Buttermilk Biscuits

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 425F (220C).
2. 2
   Have an unbuttered 10in (25cm) round cake pan ready.
3. 3
   Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl.
4. 4
   Use your fingertips to rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs (or cut in the butter with two knives).
5. 5
   Add the buttermilk and stir, adding a little more buttermilk if needed, to make a soft dough.
6. 6
   Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface.
7. 7
   Knead once or twice, then gently shape into a rectangle about 1in (5cm) thick.
8. 8
   Using a 2 1/2 in (6cm) round cookie cutter, cut out the biscuits and place them in the cake pan with the sides of the biscuits touching.
9. 9
   Gather up the scraps, knead together gently, and cut out the remaining biscuits, discarding any scraps.
10. 10
    Brush the tops with buttermilk.
11. 11
    Bake for 1520 minutes, or until the biscuits are risen and the tops are golden.