Baking-Powder Biscuits 2 cups flour 1 tablespoon baking powder (double for zero sodium baking powder) 1/2 teaspoon salt (only if butter is unsalted) 5 tablespoons butter, soft 3/4 cup half and half (or a bit more) preheat oven to 450F (takes about 12 minutes) Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mess resembles coarse crumbs. Add h&h, stir until mixture is tolerably homogeneous. With floured fingers, gather it into ball, plop out onto floured board. Knead 30 seconds, pat or roll until 3/4" thick. With a 2 3/8" cutter you will do well to get 8 biscuits. Place biscuits on a baking sheet. Bake until golden, 15-20 minutes depending on thickness.