Recipe: Bacon and Sweet Potato Biscuits with Smoky Honey Butter

BACON AND SWEET POTATO BISCUITS WITH SMOKY HONEY BUTTER

1 medium or 2 small orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (14 to 16 ounces total), peeled
6 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
2 cups all-purpose flour*
4 teaspoons baking powder*
1 tablespoon sugar*
1 teaspoon baking soda*
1 teaspoon salt*
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and chilled
1 cup buttermilk (low-fat is okay)

FOR THE HONEY BUTTER:
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons honey
Salt

Wrap the sweet potato with a damp paper towel and microwave on high until very soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, mash with a potato masher, and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, in a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, then set aside to cool. Carefully set aside 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings from the skillet.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a food processor, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and allspice and pulse a few times. Add the cubed butter and pulse to make a coarse meal with a few pea-sized pieces. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and gently mix in the bacon, buttermilk, and 1 cup of the mashed sweet potato (save any remaining potato for another use).

Transfer mixture to a floured work surface and knead a few times to form a dough. Pat the dough to about 1-inch thick, then gently fold in half. Gently repeat 4 more times. Roll the dough out to 3/4-inch thick, then use a floured 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter to cut dough into biscuits, arranging them on the prepared baking sheet. Gather the scraps and repeat to make a total of 12 biscuits.

Bake until the biscuits are browned and a tester comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the softened butter, honey, and reserved bacon drippings, mixing until smooth. Add salt to taste.

Serve the biscuits with the honey butter on the side.

*If you'd like, you can substitute the flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt with 3 cups biscuit mix.

SERVING SUGGESTION:
- Split biscuits in half horizontally and add sliced ham for a savory sandwich.

Makes 12 biscuits
Source: the National Pork Board