Baking Powder Biscuits

(from jkluender’s recipe box)

Source: From "Cooking from Quilt Country, Hearty Recipes from Amish and "Mennonite Kitchens" by Marcia Adams published 1989

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves 30 people

Categories: Breads and Biscuits

Ingredients

  • 6 C. all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 C. instant nonfat dry milk powder
  • 1/4 C. baking powder
  • 1/4 C. sugar
  • 2 t. salt
  • 2 t. cream of tartar
  • 1 C. cold lard, cut in chunks (I use Crisco but do not chill it)
  • 1 C. (2 sticks) cold butter, cut in chunks
  • About 1-3/4 C. buttermilk, (I usually need 2 C.)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. In a very large bowl, combine all ingredients except the shortenings and buttermilk.

  2. With a pastry blender, cut in shortenings until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

  3. Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk.

  4. With a fork, quickly and lightly combine the ingredients. Not all the flour will be incorporated at this point.

  5. Turn dough out onto a well-floured pastry cloth or board and with floured hands knead it 8 or 10 turns until smooth.

  6. Roll out to about 3/4 inch thick. Use a 2-1/2 inch biscuit cutter to cut the dough, and prick each biscuit 3 times with a fork.

  7. At this point,, either bake or freeze the biscuits.

  8. If using immediately, place about 2 inches apart on oiled cookie sheets and bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

  9. To freeze, place unbaked biscuits on sheets in the freezer. When hard, transfer to plastic bags.

  10. . To serve, remove as many biscuits as needed and bake frozen on oiled cookie sheets in a 400 F. oven for 15 to 18 minutes.

  11. Makes 30 biscuits

  12. Combining lard (Crisco) and butter makes them especially tender.

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