The “new” bread recipe that everyone is obsessed with has been on Southern tables for years

In the South, we do things our own way, so trends aren’t usually of much concern, especially when it comes to food. We don’t try every viral TikTok recipe we see, unless of course it suits our lifestyle (hello mason jar salads!). Instead, the things we prepare in our kitchen often end up spreading like wildfire and influencing the rest of the country. We can’t help it, our food is the best! The latest “trend” to invade tables across the country is straight out of a Southern grandmother’s recipe box: angel cookies.

These super moist little heavenly bites have been a staple of Southern potlucks and Sunday afternoon church lunches for generations, and it seems the rest of the world is finally catching on to their wonder. In fact, our angel cookie recipe inspired the most ordered dish at the famous Helen’s Restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama. Chef and owner Rob McDaniel, who has been nominated for several James Beard Awards, told al.com that he used our Pam Lolley recipe as the basis for his own and that it is now the dish for which his restaurant is the best known.

Get our recipe: Angel Cookies

What are angel cookies?

Angel cookies are a table bread made from a combination of three different leavening agents: yeast, baking soda and baking powder. Most cookie recipes use only one, if any. The result is a delicious cross between a traditional, flaky buttermilk biscuit and a light, yeasty Parker House Roll. There is some obscurity as to the origin of the recipe; both bakery brands while Lily and Martha White claim to have pioneered the beloved bread. No matter how they ended up on our tables, we’re just glad they did. And why are they called angel cookies? This can also be left to interpretation. Some say they are so tasty they must come straight from heaven. Others compare the shape of a split cookie to spread angel wings.

Why we love angel cookies

There are a million reasons to love angel cookies, but we’ll just name a few.

• They have the best taste and texture. Angel cookies have a yeasty flavor with just a hint of sweetness from the sugar. Their texture is the perfect combination of a soft bun and a flaky cookie, meaning you get all that chewy goodness with a little chew.

• They are easy to make. By using three different leavening ingredients, you’ll get the perfect rise every time. You probably already have most of the recipe ingredients on hand, which means you can prepare them at any time. You can cook them on a baking sheet or, for better effect, in a cast iron skillet. The dough can also be made ahead and refrigerated for up to five days before rolling and baking, so it’s a convenient recipe to use for the holidays when you want to spread out some of your baking duties.

• They go with everything. Whether paired with a pork chop or roast for a hearty dinner or served with jams and whipped butter at brunch, angel cookies are ideal for any meal and occasion. Pro Tip: You may want to double the recipe, as this is often the first dish to run out.

Read the original article on Southern Living