Quick And Easy Cream Biscuits

1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl. Stir in cream with wooden spoon until dough forms, about 30 seconds. Turn dough out onto lightly floured counter and gather into ball. Knead dough briefly until smooth, about 30 seconds.
3. Shape dough into 3⁄4-inch-thick circle. Cut dough into rounds with 2-1⁄2-inch biscuit cutter or cut into wedges. Place rounds or wedges on prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Serve.

CREAM BISCUITS WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE
Stir 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1⁄4-inch pieces, into flour along with sugar, baking powder, and salt. Increase baking time to 18 minutes.

CREAM BISCUITS WITH CRYSTALLIZED GINGER
Add 3 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger to flour along with sugar, baking powder, and salt. Before baking, brush tops of biscuits with 1 tablespoon heavy cream and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.

CREAM BISCUITS WITH FRESH HERBS
Any herb or combination of herbs will work here.
Whisk 2 tablespoons minced fresh herbs into flour along with sugar, baking powder, and salt.

SHAPING CREAM BISCUITS

FOR ROUNDS
1. Pat dough on lightly floured counter into 3⁄4-inch-thick circle.
2. Punch out dough rounds with floured 2-1⁄2-inch biscuit cutter. Repeat patting and punching dough rounds for a total of 8 biscuits.

FOR WEDGES
1. Press dough into 8-inch cake pan, then turn dough out onto lightly floured counter.
2. Using bench scraper or sharp knife, cut dough into 8 wedges.