Step 1

Preheat oven to 450°F. Butter a large baking sheet or round baking pan and set aside.

Step 2

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar. Cut in 1/2 cup (1 stick or 8 tablespoons) cold butter with a pastry blender or two knives in opposite directions. Add the buttermilk and stir with a sturdy spoon until well combined. Add the cheese and fold it in with the spoon and then your hands until well distributed throughout the dough.

Step 3

Flatten the dough out to 1/2-inch thickness on a floured surface. Fold in half and then in half again and flatten back out to 1/2-inch thickness. Repeat the folding process at least three times to help create all those flaky layers when the biscuits are baked.

Step 4

Cut dough into rounds with a 2-1/2 inch round dough cutter. Place biscuits about an inch apart in the buttered baking pan/sheet. Gather, press out and cut any remaining dough until all the dough has been formed into biscuits. You should have about 12 biscuits total.

Step 5

Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Brush each biscuit with the melted butter.

Step 6

Bake for 15 minutes or until biscuits have risen and are starting to turn a light brown on top.