Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar and salt.

Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter, or break the butter up with your hands and work it into the flour mixture. Either way, continue until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

Add water or milk and stir until a dough forms and holds together. Knead the dough gently for about 1 minute, then pat into a ½ inch thick slab.

Use a drinking glass, about 2 ½ inches in diameter, to cut the dough into round biscuits. Continue combining the scraps and cutting biscuits until the dough is gone, forming about 12 biscuits.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until light golden brown.