Best 3 Appalachian Cat Head Biscuits Recipes
In the heart of Appalachia, where culinary traditions run deep, there lies a golden-brown delicacy that has captivated taste buds for generations: the Appalachian Cat-Head Biscuit. These colossal biscuits, named for their resemblance to a cat's head, are a testament to the region's rich heritage, embodying the spirit of comfort and hospitality. As you embark on a journey through this article, you'll discover not just one, but a collection of delectable Cat-Head Biscuit recipes, each with its own unique twist and flavor profile. Prepare to tantalize your palate with variations ranging from the classic buttermilk Cat-Head Biscuit, embodying simplicity and rustic charm, to the savory bacon-infused Cat-Head Biscuit, a delightful symphony of smoky and buttery flavors. For those seeking a hint of sweetness, the apple-cinnamon Cat-Head Biscuit offers a harmonious blend of fruit and spice, while the cheesy Cat-Head Biscuit satisfies cravings for a savory and gooey delight. Our culinary adventure culminates with the ultimate Southern comfort food mashup: the Cat-Head Biscuit topped with creamy sausage gravy, a marriage of fluffy biscuit and rich, savory gravy that is sure to leave you feeling warm and satisfied. Ready your taste buds for a delightful exploration of Appalachian tradition and culinary artistry.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
FLUFFY CATHEAD BISCUITS WITH HONEY BUTTER
Cat head (or cathead) biscuits are a Southern staple whose name refers to their large size (about as big as a cat's head). The dough for this hand-rolled biscuit recipe is made by incorporating flour into the wet ingredients, instead of the reverse. The result is a fluffy (rather than flaky) biscuit, ready to be split and spread with flavorful honey butter.
Provided by Joe Sevier
Categories Biscuit Bake Breakfast New Year's Day Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Yield Makes 12 biscuits
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- For the biscuits:
- Arrange rack in middle of oven; preheat to 400°F. Whisk buttermilk powder, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl until evenly distributed and no lumps remain. Add 2 cups water and whisk to combine. Add lard and butter.
- Add 2 cups flour and mix with a fork until mixture resembles porridge. Using fork, press fats against side of bowl to cut into smaller, irregular, flattened pieces.
- Fold in remaining 1 1/2-2 cups flour by the half cup with fork until a wet dough forms. Turn out dough onto a well-floured surface. Dust top of dough with more flour. Gently fold dough into itself until it feels like a pillow and is no longer sticky. Using a floured bench scraper or butter knife, divide dough into 12 equal pieces.
- Working with 1 piece at a time, dip cut sides in flour and gently roll into a ball with your hands. Nestle each ball side by side in a large cast-iron skillet or on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake biscuits until lightly browned, 25-30 minutes. Brush with melted butter, if desired. Serve with honey butter.
- For the honey butter:
- Combine honey, butter, and salt in a medium bowl. Mash with fork until just combined but not emulsified.
CATHEAD BISCUITS
The recipe for these extra-large biscuits comes from Virginia Willis, the author of "Secrets of the Southern Table." A phrase her grandfather once used, the name indicates that it's a biscuit as big as a cat's head. Each one is golden brown and slightly crisp on the outside, with a light, airy interior.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Breakfast & Brunch Recipes Bread Recipes
Yield Makes about 9
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. (You can also bake the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet.)
- In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Pour in buttermilk and mix until just barely combined. It will be a shaggy mass. (Alternatively, you can mix the dough in a food processor: Pulse to combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add butter and pulse until it resembles coarse meal. Pour in buttermilk through feed tube and pulse until just barely combined.)
- Turn shaggy mass out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly, using the heel of your hand to compress and push dough away from you, then fold it back over itself. Give dough a small turn and repeat four or five times. (You want to just barely activate the gluten, not overwork it.)
- Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out dough 1 inch thick. Using a 3 1/2-inch round cutter dipped in flour, cut out rounds (press cutter straight down without twisting so biscuits will rise evenly when baked).
- Place biscuits on prepared sheet. (If biscuits are baked close together, sides will be tender. If biscuits are baked farther apart, sides will be crisp.)
- Reroll scraps once. Do not simply roll them into a ball; this will create a knot of gluten strands. Instead, place the pieces one on top of the other in layers, then roll out dough and cut out more rounds.
- Bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool just slightly. Serve warm.
CATHEAD BISCUITS
Don't worry, there aren't any actual cat's heads involved. The origins of the name are lost to time, but the conventional wisdom seems to be that they're called that because they're about the size of a cat's head. An old Appalachian favorite. Less fuss than rolled and cut biscuits. White Lily flour is preferred.
Provided by xtine
Categories Breads
Time 30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Mix dry ingredients and sift into mixing bowl, then cut in lard or crisco until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
- Stir in buttermilk until it is incorporated with the flour mixture. The dough will be kind of wet and very sticky.
- Flour your hands and turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough in the flour just enough to make it handleable - you don't want it to stick to your hands too much, but don't work in too much extra flour either or the biscuits will be heavy and taste of raw flour.
- For each biscuit, pinch off a piece of dough about the size of a large egg or a small lemon and pat out in the ungreased pan with your hands. You don't want it to be really flat, just pat it down a bit so it's relatively biscuit-shaped and about 1 inch high.
- Bake at 475 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Keep your eye on them while they're in the oven so they don't burn.
- Brush tops of biscuits with melted butter, if desired.
Tips:
- Use cold butter: This will help the biscuits be flaky and tender.
- Don't overwork the dough: Overworking the dough will make the biscuits tough.
- Let the biscuits rise before baking: This will help them be light and fluffy.
- Bake the biscuits in a hot oven: This will help them rise quickly and evenly.
- Serve the biscuits warm: They're best when they're fresh out of the oven.
Conclusion:
Cathead biscuits are a delicious and easy-to-make Southern bread. They're perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Serve them with butter, honey, or your favorite gravy. You can also use them to make sandwiches, or crumble them over soup or salad. No matter how you serve them, cathead biscuits are sure to be a hit.
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