by R. Quill

Created on: February 08, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

Cheese biscuits

I made these when a biscuit recipe called for cottage cheese - I substituted ingredients and hoped for the best, and the biscuits actually turned out extremely well. This recipe is very easygoing for a baked product, so you can add a little more cheese or a little less butter without much difference in the final result.

You'll need:
2 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small cubes
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Approximately 1 cup milk

1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Celcius (200 Fahrenheit).
2) In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt.
3) Stir in the egg, making sure it's distributed evenly in the flour mixture.
4) Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a butter knife/pastry cutter (or rub it in with your fingers). Work quickly so that the butter stays cold, cutting until the butter is in pea-sized chunks. These chunks will release steam while cooking and make the biscuits fluffy.
5) Stir in the shredded cheese.
6) Slowly add milk, while stirring. The flour will absorb a different amount of liquid depending on the humidity outside, so add milk just until there's no more loose flour at the bottom of the bowl. Don't stir any more than necessary.
7) Put the dough on a greased pan in 12 equal-sized dollops. The biscuits won't spread much, so they can be almost touching without problems.
8) Bake for approximately 12 minutes, or until the little lumps on the biscuits turn crispy and brown.

These are a great accompaniment to hearty dishes like stew or chili, as well as a great impromptu breakfast. Store the biscuits in an airtight container after they've cooled, and warm them before serving.

Variations:
-Other strongly-flavoured hard cheeses can be used instead of cheddar. Hard mozzarella also works well, it just makes a very mild, soft-textured biscuit.
-At the same time as the cheese, stir in a handful of green onion and/or chopped fresh herbs. Parsley is my personal favourite, since it works with pretty much any other dish you might serve the biscuits with.
-At the same time as the cheese, stir in finely chopped ham. The biscuit ends up like a self-contained ham sandwich.
-At the same time as the baking powder and salt, add a few teaspoons of dried herbs or spices. Basil, thyme and black pepper are just a few options.
-Sprinkle the tops of the biscuits with grated Parmesan cheese before baking. More cheese makes for a crisper crust on the biscuits.

Learn more about this author, R. Quill.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.