Cheddar Biscuits

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons double-acting baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 8 ounces butter unsalted frozen
• 2 cups buttermilk 
• 1 cup cheddar cheese finely grated plus more for topping the biscuits
• 5 cups flour all-purpose
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 
• 0.5 teaspoon ground pepper 
• 0.3 cup cup heavy whipping cream 
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• oven
• box grater

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
2. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Grate frozen butter through the large holes of a box grater and toss grated butter with dry ingredients until butter is coated with flour. Rub butter and flour between your fingers until evenly mixed.
3. Add buttermilk and grated cheddar cheese. Stir briefly until it forms a shaggy mass. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead very lightly until ingredients are evenly mixed.
4. Roll out to about a 1/2- to 3/4-inch thickness and use a 2-inch biscuit cutter to cut rounds.
5. Place on baking sheets. Reroll what’s left of the dough. You should have about 40 biscuits. Discard any remaining bits of dough.
6. Brush the tops of the biscuits with heavy cream.
7. Place a pinch of grated cheddar on top of each biscuit.
8. Bake until golden brown, rotating once, about 20 minutes.Note: We found that dipping your biscuit cutter in a small dish of flour as you cut really helps prevent the dough from sticking to it.