Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
- Additional milk for brushing the tops
- Coarse sugar for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar. Mix well.
3. Cut in the Butter:
- Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Add Milk and Vanilla:
- Pour in the milk and add the vanilla extract (if using). Stir until the mixture comes together as a soft dough. You may need to use your hands to knead the dough gently for a few seconds.
5. Roll and Cut:
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/2-inch thickness.
- Use a biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits. You can also use a round glass if you don’t have a biscuit cutter. Press straight down without twisting to get clean edges.
6. Place on Baking Sheet:
- Arrange the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each one.
7. Brush with Milk and Sprinkle Sugar (Optional):
- Brush the tops of the biscuits with a little milk. If you like, you can sprinkle some coarse sugar on top for extra sweetness and texture.
8. Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through.
9. Cool:
- Allow the milk biscuits to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Enjoy your homemade milk biscuits! They’re perfect for breakfast, as a side for soups, or with jam and butter.