Buttery 7-Up Biscuits (Billion Dollar Biscuit)

Ingredients

• 10 tbsp salted butter (Divided: 4 tbsp melted for the pan, 4 tbsp cold and grated into the flour, and 2 tbsp for brushing after baking; KerryGold used by the author.)
• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 0.5 cup sour cream (Cold.)
• 0.75 cup 7-Up soda (Cold; may not need all of it. Add gradually. The source says fresh, bubbly soda works best; other clear, mild lemon-lime soda such as Sprite may be used, but not diet soda.)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C) and move the oven rack to the top position.

2. 2

   Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Pour it into the bottom of a dark 9-inch round pan or oven-safe skillet and set the pan aside.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.

4. 4

   Grate 4 tablespoons of cold butter directly into the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter to cut it in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

5. 5

   Using a rubber spatula, stir in the cold sour cream.

6. 6

   Add the cold 7-Up a little at a time, using only as much as needed, and gently stir until a dough forms.

7. 7

   Turn the sticky dough onto a floured surface and knead gently a few times. If it seems dry, add more 7-Up. Sprinkle on just enough flour to make it manageable while keeping it slightly sticky; handle it gently and quickly to keep it cold.

8. 8

   Pat the dough out, fold it into thirds like a letter, turn it, and repeat to create flaky layers.

9. 9

   Pat the dough into a rectangle about 1 inch thick.

10. 10

    Dip a 2½-inch round biscuit or cookie cutter into flour. Press it straight down into the dough without twisting.

11. 11

    Cut out 8 biscuits, rerolling the scraps as needed.

12. 12

    Place the biscuits in the buttered pan with their sides touching, with one biscuit in the middle.

13. 13

    Use some of the melted butter in the pan to brush the tops and sides of the biscuits.

14. 14

    Bake on the top rack for 12–14 minutes, or until the center is cooked through. The biscuits may not brown much. For more browning, broil on low for the last couple of minutes, watching continuously to prevent burning.

15. 15

    Remove the pan from the oven and immediately brush the tops and sides of the hot biscuits generously with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.

Notes

The author recommends using fresh, bubbly 7-Up and keeping the ingredients and dough cold. Handle the dough gently; excessive kneading can make the biscuits tough. The author says plain yogurt can replace sour cream, though sour cream gives the best texture and flavor.

Nutrition per serving

• baked
• breakfast
• side dish
• snack
• vegetarian
• buttery
• Southern