Easy and Best Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter, very cold
2 1/4 cups self-rising flour, plus more for kneading and work surface
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preparation:
1) Slice the butter into 1/4" thick slices.

2) Put the 2 1/4 cups of flour into a large bowl and toss in the butter slices. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture is crumbly and resembles small peas.

3) Cover dough and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

4) Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

5) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

6) Remove dough from fridge, and add buttermilk, stirring gently with a fork just until the flour is moistened. The dough will be very sticky.

7) Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently knead it three or four times, adding flour as needed.

8) Press or pat the dough into a 3/4" thick rectangle (about 9" x 5"), then sprinkle it with a little more flour.

9) Fold the dough over onto itself in three sections.

10) Again press dough into a 3/4" thick rectangle and fold over itself into three sections. Repeat the press and fold two more times (4 total).

11) Press or pat the dough to 3/4" thickness, then cut with a 2" cutter. 

12) Place biscuits, sides touching, onto the prepared baking sheet.

13) Bake biscuits for 13 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Do not overbake, or biscuits will dry out.

14) Optional: brush tops of biscuits with melted butter.

Makes approximately 12 biscuits.