Diana's Desserts - www.dianasdesserts.com
See more recipes in Breads - Biscuits - Rolls - Scones

Old Southern Beaten Biscuits

in Diana's Recipe Book

Average Rating: 
(total ratings: 8)
[Read reviews] [Post a review]
Servings: Makes about 30-35 biscuits
 
Comments:
Beaten Biscuits
Southerners describe beaten biscuits as a cross between a soda cracker and a baking powder biscuit. To achieve the right texture and lightness, the dough had to be beaten hard (usually with a mallet) for at least 30 minutes. The purpose of the beating was to incorporate air into the mixture (this was a time in history before the invention of baking powder). They were a very heavy biscuit, not like our present day baking powder biscuits.

Beaten Biscuits History
Beaten biscuits originated in Virginia and traveled across the mountains to Kentucky and then north to Maryland. Chuck wagon cooks also made them, recruiting a gullible new cowhand for help. They were considered the pride of the South, and in earlier days no Southern hostess would fail to offer these at any and all times of the day. They are one of the delicious hot breads that have made Southern cooks famous. They were basically considered an upper-class status symbol dish that depended on a lot of labor. Making the beaten biscuits was the daily duty of the plantation cook.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1/3 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup shortening
1/3 to 1/2 cup milk

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375° F (190°C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

Sift together dry ingredients. Cut in the shortening (consistency should look like coarse meal). Stir in 1/3 cup milk until dough holds together* (see note below). You may have to add a little more milk if the dough is too dry or crumbly.

Turn onto floured board and knead. Beat with a rolling pin until dough blisters, 100 whacks or more, folding edges in toward the center and turning after every few whacks. Roll dough to 3/8-inch thickness and cut with small round cutter. Using a fork, prick tops two or three times.

Arrange on lightly greased baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes, or until light golden.

Makes about 30-35 "beaten biscuits".

*Note: The mixing of the dry ingredients, and adding the shortening and milk to dry ingredients can be done in a food processor if desired. Before turning dough out onto a floured board to knead and "beat", you may briefly knead dough in the food processor.

Date: February 5, 2003

Reviews

Reviewer: Angela
Rating: 
Review:
There is nothing like a good beaten biscuit and a great piece of country ham. Warm and delicious

 
Reviewer: bobbi
Rating: 
Review:
At Christmastime, when my niece sent us a Smithfield uncooked ham, I hope the recipe is worth the time to do justice to the ham!

 
Reviewer: Roy Cloggins
Rating: 
Review:
This is the best recipe ever!

 
Reviewer: Bob Heyward
Rating: 
Review:
My mother and grandmother made these for years as a Sunday bread. I'm contiuing the tradition!

 
Reviewer: Rocky King
Rating: 
Review:
My Mom used to make these in mass production fo sale in Winchester, KY for a lady named Elenore Jones. She was a true Southern Belle. She and my Mom were the only two working there, but they kept them cooking. They supplied local stores such as Gaunces Market. As a child, I remember getting to eat most of the "overcooked" or "Mis-shapen" ones hot out of the oven. Thank you for this recipe, my Mom is 85 now and my wife and I are going to attempt to make a batch for her.

 
Reviewer: jan borba
Rating: 
Review:
I am so glad to have found this recipe. you see, I work at a living facility for the elderly, and one of the ladies, who is 104 yrs old, always asks me if I've ever heard or made a certain recipe. if I haven't heard of it, I really try to find the particular recipe she is talking about. so far, everything that she has asked for, I've been able to find and make for her. she will be so pleased to hear that I have found southern beaten biscuit recipe. I truly believe it brings back memories for her. remember she is 104 yrs old, and is full of life. Thank You so much.

 
Reviewer: barbara danna
Rating: 
Review:
very good and has a good taste and texture

 
Reviewer: cathy schryer
Rating: 
Review:
really yummy and fluffy..they are easy and very tasty

 

Add Your Review

  YOUR NAME (required)
  YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (required)
 (Excellent)
 (Very Good)
 (Good)
 (Could be Better)
 (Poor)
   RATING (required)
YOUR REVIEW:

More Recipes in this Section

100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread Amish Friendship Bread and Starter Angel Biscuits Apple Lady Scones Apricot-Cream Scones Bagels Baking Powder Biscuits Basic Pizza Dough Basic Shortcake Biscuits Basic White Bread Bite Size Cream Cheese Biscuits Braided Cinnamon Loaf Bread Machine Challah Bread Bread Machine Egg Bread Bread Machine Pizza Dough Brioche à tête Brioche Loaf Butter Croissants Buttermilk Biscuits Buttery Flaky Biscuits Challah Bread Or Braided Egg Bread Cheddar Cheese Herb Bread Cheddar Cheese Scones Cheese Biscuits Chocolate Chip Rum Raisin Scones Chocolate Chip Toffee Scones Ciabatta Classic Blueberry Cream Scones Classic Scottish Scones Clover Leaf Dinner Rolls Cloverleaf Rolls Topped with Poppy Seeds Cottage Cheese Pan Rolls Country Rye Bread Country Rye Bread (Bread Machine Method) Country Style French Bread Country Style Sour Cream Bread Cranberry Orange Scones Cranberry-Orange Spice Scones Croissants Croutons Crusty Hard Rolls Daisy Twist Bread with Lemon Glaze Dark Chocolate Chip Scones Dried Blueberry and Spice Swirled Bread Dried Cherry Cream Scones Easy and Quick Apple and Cheese Bread Easy Corn Tortillas Easy Flour Tortillas English Muffin Bread English Muffins Fancy Double Drizzled Chocolate Chip Scones Fan-Tan Dinner Rolls Flour Tortillas Food Processor Pizza Dough French Sourdough Bread Fresh Corn Spoon Bread Garlic Cheese Baguette Garlic-Herb Croutons
Garlic-Herb Croutons Gingerbread Scones Hawaiian Aloha Bread Herb Cheese Biscuits Honey Oatmeal Wheat Bread Honey Wheat Bread or Rolls Honey Whole Wheat Nut Bread Italian Bread Jam Scones Jamaican Hard Dough Bread Jammer Cream Scones Kenny's Cinnamon Bun Scones Lemon Curd and White Chocolate Filled Scones Lovely Lemon Biscuits Maple-Pecan Scones Mini Walnut Soda Breads New York Style Pretzels Old Southern Beaten Biscuits Orange Cream Cheese Biscuits Orange-Poppy Seed Scones Pane Francese Parker House Rolls Pecan and Walnut Bread Pesto Bread Loaf Plum Scones Portuguese Sweet Bread Pumpkin Pistachio Scones Pumpkin Scones Red Lobster Style Biscuits Rosemary-Olive Bread Rustic Parmesan Cheese Bread Sage Scones Sally Lunn Rolls Seasoned Cheese Biscuits Soda Bread with Dark Chocolate and Orange Peel Soft Pretzel-Bread Machine Method Soft Pretzels-Hand Made Method Sourdough Bread Sourdough Starter Sourdough Starter and Sourdough Bread Recipe Sourdough Starter for Bread Machine Southern Style Spoon Bread Tarragon Rolls The Very Lightest Ciabatta Toasted Almond Biscuits Toasted Hazelnut Scones with Chocolate Morsels Topping and Spreads For Scones and Biscuits Traditional White Soda Bread Ultimate Sourdough Baquettes Walnut Raisin Bread West Country Scones with Strawberry Butter White Chocolate-Macadamia Nut Scones Whole Grain Country Bread Whole Wheat Bread Whole Wheat Bread (Bread Machine Method) Whole Wheat Pita Bread Yorkshire Pudding to Serve with Roast Beef Zopf Bread