I recently made a hundred-year-old recipe for Cheese Biscuits. The recipe was simple to make and the biscuits were tasty. My husband said, “You should make these again sometime,” which is high praise from him. This recipe is a keeper.
Here’s the original recipe:
When I made this recipe, I used shortening rather than lard. Here is the recipe for Baking Powder Biscuits that the Cheese Biscuits recipe refers to:
And, here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Cheese Biscuits
1 cup bread flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon lard or shortening
1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
3/8 cup milk and water in equal parts (3/16 cup milk + 3/16 cup water) (Don’t worry if the proportions aren’t exactly the same for the milk and water. It will turn out fine even it they are not.)
1/2 cup grated cheese (I used cheddar cheese.)
Preheat oven to 425° F. Mix the dry ingredients together; cut (work) in the lard or shortening and butter using fingers, pastry blender, or food processor. Gradually add the milk and water mixture while mixing with a knife or spoon. Continue adding liquid until there is a soft dough. Add grated cheese, and gently stir until the cheese is evenly distributed. The amount of water needed varies depending upon the type of flour. On a floured board, pat or roll the dough until 1/2 -inch thick. Cut with a round biscuit cutter. (I used a glass as the cutter.) Place on greased baking sheet, and bake for 12- 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve warm.
These look simple and tasty.
This is a very nice recipe. It was easy to make and the biscuits were yummy.
Looks delicious! I’m surprised there is so little fat in the biscuits.
There is very little fat – but the small amount worked just fine in this recipe.
They do look really good. I’m going to pass the recipe along to my daughter.
I think that she will like it.
It’s interesting to me that this recipe specifies bread flour.
I’m not sure why. I’m guessing that all-purpose flour would also work.
Out of pure curiosity, I may need to ask my friends at King Arthur when “bread flour” was first produced as such. I love these little details.
In addition to bread flour, I know that I’ve seen recipes for several different types of flour in hundred-year-old cookbooks: cake flour, pastry flour, graham flour.
They look delicious!
They’re tasty.
I like cheese biscuits, so this is going to be tried very soon! Thank you!
If you like cheese biscuits, I think that you’ll like this recipe. It’s easy, and the biscuits were delicious.
Sounds like Red Lobster biscuits! Yum!!
hmm. . . I don’t think that I’ve ever had Red Lobster biscuits. I’m going to see if there is a Red Lobster restaurant near here.
Sounds delicious.
They’re yummy.
Great post! The old recipes are the foundation of all great food and it’s fantastic you’re revisiting them!
It’s nice to hear that you enjoy this blog. I have a lot of fun doing it.