How to Make Baking Soda Biscuits

It's hard to beat the taste of steaming hot baking soda biscuits fresh out of the oven, slathered with a little fresh butter, honey or homemade jelly. Baking soda biscuits are light as a feather and surprisingly simple to make. This recipe makes 2 dozen flaky biscuits.

Things You'll Need

• Mixing bowl
• Large spoon
• 4 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 8 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 tbsp. butter
• 4 tbsp. margarine
• 2 cups buttermilk
• Biscuit cutter
• Baking sheet

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

2. Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl, stirring until the ingredients are blended.

3. Use your fingers to combine the butter and margarine into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles crumbs. Create a well in the center of the crumbs with a large spoon and pour the chilled buttermilk into it. Stir the mixture just enough to make a sticky dough. Don't over-stir, because this will make the biscuits tough.

4. Place the biscuit dough on a floured surface and sprinkle some flour on top. Fold the dough over several times, and press until it's about an inch thick.

5. Cut out the baking soda biscuits with a 2-inch biscuit cutter or the open end of a glass.

6. Put the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet so that they're just barely touching.

7. Bake the baking soda biscuits until they're tall and light golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure all of the ingredients very carefully. Even a small change can alter the flavor, and too much baking powder, salt or baking soda can give the biscuits an odd flavor.