Savory Sweet Potato Biscuits

1. Preheat Oven

Preheat your oven to 400°F, making sure to adjust the oven rack to the middle position. This will ensure even baking.

2. Sift Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Use a whisk to combine them thoroughly. This step aerates the dry ingredients and helps the biscuits rise better.

3. Incorporate Butter

Add the cold butter cubes to the flour mixture. Toss them to coat with flour, then use your fingers to smash the butter into the flour until you have a mix with a few larger, Cheerio-sized pieces of butter remaining. This ensures that the butter is well-incorporated without melting, which is key for achieving flaky layers.

4. Combine Sweet Potato and Milk

In a separate bowl, mash or blend the sweet potato purée with the milk until smooth. The sweet potato adds moisture and a lovely flavor to the biscuits.

5. Form Dough

Add the sweet potato mixture to the dry ingredients. Use a flexible spatula to fold everything together until the mixture is fully absorbed and forms a rough ball of dough. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the biscuits tough.

6. Shape Dough

Lightly flour your work surface and turn the dough out onto it. Pat the dough into a rectangle about 3/4 inch thick. Fold the dough in half, then pat it out again to 3/4 inch thick. Repeat this folding process a couple of times to create layers, which will make your biscuits flakier.

7. Cut Biscuits

Use a 1 3/4-inch round cutter to cut out the biscuits, pressing straight down without twisting to ensure they rise evenly. Place the biscuits in a 10-inch cast iron skillet, arranging them so they are just touching. This helps them rise up rather than spread out.

8. Bake Biscuits

Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until they are well-risen and golden brown. The cast iron skillet helps to give them a nice, even bake.

9. Cool and Serve

Once baked, let the biscuits cool for about 5 minutes on a cooling rack or surface. Serve warm and enjoy the delightful combination of savory and sweet.

10. Store Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week. If you want to reheat them, simply split the biscuits, brush with melted butter, and broil until warmed through and slightly crispy.