Savory Cheddar Beer Biscuits

In my previous post on fried chicken I mentioned an easy Bisquick recipe, but frankly, these are almost just as easy to make, taste way better and only takes about 10 minutes more to prepare. I adapted a recipe I found on the epicurious site. But my recipe tweaks made them better IMHO.

Here's how it all went down...

INGREDIENTS

Pre heat oven to 450 degrees.

2 1/4 cup flour (use all purpose or a flour with low protien content such as a cake flour or White Lilly brand if you can find it- makes for a fluffier biscuit).

2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 tbs sugar

1 tsp salt

3/4 stick of butter cut into cubes and pop in the freezer for 10 minutes with 2 tbs shortening

1 1/2  cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1 tbs garlic powder

pinch of cayenne pepper

(optional) 2 tbs chopped chives or scallions

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup beer such as a lager

In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients, add the chilled butter and shortening and mix between your fingers until it resembles course meal. There will be some visible chunks of butter and shortening. They key is to not soften the butter too much- so don't overwork it.

Then add the cheeses, seasonings and stir in the buttermilk and beer. Again, be sure to give it a light stir as to not overwork it or the biscuits will come out hard.

Using a tablespooon as a scoop, drop the dough on a parchment paper lined baking sheet with each biscuit about two inches apart. They make about 16 biscuits, so I used two trays and placed in the upper 2/3 part of the oven. Check on them after 15 minutes. Mine are cooked in my oven in about 17 minutes. Enjoy!!