Splurge alert: these three cheese biscuits are like little fluffy pillows of perfection. In fact, if you’ve ever been to Red Lobster and tried the cheese biscuits that come with the meal, then you know what I’m talking about.
In the past few months that I’ve moved to Tampa, I’ve had more than a few dates at the classic Darden seafood joint. We arrive around 9pm since they’re open late, and sit out front, gazing into the abyss of the palm trees and pond in front. It’s thoroughly romantic (with BOGO piña coladas to complete the vibe).
But the all-star of the meal is always the biscuits. And now I’ve recreated these gems: a cream-cheese biscuit with freshly grated cheddar and Parmesan cheese–hence three cheeses. Served with butter and local honey, it’s a treat I could eat for breakfast or with dinner, but you’re sure to eat them with every meal until they’re gone.
Making three cheese biscuits
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coarsely grate 1 cup of cheddar cheese and finely grate 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
Step 2: Cut 5 ounces each of butter and cream cheese into cubes. Put this back into the fridge until you’re ready to use it so that it can stay cold! You want it as chilly as possible so it doesn’t melt–that’s what will make your biscuits fluffy.
Step 3: Mix together 3 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
Step 4: Cut the butter and cream cheese with the flour mixture. I actually used two butter knives to cut the butter and cream cheese into smaller, workable pieces before finishing the job briefly with my fingers.
Step 5: Add the cheeses and 1 cup of buttermilk to the flour mixture. Mix just until blended, then knead the dough until it’s evenly moist throughout. Add up to 1 tablespoon of buttermilk if the dough is dry, one teaspoon at a time.
Step 6: Pat the dough into a 1-1.5 inch disk and use a biscuit cutter or a cup to cut out biscuits. The dough should be shaggy, with small chunks of butter visible throughout.
Step 7: Bake the biscuits at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, or until slightly golden.
Finally, enjoy your biscuits with some honey or just plain. And for your next date night, find a spot with palm trees and a pond and have yourself a picnic.
Three Cheese Biscuits
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12–15 biscuits 1x
- Category: baked goods
- Method: baking
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A flavorful crowd-pleaser reminiscent of Red Lobster’s biscuits.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (regular works fine, too, but it will be saltier)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 ounces cold cream cheese, cut into half-inch cubes
- 5 ounces cold butter, cut into half-inch cubes
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup coarsely grated cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Cut the cubed butter and cream cheese into the flour mixture using two knives until the mixture has pea-sized pieces of butter and cream cheese.
- Add the buttermilk and cheeses. The mixture may seem too dry, but trust that it’s going to come together. If you want, you can add up to a tablespoon more buttermilk, one teaspoon at a time.
- Mix and then knead it with your hands until just combined. There should be whole pieces of butter visible in the dough still.
- Pat the dough out into a 1.5-inch-deep circle. Use a biscuit ring or a cup to cut biscuits and add then to an un-greased cookie sheet. Pat the scraps into another smaller circle and cut additional biscuits until all the mixture has been used.
- Bake the biscuits for 30-35 minutes or until they start to turn golden.
- Enjoy with some honey!
Notes
Substitute up to 1 cup of the all purpose flour for rye flour for a slightly different taste.
For fluffier biscuits, substitute 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour for cake flour.
Keywords: cheese, biscuits, cream cheese, rolls, breads, baking, baked goods