“The Jewel-Box” Flaky Blueberry Biscuits
This recipe uses a “Folding” method rather than a “Kneading” method to create hundreds of micro-layers of butter and berries.
| Category | Details |
| Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Bake Time | 15–18 minutes |
| Total Time | 40 minutes |
| Yield | 8–10 Biscuits |
🍴 Ingredients
- The Dry Mix:
- 2 ½ cups All-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
- 1 tbsp Baking powder
- 2 tbsp Granulated sugar (just enough to highlight the berries)
- 1 tsp Salt
- The Cold Core:
- ½ cup (1 stick) Unsalted butter, frozen and grated
- 1 cup Cold buttermilk
- The Fruit:
- 1 cup Blueberries (frozen)
- The “Bakery” Finish:
- 2 tbsp Melted butter (for brushing)
- Optional: A simple glaze of ½ cup powdered sugar + 1 tbsp lemon juice
👩🍳 Instructions
1. The Grated Butter Trick
- Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
- Use a box grater to grate your frozen butter directly into the dry ingredients. This creates tiny “shards” of butter that melt in the oven to create steam pockets (the secret to flakiness).
- Toss with a fork until the butter is coated in flour.
2. The Cold Incorporation
- Make a well in the center and pour in the cold buttermilk. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until just combined.
- The “Jewel” Add: Quickly fold in the frozen blueberries. Do not overwork; the dough should look shaggy and messy.
3. The Lamination Fold
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Gently pat it into a rectangle.
- The “Secret” Step: Fold the dough in half, then rotate and fold again. Repeat this 5 times. This “lamination” builds the layers.
- Pat the dough down to about 1 inch thickness.
4. The Clean Cut
- Use a floured biscuit cutter to press straight down.
- The Iron Rule: Do not twist the cutter. Twisting seals the edges of the dough, preventing the biscuit from rising. Press down, pull up.
5. The High-Heat Rise
- Place the biscuits on a baking sheet so they are just touching. This helps them climb upward rather than spreading outward.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes until the tops are golden brown.
- Brush with melted butter immediately after removing from the oven.
The “Lemon-Zest” Hack: Rub the zest of one lemon into the granulated sugar before mixing it into the flour. The lemon oils will infuse the dough, giving it a bright, “Springtime” aroma that pairs perfectly with blueberries.