Name: Cheddar and Pimento Drop Biscuits
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 cups (10 ounces/283 grams) all-purpose flour; 3 ounces (85 grams) extra-sharp cheddar cheese , shredded (3/4 cup); 1/4 cup finely chopped jarred pimentos; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon sugar; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup buttermilk , chilled; 8 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted, plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Why This Recipe Works

Unlike traditional biscuits, which call for cold fat to be carefully cut into flour before liquid is added, drop biscuits are simply stirred together, dropped onto the baking sheet, and baked. But too often they lack the texture produced when the bits of cold butter melt and create steam—thus a flaky biscuit. To get the best of both worlds, we discovered that when we stirred together hot melted butter and cold buttermilk before incorporating the dry ingredients, the butter clumped up, producing just the texture we were after. Voilà—light, fluffy, and easy stir-and-drop biscuits, with the flavors of real Southern pimento cheese.

Before You Begin

To refresh day-old biscuits, heat them in a 300-degree oven for 10 minutes.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk flour, cheddar, pimentos, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt together in large bowl. Stir buttermilk and melted butter together in 2-cup liquid measuring cup until butter forms clumps.

Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture and stir with rubber spatula until just incorporated. Using greased ¼-cup dry measuring cup, drop level scoops of batter 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared sheet. Bake until tops are golden brown, rotating sheet halfway through baking, 12 to 14 minutes.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and brush on biscuit tops. Transfer biscuits to wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.