FLUFFY CATHEAD BISCUITS WITH HONEY BUTTER

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Fluffy Cathead Biscuits with Honey Butter image

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

For the biscuits:
1/2 cup buttermilk powder
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Pinch of sugar
6 tablespoons lard or bacon fat, cut into pieces and slightly softened
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces and slightly softened, plus more, melted, if desired
3 1/2-4 cups all-purpose flour, divided, plus more
For the honey butter:
1/2 cup flavorful honey (such as buckwheat)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened
1/2 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt

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.

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