Suit Yourself Biscuits

So sometimes I’m just in a cookie cutter mood. Do you ever get like that? I just wanna use cookie cutters, please! NOW!

So a few nights ago, instead of using cookie cutters for the obvious, I used them for biscuits. More specifically, Joy the Baker‘s Cheddar Black Pepper Biscuits. Cut out with my grandmother’s suit-series cookie cutters. Fabulous, I know!

Cheddar pairs with black pepper to make these biscuits. These delightfully flaky biscuits.… oh man.

And when they’re cut to look like a deck of cards [he he he, I crack myself up], they just taste better I think. Regardless of their shape though, they crumble oh-so-nicely into perfect pieces which just melt in your mouth. Topped with some butter, they’re a delightful addition to dinner or breakfast. Divine, I say. D-i-v-i-n-e!

Cheddar Black Pepper Biscuits [by Joy the Baker]

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
• 1/2 cup shortening, cold and diced [I used Crisco sticks]
• 1/4 cup butter, cold and diced
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3/4 cup buttermilk, cold
• 3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• a touch of heavy cream and black pepper for topping the biscuits before baking [I used evaporated milk because I had a can opened…]

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, and cream of tarter. Use a pastry blender to cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Fold in pepper and cheese. In a small bowl, whisk egg and buttermilk together and then pour into dough, mixing together gently.

Turn dough out onto a floured cutting board or countertop, and knead together for a minute or so [Joy recommends 15 times]. Then pat dough out to a 1 inch thickness and cut dough with a biscuit/cookie cutter or in squares with a knife. Brush tops with cream and pepper. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

Click here for the printable version: Cheddar Black Pepper Biscuits

Question of the Day: What’s your favorite cookie cutter shape?