Ingredients

9 ounces all-purpose flour, such as Gold Medal (about 2 cups, spooned; 255g)

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 teaspoons (8g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight Diamond Crystal kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

4 ounces cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" cubes (about 8 tablespoons; 110g)

9 ounces sweet potato purée, from one large sweet potato, see note (about 1 heaping cup; 255g)

3 ounces milk, any percentage will do (about 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon; 85g)

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 400°F. Should your kitchen be warmer than 75°F, please see our guide to baking in a hot kitchen before getting started; the specifics are focused on pie dough, but the overall principles are true of biscuits as well.

2. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl, then whisk until well combined (this may take up to 1 minute). Add the butter, toss to break up the pieces, and smash each cube flat. Continue smashing and rubbing until the butter has mostly disappeared into a floury mix, although a few larger, Cheerio-sized pieces may remain. This can also be done with 4 or 5 pulses in a food processor, just take care not to overdo it. The prepared mix can be refrigerated up to 3 weeks in an airtight container, then used as directed below.

3. Mash the sweet potato purée and milk together with a fork, or combine with an immersion blender until perfectly smooth. Add to the dry mix in a large bowl, and fold with a flexible spatula until fully absorbed. The dough will seem rather crumbly and dry at first, but keep mixing until it finally comes together. Once the dough forms a rough ball, turn out onto a lightly floured surface.