  


• 
  
  4 oz. (8 Tbs.) very cold unsalted butter
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup very cold buttermilk
  
  


• 
  
  2 cups grated sharp Cheddar, Gruyère, Gouda, or provolone
  
  

Mix and fold the dough:

Heat the oven to 500°F and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to distribute the ingredients evenly.

With a sharp knife or a bench knife, cut the cold butter crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack 3 or 4 slices and cut them into three even strips. Rotate the stack a quarter turn and cut the strips in half. You should create 6 small bits of butter per slice. Toss the butter bits into the bowl with the flour mixture. Continue cutting all the butter in the same manner and adding it to the flour mixture.

When all the butter is in the bowl with the flour, use your fingers to separate the butter bits (they tend to stick to each other), coat all the butter pieces with flour, and evenly distribute them throughout the flour mixture. Don’t rub the butter too hard with your fingertips or palms, as this will melt the butter. You’re just trying to break the butter pieces apart, not blend the butter into the flour.

When all the butter is evenly distributed, add the cold buttermilk and stir with a large spoon until all or most of the flour is absorbed by the buttermilk and the dough forms a coarse lump, about 1 minute. 

Pat and fold the dough:

Dust a work surface with flour and dump the dough onto the floured surface, cleaning out the bowl with a spatula or a plastic bowl scraper. Dust the top of the dough and your hands with flour, and press the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle a small amount of additional flour and one-third of the cheese on the top of the dough. Fold the dough over on itself in three sections, as if folding a letter (also called a tri-fold). With a bench knife or metal spatula, lift the dough off the counter and dust under it with flour to prevent sticking, if necessary. Dust the top with flour and press the dough out again into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle on another third of the cheese and repeat the tri-fold. Repeat this procedure one more time (three times in all), using the remaining cheese.

Cut and bake the biscuits:

After the third tri-fold, dust under and on top of the dough, if needed, and roll or press the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick oval. Dip a 2-inch or 2-3/4-inch round biscuit cutter in flour and start cutting biscuits, dipping the cutter in flour between each biscuit. Press straight down to cut and lift straight up to remove; twisting the biscuit cutter will seal the sides and interfere with rising. Use a bench knife or spatula to transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, placing them about 1/2 inch apart.

Gently gather any scraps of dough, pat and roll out again, and cut more biscuits from the remaining dough. You can gather and roll the scraps two times total and still get good results (the more times you roll out, the tougher the biscuits will be).

Put the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the temperature to 450°F. Bake for 8 minutes; rotate the pan 180 degrees; continue baking until both the tops and bottoms of the biscuits are a rich golden brown and the biscuits have doubled in height, revealing flaky layers on the sides, 4 to 6 minutes more. It’s all right if some butter seeps from the biscuits. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a cooling rack, leaving the biscuits on the pan. Cool the biscuits for at least 3 minutes and serve them hot or warm (they will stay warm for about 20 minutes).

Fresh Herb Biscuits

Strong herbs like rosemary, oregano, sage, and thyme can easily overpower the biscuits; use these in moderation.

• 
  
  8 oz. (1-3/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed for shaping the dough
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. granulated sugar
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 tsp. kosher salt
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. baking soda
  
  


• 
  
  4 oz. (8 Tbs.) very cold unsalted butter 
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup very cold buttermilk
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup minced fresh tender herbs such as basil, parsley, dill, chervil, cilantro, or a combination
  
  

Mix the dough:

Heat the oven to 500°F and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to distribute the ingredients evenly.

Cut the butter into small bits and toss with the flour. With a sharp knife or a bench knife, cut the cold butter crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack 3 or 4 slices and cut them into three even strips. Rotate the stack a quarter turn and cut the strips in half. You should create 6 small bits of butter per slice. Toss the butter bits into the bowl with the flour mixture. Continue cutting all the butter in the same manner and adding it to the flour mixture.

When all the butter is in the bowl with the flour, use your fingers to separate the butter bits (they tend to stick to each other), coat all the butter pieces with flour, and evenly distribute them throughout the flour mixture. Don’t rub the butter too hard with your fingertips or palms, as this will melt the butter. You’re just trying to break the butter pieces apart, not blend the butter into the flour.

When all the butter is evenly distributed, add the cold buttermilk and stir with a large spoon until all or most of the flour is absorbed by the buttermilk and the dough forms a coarse lump, about 1 minute. 

Pat and fold the dough:

Dust a work surface with flour and dump the dough onto the floured surface, cleaning out the bowl with a spatula or a plastic bowl scraper. Dust the top of the dough and your hands with flour, and press the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle a small amount of additional flour and one-third of the fresh herbs on the top of the dough. Fold the dough over on itself in three sections, as if folding a letter (also called a tri-fold). With a bench knife or metal spatula, lift the dough off the counter and dust under it with flour to prevent sticking, if necessary. Dust the top with flour and press the dough out again into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Aprinkle on another one-third of the herbs and repeat the tri-fold. Repeat this procedure one more time (three times in all), with the remaining fresh herbs.

Cut and bake the biscuits:

After the third tri-fold, dust under and on top of the dough, if needed, and roll or press the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick oval. Dip a 2-inch or 2-3/4-inch round biscuit cutter in flour and start cutting biscuits, dipping the cutter in flour between each biscuit. Press straight down to cut and lift straight up to remove; twisting the biscuit cutter will seal the sides and interfere with rising. Use a bench knife or spatula to transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, placing them about 1/2 inch apart.

Gently gather any scraps of dough, pat and roll out again, and cut more biscuits from the remaining dough. You can gather and roll the scraps two times total and still get good results (the more times you roll out, the tougher the biscuits will be).

Put the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the temperature to 450°F. Bake for 8 minutes; rotate the pan 180 degrees; continue baking until both the tops and bottoms of the biscuits are a rich golden brown and the biscuits have doubled in height, revealing flaky layers on the sides, 4 to 6 minutes more. It’s all right if some butter seeps from the biscuits. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a cooling rack, leaving the biscuits on the pan. Cool the biscuits for at least 3 minutes and serve them hot or warm (they will stay warm for about 20 minutes).  

Peaches & Cream Shortcakes

These buttery biscuits are the perfect platform for peaches and cream. Sprinkling the tops of the shortcake biscuits with demerara sugar before baking gives them a nice crunchy texture.

For the shortcake biscuits:

• 
  
  9 oz. (2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more for rolling and cutting the biscuits
  
  


• 
  
  2 Tbs. light brown sugar
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/2 tsp. baking powder
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. table salt
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
  
  


• 
  
  3 oz. (6 Tbs.) unsalted butter, chilled in the freezer for 15 minutes
  
  


• 
  
  1 cup plus 1 tsp. heavy whipping cream
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. demerara sugar
  
  

For assembly:

• 
  
  1 recipe Marinated Peaches
  
  


• 
  
  1 recipe Honey Whipped Cream
  
  

Make the biscuits:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a nonstick liner.

Put the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse briefly to blend.

Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the food processor. Pulse until the butter is cut into pieces the size of large breadcrumbs, 6 to 8 pulses.

With the food processor running, immediately pour 1 cup of the cream through the feed tube and process just until the ingredients are moistened.

Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead a few times just until smooth. Pat the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick circle or rectangle. Dip a 2-3/4-inch round plain-edge biscuit cutter in flour and then cut straight down through the dough to form the biscuits. (Dip the cutter in flour before cutting each biscuit and don't twist the cutter, because it will seal the edges and keep the shortcakes from rising as they bake.)

Transfer the shortcakes to the lined baking sheet, leaving at least an inch between them. Gather the scraps together, knead briefly to smooth the dough, and shape into a 3/4-inch-thick circle or rectangle. Cut out more shortcakes. Repeat as often as necessary to use most of the dough (there will be a little left over).

With a pastry brush, lightly coat the tops of the biscuits with the remaining 1 tsp. cream and then lightly sprinkle them with demerara sugar.

Bake until the bottoms are slightly golden, 14 to 16 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the biscuits cool completely on a rack before serving. While the biscuits cool, marinate the peaches and make the honey whipped cream.

Assemble the shortcakes:

Using a serrated knife, slice each biscuit in half horizontally. Set the bottom half on an individual serving plate and spoon about one-eighth of the marinated peaches, a scant 1/4 cup, over the biscuit. Cover the peaches with a generous spoonful of the honey whipped cream. Put the top of the biscuit on the cream. Drop a small dollop of whipped cream on the biscuit top, if you wish. Repeat with the remaining biscuits. If you have any peach slices left, arrange them around the plates. Serve immediately.

Buttermilk Biscuits

Lightly crunchy on the outside, soft and mellow within, these biscuits are equally good at dinner or breakfast.

• 
  
  1 recipe Buttermilk Biscuit Dough
  
  

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 450°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment.

On a floured surface, pat the dough into a 4x8-inch rectangle. Using a floured chef’s knife, cut the dough into eight 2-inch-square biscuits. Carefully transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake until golden-brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack until warm, about 10 minutes, before serving.

Caramelized Onion Biscuits

• 
  
  2 large yellow onions, halved lengthwise, trimmed, and thinly sliced lengthwise
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. vegetable oil
  
  


• 
  
  3 Tbs. granulated sugar
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
  
  


• 
  
  8 oz. (1-3/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed for shaping the dough
  
  


• 
  
  2-1/4 tsp. baking powder
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 tsp. kosher salt
  
  


• 
  
  1/4 tsp. baking soda
  
  


• 
  
  4 oz. (8 Tbs.) very cold unsalted butter
  
  


• 
  
  3/4 cup very cold buttermilk
  
  

Cook the onions:

At least a few hours and up to a day ahead of making the biscuits, put the onions and the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and translucent, 8 minutes. Add 2 Tbs. of the sugar and the balsamic vinegar, and continue cooking and stirring until the onions are very soft and caramelized, 10 to 15 minutes. If the onions brown too much or the bottom of the pan gets too brown before the onions are soft, add some water, about 2 Tbs. at a time. Let the onions cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, chop coarsely, transfer to a container, seal, and refrigerate until cold.

Mix the dough:

Heat the oven to 500°F and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Put the flour, remaining 1 Tbs. sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to distribute the ingredients evenly.

Cut the butter into small bits and toss with the flour. With a sharp knife or a bench knife, cut the cold butter crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack 3 or 4 slices and cut them into three even strips. Rotate the stack a quarter turn and cut the strips in half. You should create 6 small bits of butter per slice. Toss the butter bits into the bowl with the flour mixture. Continue cutting all the butter in the same manner and adding it to the flour mixture.

When all the butter is in the bowl with the flour, use your fingers to separate the butter bits (they tend to stick to each other), coat all the butter pieces with flour, and evenly distribute them throughout the flour mixture. Don’t rub the butter too hard with your fingertips or palms, as this will melt the butter. You’re just trying to break the butter pieces apart, not blend the butter into the flour.

Give it a little stir. When all the butter is evenly distributed, add the cold buttermilk and stir with a large spoon until all or most of the flour is absorbed by the buttermilk and the dough forms a coarse lump, about 1 minute. 

Pat and fold the dough:

Pat and fold the dough. Dust a work surface with flour and dump the dough onto the floured surface, cleaning out the bowl with a spatula or a plastic bowl scraper. Dust the top of the dough and your hands with flour, and press the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle a small amount of additional flour and one third of the caramelized onions on the top of the dough. Fold the dough over on itself in three sections, as if folding a letter (also called a tri-fold). With a bench knife or metal spatula, lift the dough off the counter and dust under it with flour to prevent sticking, if necessary. Dust the top with flour and press the dough out again into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Sprinkle on another third of the caramelized onions and repeat the tri-fold. Repeat this procedure one more time (three times in all), with the remaining caramelized onions.

Cut and bake the biscuits.

After the third tri-fold, dust under and on top of the dough, if needed, and roll or press the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick oval. Dip a 2-inch or 2-3/4-inch round biscuit cutter in flour and start cutting biscuits, dipping the cutter in flour between each biscuit. Press straight down to cut and lift straight up to remove; twisting the biscuit cutter will seal the sides and interfere with rising. Use a bench knife or spatula to transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, placing them about 1/2 inch apart.

Gently gather any scraps of dough, pat and roll out again, and cut more biscuits from the remaining dough. You can gather and roll the scraps two times total and still get good results (the more times you roll out, the tougher the biscuits will be).

Put the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the temperature to 450°F. Bake for 8 minutes; rotate the pan 180 degrees; continue baking until both the tops and bottoms of the biscuits are a rich golden brown and the biscuits have doubled in height, revealing flaky layers on the sides, 4 to 6 minutes more. It’s all right if some butter seeps from the biscuits. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a cooling rack, leaving the biscuits on the pan. Cool the biscuits for at least 3 minutes and serve them hot or warm (they will stay warm for about 20 minutes).