Cracked Black Pepper Pull-Apart Biscuits

Buttery, flaky biscuits loaded with freshly ground black pepper and baked until golden brown. These pull-apart biscuits feature a perfect blend of all-purpose and cake flours for a tender, delicate crumb.

16 servings
1 hr 5 min

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening
  • cups buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
  • 2 pieces cake pans

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease cake pans or baking dish with 1 Tbsp. melted butter.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Combine all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, pepper, kosher salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add shortening and 1/2 pound softened butter. Using your hands or a fork, mix just until mixture is coarse and mealy. Stir in buttermilk just until a shaggy dough forms.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Divide dough into 16 heaping 1/3-cup portions. Place 7 around the perimeter and 1 in the center of each cake pan (or nestle all 16 into baking dish). Brush biscuits with remaining 3 Tbsp. melted butter, sprinkle with sea salt, and bake until puffed and golden brown, 35-40 minutes. Let cool in pan 10 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack, then reinvert. Serve warm or at room temperature.

    50 min