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Three-Fat Baking Powder Biscuits

Source of Recipe

From "Biscuit Bliss" by James Villas


Recipe Introduction

"In many respects, this is the ideal baking powder biscuit since the lard yields a delightfully brittle texture, the shortening a delicate fluffiness, and the butter a rich flavor. Just make sure that the lard is not rancid and all the fats are slightly chilled before cutting or rubbing them into the flour."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 2 cups all-purpose flour
â—¦ 1 tablespoon baking powder
â—¦ 1 teaspoon salt
â—¦ 2 tablespoons chilled lard
â—¦ 2 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening
â—¦ 1 tablespoon chilled butter
â—¦ 1 cup whole milk


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 425° F.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the lard, shortening, and butter and cut them in with a pastry cutter or rub with your fingertips till the mixture is mealy. Make a well in the center, add the milk, and stir briskly with a fork just till the dough holds together.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, knead about eight times, pat out ½ inch thick, and cut out rounds with a 2-inch biscuit cutter. Pat the scraps together and cut out more rounds.

Arrange the rounds on a baking sheet 1 inch apart for crusty-sided biscuits or almost touching for soft ones and bake in the upper third of the oven till golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Makes about 16 biscuits