3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 cup cold butter
1 egg
1 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 450F degrees.

2. Cut butter into small pea sized pieces and put in the freezer. Pull out only when ready to incorporate into the dough.

3. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

4. Use a pastry cutter to cut cold butter into flour mixture. You want to see small pieces of butter throughout the dough.

5. Beat milk and egg together and mix with flour mixture until the ingredients are combined. The dough will be sticky, keep working it. You should be able to see the butter pieces in the dough.

6. Turn the dough out onto a generously floured surface. Sprinkle some flour on to the top of dough so it won't stick to your fingers and knead 10-15 times. If the dough is super sticky just sprinkle on some additional flour.

7. Roll or pat the dough out to 3/4 to 1 inch thickness and cut with a biscuit cutter. You will end up with 10 to 12 biscuits.

8. Place the biscuits on a lightly greased or parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown on top.

At this point they are ready to serve. You can brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter if desired.