Cheddar Bay Biscuit Recipe

Don't trust most of the copycat recipes you see out there - there is a trick to making moist and fluffy Cheddar Bay biscuits at home, and most recipes miss the mark.  This recipe makes even moister and tastier Cheddar Bay biscuits than those you get at Red Lobster, and they're surprisingly easy to make!  What's the secret?  I'll tell you!

For this recipe, I start with Bisquik baking mix (it's a time saver, ok?).  But making biscuits straight from a mix usually means you don't end up with a light or flakey product.  This is because most of the fat comes from the dried shortening in the mix.  By adding cold butter to the party, we impart a light, airy texture, and a richer flavor.  Combine that with a nice grated Cheddar, garlic powder, and parsley, and you've got some better-than-perfect Cheddar Bay biscuits!


Ingredients to make 12:

2 ½ cups Bisquick baking mix

¾ cup cold whole milk or buttermilk

4 tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick)

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

1 heaping cup grated Cheddar cheese

Brush on Top:

2 tablespoons butter, melted

¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes

½ teaspoon garlic powder

pinch salt


Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Combine Bisquick with cold butter in a medium bowl using a knife and fork or your hands until small chunks of butter the size of peas remain. Add grated Cheddar cheese, milk, and ¼ teaspoon garlic. Mix by hand until combined, but don't over mix.

3. Drop approximately 1/4 cup sized mounds of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet using two large spoons.

4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the tops of the biscuits begin to turn light brown.

5. When you take the biscuits out of the oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter is a small bowl in your microwave. Stir in salt, garlic powder, and the dried parsley flakes. Use a brush to spread this garlic butter over the tops of all the biscuits. Use up all of the butter for optimal deliciousness!  

Makes one dozen biscuits.


_{Recipe inspired by Todd Wilbur, "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2," Plume Books.}