Expert: Elyse Grau - 8/11/2010

Question
QUESTION: What makes biscuits dry and crumbly

ANSWER: Bob:
You might not have enough liquid in your dough, or perhaps not enough fat - it should be soft and somewhat moist.

Elyse

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I know there is enough fat. the liquid might be part of it but, they taste like there is alum in them when you take a bite, such as when you bite into cheesecake.

ANSWER: Bob:
I don't understand your response. Alum is something used in pickling, I've never had a taste of it in cheesecake. But maybe what you are tasting is the baking soda, if you are making buttermilk biscuits. Too much baking soda could make the biscuits crumbly.

Elyse

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Okay,I guess I'm mistaken about the Alum. However, I got the same dryness in my mouth as when I've had NY style cheesecake. As for the biscuits themselves they held their shape but, would fall apart with the slightest pressure looking like large bread crumbs. thank you


Answer
Bob:
Was this just one time, or whenever you make these biscuits? If it was just once, you might want to try them again, just in case you simply made a mistake while baking. Sometimes things go wrong and we're never sure what it was. If it's happened more than once with the same recipe, you could give me the complete recipe and tell me if you do anything different, then I'll see if I can pinpoint the problem.

Elyse