Southern Beaten Biscuits

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Breads rolls Medium

A stiff dough of flour, lard and cold liquid is beaten until smooth and blistered, then rolled, pricked and baked into small, firm, pale biscuits. They are traditionally split and filled with country ham. Makes 20 biscuits in about 1 hr 35 min.

Prep 30 min

Cook 35 min

Cooling 30 min

Total 1 hr 35 min

Yield 20 biscuits

Ingredients

Adjust yield

biscuits

3 ¼ cups (400 g)all-purpose flour
4 tbsp (55 g)lard, cold, or use butter
¾ tsp (5 g)salt
1 ¼ tsp (5 g)granulated sugar
½ cup (120 ml)cold whole milk, plus up to 30 ml more as needed

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Rub the lard, salt and sugar into the flour until it looks like fine meal. Add the cold milk and mix to a very stiff dough, adding a few more tablespoons only if needed to hold together.
Pulse or knead the dough 2 minutes, then beat it with a rolling pin, mallet or the back of a heavy knife, folding it over on itself, for 15 to 20 minutes, until it turns smooth and satiny and blisters appear when you fold it.
Roll the dough 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick and cut 2-inch (5 cm) rounds, gathering and re-rolling scraps.
Place on the sheet and prick the tops three times with a fork.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until the biscuits are dry and pale gold on top and lightly browned on the bottoms. Cool on a rack.

Tips

The beating, not baking powder, gives the texture; do not skip it.
Stop when the dough blisters and looks glossy.
Serve with slivers of country ham, or butter and preserves.
Good with country ham or fruit preserves.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make southern beaten biscuits?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking, plus 30 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 20 biscuits.

How should I store southern beaten biscuits?

Keep in an airtight tin 5 days; they dry rather than stale. Freeze up to 2 months.

Can I make southern beaten biscuits ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Beaten biscuits are an old Southern, and especially Virginia and Maryland, biscuit whose stiff dough is beaten rather than leavened. Serve it with country ham or fruit preserves.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 20 servings this recipe makes.

102 Calories / serving

3.2g Fat

15.7g Carbs

2.2g Protein

0.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (20 servings): ~2040 cal · 64g fat · 314g carbs · 44g protein · 12g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.