Pumpkin Black Walnut Biscuits

[genealogynut]

Taken from the 2006 Good News Cookbook

Sent in by Joy Anderson of Independence, Kansas  (She was one of the finalists)

2 cups flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup finely chopped black walnuts
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup buttermilk
Sugar to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, salt and spices together in a large bowl.   Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add the nuts.  In a smaller bowl, combine the pumpkin and buttermilk.  Add it to the flour mixture and stir till combined.  Dough will be very stiff and you will have some leftover flour.  Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently to a 1/2 inch thickness and cut with a 2 inch round cutter.  Transfer the biscuits to a lightly greased baking sheet and sprinkle tops with sugar.  Bake for 10 minutes till lightly golden brown.  Serve immediately with butter.  Makes 12 biscuits.