I think so.
It was my first night back in my own kitchen but thanks to jet lag, I was far from ready to put a lot of effort into dinner. I put my husband in charge of grilling some meat and I managed to make a decent-tasting side dish out of some canned beans, frozen vegetables and rice.
But what I really wanted was something warm from the oven, dripping with butter.
I started flipping through my latest cookbook, a gift my cousin brought me from a recent trip to Wisconsin, called Best of the Best from Wisconsin. I would have been satisfied with any of the quick muffins or corn bread recipes I found but I realized we had no eggs. Then I found a variety of quick and easy beer bread recipes that sounded good, but we had no beer.
That’s when I saw it: a recipe for Cheese Drop Biscuits. Quick. Easy. Cheesy. It was exactly what I needed and I had all five ingredients on hand!
Then I started thinking about the Sour Cream, Cheddar and Chive Biscuit recipe that I had been planning on revamping for quite some time. Next thing I knew, the five ingredients had turned into ten, the cheese drop biscuits were now sour cream, herb and and cheese rolled biscuits, and my kitchen smelled so good I’m surprised the neighbors weren’t knocking on my door.
A new Pinch My Salt recipe was born!
Even though the ingredient list doubled in size, these still go together in minutes. In fact, if you aren’t careful, the biscuits will be ready to go before your oven is even finished preheating!
I decided to add a combination of herbs to my biscuits rather than sticking with just chives and this turned out to be a very good idea! Any combination of herbs would work great, I just happened to grab some dried basil and marjoram this time around.
These are some of the most tender and flavorful biscuits I’ve ever tasted. The best part was that they tasted even better the next day! I never like to eat leftover biscuits so this was a wonderful discovery for me. Granted, these are not the healthiest things I’ve ever made–there’s a reason they taste so good! But it’s ok to splurge sometimes, right? You only live once!
- Herbed Cheese Biscuits
- 2 C. flour
- 2 t. baking powder
- 1/2 t. baking soda
- 1/2 t. mustard powder
- 1 T. chopped fresh herbs or 1 t. dried*
- 4 T. butter
- 1 C. shredded cheese (whatever kind you prefer)
- 3/4 C. sour cream
- 1/4 C. milk
- 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, mustard powder and herbs.
- 3. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs and the pieces of butter are the size of peas. Stir in shredded cheese.
- 4. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix together sour cream and milk. Add sour cream mixture to the dry mixture. Stir until just combined.
- 5. Turn dough out onto a well-floured counter and knead a few times with floured hands. Pat dough out with your hands to about one-inch thickness. Cut biscuits using a biscuit cutter or cut into desired shapes with a knife.
- 6. Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
- *You may use any combination of herbs you want. I like to use 1/2 T. fresh chives along with some dried herbs like 1/2 t. basil and 1/2 t. marjoram. The amounts listed are just guidelines. Experiment and have fun!
I still haven’t tried the original recipe from the Wisconsin cookbook but here it is in case you’re curious:
Cheese Drop Biscuits
2 C. flour
2 t. baking powder
4 T. butter
1 C. grated cheese
1 C. milk
Sift flour and baking powder; cut in remaining ingredients. Mix and drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 12 – 15 minutes.
Source: Best of the Best from Wisconsin Cookbook
Related Recipes:
Around the Web:
- Biscuits from Homesick Texan
- Impulsive Late Night Biscuits from The Amateur Gourmet
- Buttermilk Biscuits with Goat Cheese and Chives from Simply Recipes
subscribe to Pinch My Salt by e-mail
They sound and look good, but the real test for a biscuit… How are they with sausage gravy???
(I was expecting something peachy!)
7:04 pm Sep 5th, 2007These look great! I’m intrigued by the inclusion of mustard powder. I think you’re onto something grand.
7:30 pm Sep 5th, 2007Curt: I tricked you with the peach photos on Flickr! I took those for fun because I saw the peaches sitting on the counter as I was taking this photo. I LOVE biscuits and gravy but these are pretty good on their own!
Deb: Thanks! It seems like I’ve been throwing a little mustard powder in everything these days! I think it did add a little something special to these biscuits though
7:59 pm Sep 5th, 2007I was just looking for some type of roll or biscuit recipe to make with dinner tonight, and nothing was sounding good until I read this!! This is perfect!
8:14 pm Sep 5th, 2007Deborah: Glad I could help!
9:00 pm Sep 5th, 2007Oh, man. I saw the photos of the biscuits while perusing the volcano images, and have been hungry ever since. Those look great.
9:35 pm Sep 5th, 2007Joe: Yes they were really good! Just polished off the last one, actually
10:16 pm Sep 5th, 2007This is a lovely scone (as we call it here in Oz). I love the herb that you have added. Perfect!
10:40 pm Sep 5th, 2007Cheese infused biscuits, that’s what I’m talking about baby!
10:58 pm Sep 5th, 2007They look YUMMY!
Easy enough and I’m sure I have all the ingredients. Plus, it’s cool again here so I can use my oven again!
Thanks!
Anh: Thanks! Scones are basically the same as biscuits anyway, just we usually call the savory ones biscuits and the sweet ones scones. Although that isn’t always true either
Ruby: Glad to hear it’s cooling down there! It’s nice here, too. That 106 degree weather was killing me before I left there!
11:01 pm Sep 5th, 2007You’ve sold on these biscuits, and that was just the lead in… the recipe just confirmed it… perfect to have on hand for a big (or quick on the go) breakfast!
11:32 pm Sep 5th, 2007(Or with the chowder I’m having right now!)
Those do sound like the best biscuits ever! Pretty much anything baked with cheese would be okay with me!
11:42 pm Sep 5th, 2007These sounds really good. Sour cream, cheese, mustard and herbs… mmm…
1:48 am Sep 6th, 2007Nicole! You’re back in the kitchen in a big way. These sound fabulous, better than the original recipe, in fact. I think herbes de Provence would be fabulous in these, by the way.
2:09 am Sep 6th, 2007Scott: You’re right, these would be great just about anytime!
Lydia: I’m a pretty big fan of anything baked with cheese, too!
Kevin: Thanks! Hope you get a chance to try them
Terry: Yes, they were definitely better than the original recipe! I think you’re right about the herbes de Provence.
10:17 am Sep 6th, 2007Have ya’ll ever heard of White Lilly Flour? My grandmother made the best buttermilk biscuits I’ve ever had. A few years ago I started experimenting with biscuit recipes and they never came out nearly as great as hers. My mother told me granny had used White Lily flour. I tried to find it and couldn’t in any grocery, wholefoods etc. It is apparently even in Wal Marts in the deep South where I grew up but nowhere west of the Mississippi. I finially found it on line at Chef’s. I actually order $100.00 worth at a time to get free shipping. I can’t say enough about the difference in it and other flours.
12:07 pm Sep 6th, 2007Carmen,
Yes, I have heard that using White Lily flour makes all the difference in biscuits. I am from the west coast so I have never actually used it but I do know that White Lily flour has a lower protein content than other ‘all-purpose’ white flours and that is what makes the difference in tenderness in biscuits, pie crusts and quick breads. I have read that a good substitute if you can’t get white lily flour is to mix all-purpose flour with some instant flour (such as Wondra), I think the ratio is 2 parts all-purpose to 1 part instant flour. I don’t bother with this because being from California, I’m just not that picky about my biscuits (I’m sure if I knew what “real” biscuits tasted, I would be a convert!). Thanks for letting us know that White Lily flour is available online through Chef’s. I love that site!
12:38 pm Sep 6th, 2007Yikes – those look dangerously good!
5:43 pm Sep 6th, 2007I have been lurking for a while, but the biscuits did it! I am going to try these for sure – thanks for the recipe.
6:06 pm Sep 6th, 2007Heather
Biscuits that taste good the next day? These I have to try! Got the recipe, thank you very much…
7:35 pm Sep 6th, 2007I’m definitely going to give these biscuits a try. I love biscuits and these look delicious.
4:46 pm Sep 9th, 2007Glad to hear they taste great the next day too as we always have leftovers and most biscuits don’t taste all that good when they’ve been sitting around.
These look yummy!
Mallow: Thanks!
Heather: I hope you do try them! Let us know what you think!
Katiez: I know, biscuits are one of those things that just aren’t that great reheated. But I thought these were good the next day–both cold and reheated!
Rain: Please let me know what you think if you end up making these. Thanks for stopping by!
6:21 pm Sep 9th, 2007Yes…the best biscuits ever! I’m surprised there were any leftover but we did manage to not eat some of them so we’ll be trying them out tomorrow. Thanks for a great recipe for biscuits. One of my great pleasures in life is a good biscuit – I’d rather have that than a donut.
5:11 am Sep 11th, 2007I am a biscuit fanatic and these will be made this weekend! Yum I can’t wait!! Thanks
10:35 am Sep 11th, 2007these really do look like some superb biscuit! i am true southern biscuit lover and would happily gobble down several of these! they look great nicole!
5:27 pm Sep 15th, 2007Amazing! We used Giusto’s Organic Unbleached All-Family Wheat Flour (their version of all-purpose) and the crumb and texture were perfect. We used white cheddar (looks like you used yellow?) and didn’t have mustard powder but will use it next time. Delicious with a poached egg!
6:32 pm Sep 23rd, 2007Rain: I hope you enjoyed them the following day, too! I thought they tasted pretty good the next day, something that is very unusual for a biscuit! It must have something to do with the sour cream.
Pam: I hope you were able to make them!
Amanda: Thanks! Coming from you, I’ll definitely take that as a compliment!
Mariangela: Yeah! I’m glad you finally got to make these. I’m sure they were wonderful with white cheddar. I think I actually used some colby jack because that’s what I had on hand. I would usually opt for an extra sharp cheddar in something like this
I’ve never heard of that type of flour, I’m going to look it up now.
9:29 am Sep 24th, 2007[...] Herbed Cheese Biscuits [...]
6:14 am Sep 25th, 2007These look and sound wonderful! I love to make a huge Thanksgiving feast for my family every year; I frequently invite a few friends, too. I wanted something a bit special for the biscuits this year. This looks like just what I wanted! Thank you for telling us about these, I’ll be making them in just a few days!
7:22 pm Nov 18th, 2007I went up to visit my fiance at college and his caffeteria had these wonderful cheesy herb biscuits, but I didn’t get a chance to ask for the name. This recipe sounded exactly like what I was looking for, but they turned out even better! I would have to agree on the mustard powder doing the trick. These were delicious.
1:27 pm Apr 19th, 2008I can’t wait to make these biscuits, but what flour is best to use? Is a regular all-purpose flour ok?
3:01 pm Jun 2nd, 2008i am totally going to make these at 9:30 at night and EAT THEM.
7:35 pm Oct 4th, 2008it’s my birthday so calories aren’t real today.
TRUE FACT.
i have a printout of this recipe sitting on my fridge and make them at least once a week. my husband loves them soooo much and requests them all the time. And I bring them to/make them for dinner parties and people are always in love with them! great recipe, and fun to make variations of.
10:28 am Oct 24th, 2008Still loving these biscuits!! Thanks for the recipe
4:15 pm Oct 27th, 2008These are baking in my oven right now! They came together so fast (which was just what I needed). I can’t wait till they’re ready!
5:51 pm Jan 16th, 2009April 2007 to April 2009.
For TWO years I’ve had this recipe on my “to try soon” folder.
well, better late than never. They were awesome! Made them small like yours seem to be in the photo, and served as a side delicacy with chili
so so good!
Thank you
7:14 am Apr 3rd, 2009looks delicious. =9
1:35 am Apr 15th, 2009and nice blog.
Made these last night. I had been looking for an herb biscuit since moving from Durham, NC to the West coast. I really wanted a recipe to imitate the unbelievable herb biscuits at Foster’s Market http://www.fostersmarket.com/.
Thanks so much! These did the trick. The only variation I made–and this was to imitate the Foster’s biscuits–was to add coarsely chopped scallions instead of chives. So wonderful!
2:39 pm Apr 25th, 2009[...] this recipe to whatever cheese and spices you have on hand. Note that I replaced the sour cream in the original recipe for fat free [...]
2:00 am May 31st, 2009[...] Herbed Cheese Biscuits [...]
5:55 pm Jun 2nd, 2009Nicole!
I made these for this Thanksgiving! I found a recipe by Peter Reinhardt in a recent Bon Appetit issue that sounds very close to yours (except the mustard powder, and he is using fresh herbs). He called them ‘Cheese & Herbs Poppers’ –
They turned out insanely good!
And heck – the next day you can re-heat them in the microwave oven and they are like fresh!
Gabi @ Mamaliga.com
8:52 am Dec 4th, 2009[...] Herbed Cheese Biscuits [...]
10:33 am Aug 11th, 2010Made these the other night to go with Irish beef stew. They came together really quickly and puffed up beautifully in the oven. The only thing I’d add next time is maybe 1/4-1/2 tsp of salt. I was surprised to see no salt in the recipe, but figured that they’d be savory enough from the butter & cheese. With just a wee bit, I think they’ll be absolutely perfect next time. Definitely saving the recipe! Also, I can confirm that they are awesome the next day. We made egg & cheese breakfast sandwiches with them.
8:48 pm Dec 16th, 2010Hey, I have never made biscuits from scratch before so I tried the easier one from the “Wisconsin” recipe. In the end, itself was a bit bland, so I melted some butter, put in salt pepper and garlic powder, brushed it on the biscuits and rebaked for 5 more minutes.
Any ideas as to where I could change the base dough to a bit more flavorful?
They turned out very good as sides with spaghetti though.
8:06 pm Jan 19th, 2011[...] Herbed Cheese Biscuits [...]
5:31 pm Feb 12th, 2011I made these for the third time just now and they turned out to be the best batch I’ve made yet! I’d love to say that I would use them for meals tomorrow but I doubt there will be any left.
3:19 pm Nov 20th, 2011How many biscuits does this recipe make?
10:17 am Nov 23rd, 2011[...] to die for! Soft, light, flaky with cheese and herbs. I would like to thank PinchMySalt.com for her “perhaps the best biscuits ever” recipe – they very well may be the best [...]
12:22 pm Feb 15th, 2012[...] Herbed Cheese Biscuits [...]
8:34 pm Nov 8th, 2012Added 2T sugar & 1t salt..dropped the cheese
8:44 am Nov 12th, 2012Truly easy and yummy. Makes only 1 doz/ Very dry recipe, needs to be worked on the counter so it comes together. Forgot the mustard. Super tasty.
4:11 pm Oct 1st, 2013