Walnut Buttermilk Biscuits

By Nick Oltarsh of Lobby at Twelve Restaurant in Atlanta
Total Time
45 Mins
Serves
12
Meal
Course

DESCRIPTION

These delicious walnut buttermilk biscuits are great for meal time or snack time!

Prep Time
30 Mins
Cook Time
15 Mins
Total Time
45 Mins
Calories
210
Total Fat
13
Polyunsaturated Fat
4
Cholesterol
21
Sodium
282
Carbohydrates
20
Dietary Fiber
1
Protein
4

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cake flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped California walnuts
  • All-purpose flour for rolling out the dough
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Get out a large baking sheet. It does not need to be greased, but cover it with parchment paper if you wish, for easier cleanup.
  2. Combine the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process about 20 seconds, to combine and aerate the ingredients. Cut the cold butter into small, irregular pieces, about 1/2-inch across. Drop the butter into the dry ingredients, and process in about 18 - 22 on-off pulses until the butter has been blended into the dry ingredients and you have a mixture of small, irregular bits resembling fresh breadcrumbs.
  3. Add the buttermilk all at once, and all but 2 tablespoons of the walnuts. Process again in several on-off pulses just until the dough holds together in a rough, damp, shaggy mass.
  4. To roll out the dough, spread a handful of all-purpose flour on your work surface and scrape the dough onto it. Put some flour on your hands, and knead the dough gently about 10 - 12 times, just until it is smooth and cohesive; this should take about 30 seconds, or less. Pat the dough into a rectangle about 10 x 7 inches and 1/2-inch thick. Brush the top with the melted butter and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of walnuts. With a long, sharp knife, make 2 lengthwise cuts in the dough, and 3 crosswise cuts, thus cutting the dough into 12 biscuits, each approximately 2 inches square. (The biscuits will expand a little when baked.)
  5. Transfer to the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each biscuit. Bake for about 14 minutes, until puffy and lightly browned. Cool for a few minutes, then serve warm.