Artistic Biscuits: Dark Chocolate Fennel Biscuits

My coworkers at "Team Umizoomi" spanked a huge project the other day and to celebrate, I made them these.


2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 a bar (or whatever looks like the right amount) of dark chocolate (I used 77%), chopped
3/4 teaspoon dried fennel seeds, roughly chopped into smallish bits
1 cup well-shaken light buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and fennel, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in chocolate. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Form dough into 1 1/2" round balls and place about an inch apart on a large buttered baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, roughly 10 minutes.