Baking Powder Biscuits

When you think of baking, pictures of cakes, cookies, and muffins might come to mind, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there are endless ways to use flour, and after a proper loaf of bread, biscuits, the Southern staple, are perhaps the most versatile.

Tasty, fluffy biscuits have a place on every table at all hours. Sweet and savory flavors both match biscuits seamlessly, and you know what? They’re incredibly easy to make.

Although simple, baking powder biscuits are actually quite complex in nature, and the secret is in their name: baking powder.

The science corner

Let’s visit our science corner for a second, because although present in many recipes, you might not know precisely what baking powder is, or how does it work, so here’s a brief explanation.

In essence, baking powder is a dry mixture of an acid and an alkaline compound. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is the alkaline element, and the cream of tartar is the acid. When put together in a damp environment like dough, the chemicals react, creating lots of CO2 or carbon dioxide gas that increases the volume of the dough thanks to the tiny bubbles trapped in it.

I get asked a lot, “Is baking powder necessary?” and my answer is, if the recipe calls for it, then yes! If you want a fluffy texture and the right height, you need to use baking powder, there a no good-enough substitutions. Of course, there are other ways to create bread-lifting bubbles, like using yeast, but that’s another story.

Going back to our baking powder biscuits, there are a few things to consider; there’s only one liquid involved — buttermilk. And although you’ll find lots of recipes that call for milk or cream, I like buttermilk for the sweet tanginess it adds to the biscuits and the depth of flavor you can’t get with other types of dairy.

Need inspiration?

Before we get started, you might need some inspiration for your baking powder biscuits, so here are a few ideas of what to serve with them.

• Biscuits are a delicious breakfast if you spread butter and your favorite jam on them.

• Biscuits and gravy is another fantastic Southern breakfast, make your gravy with sausage drippings, flour, and milk. The chunkier, the better, so add a few bits of sausage.

• Serve them as a nice snack with fresh cheese like Brie. Bake the cheese for better results.

• Enjoy your biscuits with a creamy chicken stew for a comforting dinner.

Let’s get started because biscuits can’t wait!

For a similarly easy single serve bread, try Fried Mini Breads.