When in the USA what is a biscuit?

Question

Here in Australia we call a biscuit what in America is called a cookie.
So, can someone please explain to me what a bisciut is?
It sounds yummy when an American talks about it in a more savoury way than a sweet way.....

Answer 1

An American "biscuit" is basically bread. But not just any bread. If made properly, they are VERY yummy! A simple recipe calls for a combination of flour, eggs, salt, sugar, butter, baking powder, and baking soda baked until they rise into fluffy golden brown disks. They're typically eaten plain, with honey, jam, syrup, gravy or my favorite, slathered with butter.

There are so many different combinations out there-- my family hails from the south and uses buttermilk in the recipe. Try a basic version and add your own flair to it, perhaps some cheese, or garlic powder. They're really quite easy & fun to make (although a bit messy:), and that great homebaked smell will make it impossible not to steal one right out of the oven. MMMM enjoy!

Answer 2

It is a quick bread that is rolled out and cut into a round shape and baked...

Baking Powder Biscuits

Ingredients:

2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
4 tablespoons butter or shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
about 3/4 cup milk

Sift Flour once, measure, add baking powder and salt, and sift again. Cut in shortening or butter. (this is where I use my hands by rubbing the butter into the flour). Add milk gradually, stirring until soft dough is formed. Turn out on slightly floured board and lightly "knead" for 30 seconds, enough to shape. Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut with 2 inch floured biscuit cutter. Bake on ungreased sheet in a 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Makes 12 biscuits. You can also make tiny tea biscuits that are only 1 1/2 inches wide with a small cutter or glass bottom. These are great served with tea, jam or honey. Makes 24.

Answer 3

As an American I can tell you biscuts are considered a type of bread. There are many different types of buscuits depending on the area you are in, and if you buy them at the supermarket. When poeple make them from scratch they can be buttermilk based, lard based, or butter based. In the supermarket you can get those that are flaky, breadlike or or like the traditional mentioined earlier.

They are a scone consistency, but a lot lighter and fluffier on the inside. They are eaten mainly with breakfast or dinner, but can be eaten any time.

Answer 4

A biscuit is a very flaky and delicious homemade dinner roll. You can make them out of anything and they replace sliced bread. You can make them sweet or savory just depending on the spices you add to the mix. Hope this has helped! If you go to www.fodnetwork.com , they have tons of recipes for them. Paula Dean has one for a sweet potato biscuit I am dying to try, just sounds so yummy!

Answer 5

It's like a dense flaky layered little roll served with a meal. It's more common in certain areas though. Where I am, in the Northeastern part of the states, people generally don't eat biscuits.

Answer 6

A biscuit is about 3 inches in diameter, round and relatively flat on both ends. It is baked. Light and fluffy on the inside, somewhat stiff on the outside. It is eaten like dinner rolls or may be a substitue for sandwich bread.
At McDonalds' restrauants they make a breakfast sandwich, bacon, egg and cheese in a biscuit. Yuuuuuuum.

Answer 7

A biscuit is a sort of scone that the americans like to serve with stews and soups. I think that they originated from the south, but I'm not exactually sure.

Answer 8

Bisquits are made of flour, a pinch of salt, milk,,somtimes an egg is included. The are mixed together in a mixing bowl and cut into circles about 3 inches and are eating plain, or maybe with butter and jellied fruit. there consistency is like cake inside or prehaps a dry dumpling.

Answer 9

Biscuits in North American usage
Main article: Scone (bread)

American biscuits with honey. In American English, a "biscuit" is a small form of bread made with baking powder or baking soda as a leavening agent rather than yeast. (Biscuits, soda breads, and corn bread, among others, are sometimes referred to collectively as "quick breads" to indicate that they do not need time to rise before baking.)

Biscuits are extremely soft and similar to scones; in fact, many recipes are identical. In the United States, there is a growing tendency to refer to sweet variations as "scone" and to the savory as a "biscuit", though there are exceptions for both (such as the cheese scone). A sweet biscuit served with a topping of fruit and juice is called shortcake. In Canada, both sweet and savory are referred to as "biscuits", "baking powder biscuits" or "tea biscuits", although "scone" is also starting to be used.

Biscuits are a common feature of Southern U.S. cuisine and are often made with buttermilk. They are traditionally served as a side dish with a meal, especially in the morning. As a breakfast item they are often eaten with butter and a sweet condiment such as molasses, light sugarcane syrup, sorghum syrup, honey, or fruit jam or jelly. With other meals they are usually eaten with butter or gravy instead of sweet condiments. However, biscuits and gravy (biscuits covered in country gravy) are usually served for breakfast, sometimes as the main course.

A common variation on basic biscuits is "cheese biscuits", made by adding grated Cheddar or American cheese to the basic recipe.

Large drop biscuits, because of their size and rough exterior texture, are sometimes referred to as "cat head biscuits".

Biscuits are now ubiquitous throughout the U.S. and feature prominently in many fast food breakfast sandwiches. The biscuit sandwich burst onto the scene primarily through the Hardee's chain of restaurants as an answer to the McDonald's Egg McMuffin. Along with the traditional country ham, Hardee's added sausage, cheese, eggs, steak, and even chicken to the breakfast bread. Breakfast biscuits are much bigger than ham biscuits, most as big or bigger than a typical fast food hamburger. In addition, biscuits are commonly found as a side dish at fried chicken restaurants such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Bojangles', Church's Chicken, and Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits.

Answer 10

A biscuit in the US is a small roll of bread. If a biscuit is a cookie in Australia then tell me is it true what the Geico Gecko says that you put gravy on them ? :))