Melt-in-Your-Mouth Heavenly Biscuits
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes
Get ready to experience the most delightful biscuits you’ll ever taste! These Melt-in-Your-Mouth Heavenly Biscuits are a recipe straight from the pages of Shirley Corriher’s renowned cookbook, Cookwise. Shirley Corriher, known for her role as the food scientist on Good Eats with Alton Brown, has shared what is believed to be her grandma’s secret recipe. These biscuits are the epitome of biscuit perfection – they melt in your mouth, making them a fantastic standalone treat or a perfect accompaniment to sausage gravy. Follow this recipe to the letter for biscuits that are nothing short of heavenly.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Wondra flour
- 1 1/4 tablespoons baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup shortening
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (for coating)
- 2 tablespoons butter (melted, for brushing)
Instructions
-
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to a sizzling 475°F (245°C). The high temperature is essential for creating those perfectly flaky layers. -
Prepare the Pan
Lightly spray an 8-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. This will ensure your biscuits come out of the pan effortlessly and with a perfect golden crust. -
Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, mix together the 1 cup all-purpose flour, Wondra flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Ensure these ingredients are well combined for a uniform rise and flavor in your biscuits. -
Cut in Shortening
Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the shortening into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. This step is crucial for creating that tender biscuit texture. -
Add Liquids
Stir in the buttermilk and heavy cream. The dough will be very wet – this is normal! The high moisture content is key to achieving those melt-in-your-mouth results. -
Let the Dough Rest
Allow the dough to sit for 2-3 minutes. This brief resting period helps to relax the gluten and improves the texture of the biscuits. -
Prepare for Shaping
Pour 1 cup of all-purpose flour into another bowl. Flour your hands to prevent the dough from sticking. -
Shape the Biscuits
Using a half-cup measuring cup, scoop out a portion of dough. The dough will be too sticky to pick up easily with your hands. Drop this dough into the bowl of flour, covering it completely. Gently toss the dough from hand to hand to coat it in flour and roughly shape the biscuit. Be as gentle as possible to avoid deflating the dough. -
Transfer to Pan
Drop each coated dough lump into the prepared cake pan. Place them closely together to encourage upward rising rather than spreading out. -
Brush with Butter
Brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter or margarine. This step adds a beautiful golden color and a delicious flavor. -
Bake
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the biscuits are lightly browned on top and cooked through. The high oven temperature will give them a lovely, crisp exterior. -
Cool and Serve
Let the biscuits cool in the pan for a few minutes before gently removing them. To serve, dump the pan out and carefully separate the biscuits.
Enjoy these delightful biscuits warm, straight out of the oven. They are perfect on their own or with a rich sausage gravy. Trust the process, follow the recipe precisely, and get ready to impress everyone with these truly heavenly biscuits. Enjoy every bite!
