Baking Powder Biscuits

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Place the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl and whisk to combine.

Using the slicing side of a box grated, slice the butter into the flour mixture. Toss the sheets of butter in the flour and then lightly work the butter pieces between your fingers or use a pastry cutter to break them up and coat them with flour. Stop when the dough resembles coarse sand and there are still some small visible pieces of butter.

Place the biscuit mixture into the freezer for 15 minutes.

Add the buttermilk and gently stir with a spatula until the dough forms into a ball and no dry bits of flour are visible. The dough will be shaggy and sticky.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and lightly dust with flour. With floured hands, pat the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick 11 x 6-inch rectangle. Fold the ends of the rectangle in thirds. Dust the top lightly with flour, press out to the same size rectangle again, and repeat the folding. Repeat this process a third time. After the third folding, pat the dough to a 1/2-inch thickness and cut out the biscuits using a floured 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter. Be careful to press straight down and do not twist the cutter.

Place the biscuit rounds 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gather the scraps, reshape them, and pat the dough out to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out as above. Discard any remaining scraps.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, rotating the pan once halfway through, until the tops are golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter. Serve immediately.