The Best Vegan Biscuits

You know when you want something bread-y and warm and comforting, but making actual bread sounds like way too much work? Welp. Here you go. Buttermilk biscuits! Vegan, of course. I make these biscuits every couple weeks and crave them basically all the time in-between. : ) They go really well with my Throw-together Chili, which is a post I've been meaning to do but it's not so much a recipe as "Let's-see-if-I-have-enough-stuff-in-my-cupboard-and-fridge-to-make-it-yummy", meaning it changes every time.   ; )

But the biscuits! Those do indeed have a recipe. 6 ingredients, 1 bowl, 30 minutes, DONE. Slather them with Earth Balance butter and Agave and just devour. Or with chili. You really can't lose either way. Here we go!

These babies are golden and gorgeous! 

I love how simple biscuits are. Cut in the butter (or Earth Balance) until crumbly, add liquid, mix, and just press it into a good thickness on a floured surface and cut circles. Easy peasy. The only real trick is not the over handle the dough. And I've been told to NEVER use a rolling pin. That's a no-no. If you can't work it with just your hands, then something ain't right. 

Here's that chili I was talking about with some biscuits. Beautiful. 

The Best Vegan Biscuits

from Minimalist Baker

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 4 Tbsp non-dairy, unsalted butter (I use Earth Balance)
• 1 cup unsweetened PLAIN almond milk + 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Whisk dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
3. Add cold butter and use fingers or a pastry cutter to cut the butter into small pieces. Make sure your butter is cold. 
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients and, using a wooden spoon, stir gently while pouring in the almond milk mixture. Still until just combined. Dough will be sticky. 
5. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, dust the top with a bit of flour and then very gently turn the dough over on itself 5-6 times - hardly kneading.
6. Form into a 1-inch thick disc, handling as little as possible.
7. Use a 1-inch thick dough cutter or any round cutter ( honestly, I just used a cup.) Press it straight down and twist. Repeat and place biscuits on a baking sheet in two rows, making sure they just touch - this will help them rise uniformly. Gently reform the dough and cut out one or two more biscuits - you should have 7-8.
8. Next brush the tops with a bit more of melted non-dairy butter and gently press a small divot in the center using two fingers. This will also help them rise evenly, so the middle won't form a dome.
9. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-15 minutes or until fluffy and slightly golden brown. Serve immediately. Let remaining biscuits cool completely before storing them in an airtight container or bag.

And that's it! So just make it happen. Leftovers are a beautiful thing, too. I like to get creative, like so:

That is some Chickpea "Tuna" Salad on those amazing biscuits. Dang. That was GOOD. 

Whew. So go make some vegan biscuits! : )

 

Single Lady Pancake, Vegan Style

Do you know Joy the Baker? Cause you should know Joy the Baker. She's awesome. She's one of my favorite people ever and also one of my idols. I've been a faithful follower of hers for years. Wanna know a funny story? I "discovered" her through another one of my favorite people, Maureen Johnson. She's an author, vegetarian, and the Queen of Twitter. Really. But anyway, she posted a recipe for a Vegan chocolate cake with Avocado buttercream. I wasn't even vegan then, but intrigued, I followed the link and found Joy. Literally and figuratively. : )  Joy the Baker, or Joy Wilson officially, is not vegan, but an awesome cook and a fantastic writer. She does have some vegan recipes on her blog, though, like the chocolate cake I mentioned. Others can be tweaked! Yay! For instance, this pancake recipe that I love so much, I have it memorized. The Single Lady Pancake. That's Joy's name for it because it only makes one massive pancake, instead of a large batch meant for more than one person. It's my favorite thing to make on my day off and I do it a couple times a month. Join me. Indulge. Eat a ginormous pancake full of chocolate at 11am cause you just woke up. Or maybe that last part is just me. ; )

The Single Lady Pancake (Vegan style)

adapted from Joy the Baker

1/3 cup all-purpose flour (or you can use whole wheat flour)

1 Tablespoon dried oats (quick cooking or regular)

2 teaspoons granulated sugar (or any other sweetener. I've used maple sugar in the past)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

1 Tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Almond Milk

dash of vanilla extract

handful semi sweet vegan chocolate chips**

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In a separate bowl whisk together oil, vanilla extract and almond milk.  Combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir to combine.  The mixture will be thick.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

Heat a small frying pan with a teaspoon of oil.  Pour in the pancake batter and spread some with the back of a spoon.  Cook over medium heat until bubbles form and pop on the surface of the pancake.

Flip.  It’s totally cool if it's a mess. No one's enjoying it but you! 

Cook until golden brown and then slide the pancake onto a plate. I like to enjoy my pancake only with a smear of Earth Balance and a glass of almond milk, but syrup works, too. 

Grab a fork and dig in! 

**You can add in bananas, pecans, berries, or anything else that tickles your fancy. I just like to keep it simple with chocolate chips.