American-style buttermilk biscuits

Ingredients

1. 350g (21 ⁄3 cups) plain flour
2. 3 tsp baking powder
3. 2 tsp caster sugar
4. 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
5. 100g unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1cm pieces, plus extra, to serve
6. 250ml (1 cup) buttermilk, plus 1 tbsp, extra

Description

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan forced. Lightly dust an baking tray with flour.

• Step 2

  Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and bicarb into a large bowl. Add the butter then use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the centre. Pour in the buttermilk. Use a flat-bladed knife in a cutting motion to mix until evenly incorporated and mixture just begins to hold together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and gather together dough. (Do not knead.)

• Step 3

  Press the dough into a 2cm-thick rectangle. From 1 short end, fold over one-third to cover the centre third then fold over from the other short end to cover and make 3 layers. Press out the dough to an 18cm square and lift onto prepared tray.

• Step 4

  Dust a large sharp knife with flour. Cut the dough into 9 squares, cleaning and dusting the blade between cuts. Brush the tops of the dough with extra buttermilk. Season with salt. Bake for 18 minutes or until risen and golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature with extra butter.