What is an easy basic biscuit recipe?

The easiest basic biscuits to make are drop biscuits. However, AllRecipes.com also has an easy recipe for cut-out biscuits. Both recipes require around 30 minutes.

Real Simple Magazine has a drop biscuit recipe that calls for 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of cold butter, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of whole milk. Use a knife to cut the butter into small pieces.

Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the flour, butter, baking powder and salt in a food processor. Process until the mixture forms pea-sized lumps. Add the milk, mixing until the powder is moistened.

Use a tablespoon to divide the dough into six equal parts. Place each mound onto a baking sheet. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden.

Making cut-out biscuits takes a little more preparation. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the same dry ingredients as above in a bowl. Use a pastry blender to cut 1/2 cup of shortening into the powder until coarse crumbles form.

While stirring with a fork, pour 3/4 cup of milk into the crumble mixture. Knead the dough on a floured board until it is no longer sticky. Roll out the dough to 1/2-inch thickness, and use a biscuit cutter to cut the biscuits. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.