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  5. I made delicious Thanksgiving biscuits from scratch with Ina Garten's recipe, and I couldn't believe how easy and quick it was

I made delicious Thanksgiving biscuits from scratch with Ina Garten's recipe, and I couldn't believe how easy and quick it was

I made delicious Thanksgiving biscuits from scratch with Ina Garten's recipe, and I couldn't believe how easy and quick it was
I recently made Ina Garten's biscuits, and they're perfect for Thanksgiving. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
  • I recently made chive biscuits from scratch using Ina Garten's recipe.
  • The recipe takes less than 30 minutes and couldn't have been easier for a novice baker like myself.

When it comes to the holidays, there's no celebrity chef I turn to more than Ina Garten. She is, in my eyes, the queen of Thanksgiving cooking.

Whether it's a "grown up" mac and cheese or the perfect potato gratin, Garten has a recipe for all your holiday needs.

So when I decided to try making homemade biscuits for the first time — despite being a very amateur baker — I put my faith in the Barefoot Contessa.

Here's how it all went down.

Garten's chive biscuits only require a few ingredients.

Garten
Ina Garten's recipe doesn't require too many ingredients.      NBC/Contributor/Getty Images

To make eight of Garten's chive biscuits, you'll need:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 egg

  • ½ cup chopped fresh chives (Garten says you can also swap these for fresh parsley)

  • ¾ cup half-and-half

  • ¼ pound cold unsalted butter, diced

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

First, I preheated the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and threw my dry ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer.

First, I preheated the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and threw my dry ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer.
My dry ingredients in the bowl of the mixer.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I added the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar into the bowl of my electric mixer, which was fitted with the paddle attachment.

Then I added the butter and began to mix on low speed.

Then I added the butter and began to mix on low speed.
Mixing the diced butter.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Garten says you should mix the butter until it becomes the "size of peas."

With the mixer still on low, I added the half-and-half.

With the mixer still on low, I added the half-and-half.
Adding the half-and-half.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I stirred until everything was just mixed, per Garten's instructions.

Then I added the chopped chives.

Then I added the chopped chives.
Adding the chives.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Garten says to beat the mixture until it's just combined.

My dough was ready in mere minutes.

My dough was ready in mere minutes.
My dough was ready for kneading.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I'm not much of a baker and have never made dough before, so to see it transform in a few minutes was, honestly, pretty exciting for me. I felt like I was in the "Great British Bake-Off" tent.

I placed my dough on a well-floured board and began to lightly knead it.

I placed my dough on a well-floured board and began to lightly knead it.
I began kneading my dough on a well-floured cutting board.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Although I've seen people kneading dough on TV countless times, I've never actually done it myself. But I found some helpful tips on The Spruce Eats with a quick Google search.

If you're a baking novice like me, it's probably helpful to know why we even need to knead dough. Kneading helps develop the gluten in the dough, giving your biscuits (or bread) both structure and softness.

I used the heels of my hands to push the dough down, then outward. Then I folded the dough in half, toward myself, and used the heels of my hand to push it down and out again. I made sure to add flour when the dough felt sticky as I repeated the steps and continued to knead it.

I kneaded my dough into a rectangle, per Garten's instructions.

I kneaded my dough into a rectangle, per Garten
Garten recommends kneading the dough into a rectangle that's ¾-inch thick.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I attempted to knead the dough so it was about ¾-inch thick, although my kneading was a bit uneven and some biscuits came out a tad thinner. I'd made sure to keep the dough on the thicker side as it results in fluffier biscuits.

Then I cut out my biscuits.

Then I cut out my biscuits.
You can get creative if you don't have a round cutter to cut out the biscuits.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Garten recommends using a 2 ½-inch round cutter for this step, but using the top of a mason jar also works well in a pinch.

Once my biscuits were shaped, I whipped up my egg wash.

Once my biscuits were shaped, I whipped up my egg wash.
My egg wash for the biscuits.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I just mixed one egg with one tablespoon of water and voila, it was ready.

I brushed each biscuit with the egg wash before throwing my pan into the oven.

I brushed each biscuit with the egg wash before throwing my pan into the oven.
My biscuits before they went into the oven.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

The egg wash helps give your biscuits a golden-brown color.

After 22 minutes, my biscuits were ready.

After 22 minutes, my biscuits were ready.
My biscuits after they came out of the oven.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Garten recommends baking the biscuits for 20 to 22 minutes. You'll know they're done when the "tops are browned and the insides are firm," she said.

Garten's chive biscuits were extremely easy to make and impressed everyone at the dinner table — making them perfect for the holidays.

Garten
Garten's chive biscuits are perfect for Thanksgiving.      Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Garten's chive biscuits looked fantastic with their lovely golden hue, and the tops had a satisfying crisp that gave way to the buttery and fluffy middle.

There was a hint of saltiness in the biscuits that paired well with the mild garlic flavor of the chives. I paired these with Garten's chicken chili and they were a fantastic side, but I think Garten's biscuits would also be great in a breakfast sandwich or at Thanksgiving dinner.

What I loved most about Garten's recipe was that the biscuits were actually fun to make, even as a novice baker. This would be a great recipe to do with some family members on Thanksgiving day, especially kids who want to help in the kitchen.

Sure, store-bought is fine, but why not try homemade? It might just make you feel worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake.


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