Cheddar and Stilton Drop Biscuits

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder 
• 1.3 cups buttermilk chilled
• 0.8 teaspoon cream of tartar 
• 1 large eggs 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup coarsely sharp cheddar cheese chilled packed grated ()
• 2 ounces coarsely stilton cheese chilled crumbled
• 2 tablespoons sugar 
• 2.5 cups unbleached all purpose flour 
• 7 tablespoons butter unsalted chilled cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• oven
• whisk

Directions

1. Position 1 rack in bottom third and 1 rack in top third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Butter and flour 2 large baking sheets.
2. Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend well.
3. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal.
4. Add both cheeses; rub in with fingertips until cheeses are reduced to small pieces. Blend buttermilk and egg in small bowl.
5. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until dough is evenly moistened.
6. Using 1/3 cup dough for each biscuit, drop 6 mounds onto each prepared sheet, spacing 2 to 3 inches apart.
7. Bake biscuits 10 minutes. Reverse positions of sheets.
8. Bake biscuits until golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 10 minutes longer.
9. Place biscuits in basket; serve warm.