MRS. BUG’S BUTTERMILK DROP BISCUITS

It seemed rather a long time before Jamie reappeared, though the indignant cries of the searchers had been quickly stilled. If Jamie had got his bum smacked, Roger thought cynically, he appeared to have enjoyed it. A slight flush showed on the high cheekbones, and he wore a faint but definite air of satisfaction.

This was explained at once, though, when Jamie produced a small bundle from inside his shirt and unwrapped a linen towel, revealing half a dozen fresh biscuits, still warm, and dripping with melted butter and honey. 

“I think perhaps Mrs. Bug meant them for the quilting circle,” he said, distributing the booty. “But there was plenty of batter left in the bowl; I doubt they’ll be missed.” 

The Fiery Cross

Makes 12

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup cold buttermilk 
• 2 teaspoons honey
• ½ cup (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons butter 
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch 
• 1 tablespoon baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda

METHOD

Move a rack to the upper-middle rung and heat the oven to 450°F. 

In a bowl, combine the cold buttermilk and honey. In a saucepan over medium heat, or in a dish in the microwave, heat a stick of butter until just melted. Pour the butter into the buttermilk-honey mixture and stir until well combined. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and baking soda for 1 minute to ensure that everything is evenly combined. 

Add the lumpy buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until just mixed and the batter pulls away from the side of the bowl. Use a lightly greased ¼ cup measure to scoop out level portions and drop onto an ungreased 9- or 10-inch cast-iron pan or cake pan—arrange three biscuits in the middle of the pan and nine biscuits around the outside.

Bake until the tops are golden, 15 to 17 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter immediately out of the oven. Cool at least 5 minutes on a wire rack before serving. 

Serve warm, drizzled with honey and even more butter, if your hips can handle it.

NOTE

• To make Mrs. Aberfeldy’s Blueberry Biscuits from The Fiery Cross (chapter 33, “Home for Christmas”), push a few frozen berries into each biscuit just before baking.