All-Purpose Biscuits

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 425.

2. 2

   Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl.

3. 3

   Transfer to a food processor.

4. 4

   Cut butter into pats and add to flour, then pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture resembles rough crumbs.

5. 5

   (Alternatively, cut butter into flour in the mixing bowl using a fork or a pastry cutter.)

6. 6

   Return dough to bowl, add milk and stir with a fork until it forms a rough ball.

7. 7

   Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat it down into a rough rectangle, about an inch thick.

8. 8

   Fold it over and gently pat it down again.

9. 9

   Repeat.

10. 10

    Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

11. 11

    Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches.

12. 12

    Cut dough into biscuits using a floured glass or biscuit cutter.

13. 13

    Do not twist cutter when cutting; this crimps the edges of the biscuit and impedes its rise.

14. 14

    Place biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

No additional tips available.