100 DECEMBER 2018
ESSAY
Cheddar-Scallion Biscuits
ACTIVE 10 MIN; TOTAL 25 MIN
MAKES 8 BISCUITS
Scattering grated cheddar cheese
on the parchment paper–lined
baking sheet before placing the
biscuit dough on top results in
crispy, toasty “feet.”
2 cups all-purpose flour
(about 8^1 / 2 oz.), plus more
for dusting
2 tsp. baking powder
3 / 4 tsp. baking soda
3 / 4 tsp. black pepper
1 / 2 tsp. kosher salt
1 / 2 cup cold unsalted butter
(4 oz.), cubed
1 / 2 cup thinly sliced scallions
4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese,
grated (about 1 cup), divided
1 cup buttermilk, divided
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a
baking sheet with parchment paper.
Whisk together flour, baking pow-
der, baking soda, black pepper, and
salt in a large bowl until combined.
Using a pastry blender or your fin-
gers, work cold butter into flour
mixture until butter is in small, flat-
tened pieces and mixture is crum-
bly. Stir in scallions and^1 / 2 cup
cheese. Add^3 / 4 cup buttermilk, and
stir just until dough comes together,
adding up to^1 / 4 cup additional but-
termilk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if
necessary. (Dough should be nei-
ther sticky nor crumbly.) - Transfer dough to a lightly
floured surface, and knead 3 to 4
times just to bring dough together.
Pat dough into an 8- x 6-inch rect-
angle; fold 1 short side a third of the
way over toward center. Fold oppo-
site short side over folded end
(business letter fold). Rotate dough
clockwise 90 degrees; pat out
dough into a 8- x 6-inch rectangle,
and repeat folding procedure. Pat
dough out into an 8- x 6-inch rect-
angle (^3 / 4 to 1 inch thick); cut dough
into 8 rectangular biscuits.
- Sprinkle remaining^1 / 2 cup cheese
into 8 mounds about 3 inches apart
on prepared baking sheet, scatter-
ing cheese just a bit so some cheese
will stick out from under biscuits.
Place each biscuit rectangle on a
mound of cheese on baking sheet.
Brush tops with melted butter. Bake
biscuits in preheated oven until
golden brown, about 15 minutes.
PHOTOGRAPHY: GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX; PROP STYLING: HEATHER CHADDUCK HILLEGAS