Help with biscuits please

[angielee]

I make a big batch of biscuits once a week and freeze some up to pull out later. But Im always getting complaints of them falling apart, even the fresh ones right out of the oven do this. Im thinking its the amount of shortening I put in. Any ideas ?

[hopeky94]

My only idea would be to check a few other tried and true biscuit recipes (i.e. from a friend or relative, or an online one that's gotten lots of good reviews) and compare your ingredients and amounts to what's used in those. Then adjust yours based on that. You may want to make a smaller batch first, to see if it turns out how you like them.

If that idea doesn't work, I think I remember hearing that the age of the ingredients used in baking can affect the results, so maybe try a new bag of flour, new container of shortening, etc...??

(I don't bake much but have watched my mom bake for many years... Maybe someone with more baking experience could give more specific directions?)

[baconkabob00]

Are you cutting the shortening up too fine? It could either be that or not enough liquid/Shortening.

Its really trial and error, trying different recipes.

But If you post ur recipe, i could probably be able to tell you if ur not adding enough of something.

For every 4 cups of flour I use, Ill add about 1/2 cup of butter, or in ur case shortening.

[Sculpture Widow]

are you overworking or underworking the dough? i knead my rolled "cut out" biscuits just 15-20 times.....or perhaps does sound a little like a low moisture issue....
drop style bisuits ALWAYS fall apart on me....i haven't figured those out, yet.

I know this isn't much help for your current recipe......
I found a new biscuit recipe on allrecipes 2 weeks ago....they are just a slight variation of a regular biscuit recipe and they are SO SO SO SO good....
basically, using sour cream (or yogurt) in place of milk, add some cinnamon & add a few raisins (I use golden, and just enough to give you a few raisins per biscuit -- you could also leave them out). oh...and a little sugar, too sweeten the dough slightly (not enough that it's going to add calories worth counting). They have turned out to be a very tender melt-in-your mouth biscuit. this becomes a problem for me, as I eat too many!!!

could frost 'em if you want them for breakfast....I just leave them plain, and they are a nice change now & then to a standard recipe. I roll my dough thicker to get bigger biscuits.

Cinnamon Sour Cream Biscuits - Allrecipes

[angielee]

Well I just use the recipee on the back of the bag lol. I think the low moisture sounds about right. Mabe Im not being precise enough.....

[Links2me]

I've spent years screwing up every biscuit recipe I've run across. I can't make a biscuit to save my life, even if I use bisquick! So I use the frozen pilsbury kind now, saves me tons of heartache.

Sorry I can't be of help.

[mama22qts]

Ya'll, I'm born and bred southern belle and I cannot make a biscuit to save my life. I'm forever in search of the perfect Hardee's like biscuit which will melt in your mouth but not fall apart, and doesn't soak the paper towel under it with grease.

I'm 38, been cooking for 25 years, and I'm still looking...:frown:

[corrinesmama]

Ya'll, I'm born and bred southern belle and I cannot make a biscuit to save my life. I'm forever in search of the perfect Hardee's like biscuit which will melt in your mouth but not fall apart, and doesn't soak the paper towel under it with grease.

I'm 38, been cooking for 25 years, and I'm still looking...:frown:

I feel your pain I too am a southern native and the only thing my biscuits are good for is being a door stopper
I can't make dumplings like my grandma for "chicken and dumplings" either . Sigh ohh the misery, o well thats how my grandma gets me to her house so often ;0)

[sharimomo5]

Are you cutting the shortening up too fine? .

This would be my guess, too. This will make a pie crust crumble, too. Do you chill your shortening? That'll help. It also helps if the liquid you use is ice cold.
My grandmama makes biscuits in a big wooden bowl. She keeps the flour in the bowl for storage, and when she's ready to makes biscuits, she makes a well in the middle, adds all other ingredients (by sight...no measuring)...and makes biscuits (?)
I asked her, once, if she would teach me how to make them. You would have thought I asked her to teach me how to smile. She said (with a very confused look on her face) "you just make them"

[Andra]

Ya'll, I'm born and bred southern belle and I cannot make a biscuit to save my life. I'm forever in search of the perfect Hardee's like biscuit which will melt in your mouth but not fall apart, and doesn't soak the paper towel under it with grease.

I'm 38, been cooking for 25 years, and I'm still looking...:frown:

I feel your pain I too am a southern native and the only thing my biscuits are good for is being a door stopper
I can't make dumplings like my grandma for "chicken and dumplings" either . Sigh ohh the misery, o well thats how my grandma gets me to her house so often ;0)

I was searching for a while too. This is now my tried-and-true biscuit recipe: Southern Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe : Recipezaar

They have been great every time I've made them, but a pp is right that fresh ingredients are a must. If the baking powder or flour is old it won't matter how good your recipe is.