Best Ever Biscuits

I'm a huge fan of Blake Lively ever since watching her on Gossip Girl several years ago. She always seems very down to earth on social media and when I found out she's also a huge home cook and a baker, I became an even bigger fan. Anyway, I read an article a while ago mentioned that these biscuits were life changing for Blake Lively. So of course I saved the recipe and I finally made them as a side for our dinner. I'll just say it was love at first bite. These biscuits are SO GOOD and will be made regularly in our household.

Biscuits

(Source: Blake Lively and Heartlandia Cookbook)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 2/3 cups cake flour

2 tbsp baking powder

2 tbsp sugar

2 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes and chilled, plus more for serving

1 1/4 cups low-fat buttermilk, chilled

Jam or honey, for serving

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the mixture is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the buttermilk and mix on low speed until the dough just comes together. (You can also whisk the dry ingredients together, cut the butter in by hand, and stir in the buttermilk with a spatula or wooden spoon, if desired.)

Turn the dough out onto a clean, lightly floured work surface. Press the dough together so it comes together and form it into a rectangle. Take the far end of the rectangle and fold the dough in half over itself. Press down on the folded mass and give the dough a quarter turn. Repeat, folding and turning for eight turns. (This process makes layers in the dough that create nice, flaky biscuits as they cook.)

Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out until it is 1 inch thick and, using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut biscuits out of the dough. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet, placing them about ½ inch apart. Gather the remaining pieces of dough, reroll to 1 inch thick, and try to get a few more biscuits out of it. Place the biscuits on the baking sheet. Discard any remaining dough.

Cover the biscuits with plastic wrap and place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least 20 minutes or up to 1 week. When the biscuits are chilled, arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425°F.

Place the biscuits in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet and decrease the oven temperature to 400°F. Bake the biscuits for 5 minutes more, or until the tops of the biscuits are golden brown and the sides are set but not yet golden brown. Dig in with butter and honey or jam on the side.