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Angel Biscuits

Angel biscuits are so easy to make that they’re often called “bride biscuits.” They have three different types of leavening, so they always rise up fluffy and tall.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 12 biscuits

Ingredients

1/4 cup lukewarm water
1 package active dry yeast
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, plus more for yeast
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for working dough
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the warm water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes, until it becomes frothy and foamy.

    Step 2

    Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in the shortening in small bits, and stir until the mixture resembles small crumbly peas. Add the buttermilk and the yeast mixture, and stir together, using a wooden spoon, until the dough just comes together.

    Step 3

    Remove the dough to a floured work surface, and knead briefly for about 1 minute, until the dough is smooth and uniform in appearance. (It’s important not to overwork your dough, or you will be left with tough biscuits.) Pat the dough out to a 3/4-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch biscuit cutter dipped in flour, punch out dough rounds, patting and shaping the leftover dough to create more rounds.

    Step 4

    Arrange the biscuits on a parchment-lined sheet tray, cover with a clean tea towel, and let rise for 30 to 45 minutes, until doubled in bulk.

    Step 5

    Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Brush each biscuit with melted butter. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Image may contain: Pat Neely, Human, Person, Food, Meal, Restaurant, Cafeteria, and Buffet
Reprinted with permission from The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook by Pat and Gina Nelly. Copyright © 2011 by Pat and Gina Nelly with Anna Volkwein. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Pat and Gina Neely are restaurateurs, best-selling authors, popular speakers, and hosts of the Food Network hit series Down Home with the Neelys. They recently opened their first New York City restaurant, Neely's Barbecue Parlor. They live with their daughters in Memphis, where they enjoy cooking at home with family and friends. Ann Volkwein is a best-selling food and lifestyle author based in New York City and Austin, Texas. Her previous books include: The Arthur Avenue Cookbook, Chinatown New York, Mixt Greens (with Andrew Swallow), and, with Guy Fieri: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; More Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; and Guy Fieri Food.
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