How To Determine When To Make Drop Biscuits Vs Roll-And-Cut (2024)

Julia Holland

·3 min read

As one of the most beloved recipes in the American South, biscuits are the buttery, indulgent quick breads that can be incorporated into every meal and snack. While biscuits distinguish themselves from other types of breadwith their high-fat content and lack of yeast, there are also different types of biscuits. Two well-known types, drop and roll-and-cut biscuits, refer to the techniques used to form them. These distinct preparation styles result in markedly different textures, which play a big role in how to determine which type to use.

Drop biscuits have a more fluid batter and are made by simply scooping the batter out of the mixing bowl and dropping it onto a baking sheet. Roll-and-cut biscuits have a firmer, more compact dough rolled out and cut into flat-topped circles. Drop biscuits have a dense, crusty, and crumbly consistency, whereas roll-and-cut biscuits are light, fluffy, and flaky.

Since roll-and-cut biscuits hold their shape better and have a fluffier crumb, they'd work best for biscuit sandwiches and as a flaky topping for pot pies or casseroles. They'll remain intact containers for sandwich ingredients and a light, flaky contrast to rich, heavy casserole fillings. Drop biscuits' hefty and crumbly texture makes themmore suited to eat on their own with a drizzle of honey or butter. Their crusty, crumbly texture also helps them absorb and blendseamlessly into a creamy, chewy sausage gravy. They're also a common foundation for strawberry shortcake.

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Read more: 25 Most Popular Snacks In America Ranked Worst To Best

Yet Another Determinant: Difficulty

How To Determine When To Make Drop Biscuits Vs Roll-And-Cut (2)

Despite their textural differences, both drop biscuits and roll-and-cut biscuits deliver an ultra-savory, decadently buttery flavor. However, another important determinant of which type to make is the level of difficulty and time constraints. Drop biscuits are much easier and faster to make than cut-and-roll biscuits, which require significant skill, not to mention the tedious process of kneading, rolling, and cutting the dough. If you are up for the challenge and have the time to devote to a more demanding procedure, roll-and-cut biscuits are a worthy feat.

Drop biscuits require no fancy equipment nor kneading, and their thinner dough is less likely to be overworked, which is a common mistake that results in tough cut-and-roll biscuits. While it's hard to beat the fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside texture that cut-and-roll biscuits are known for, they're a lot more finicky to make.

So, if you're a first-time baker, you might want to start with drop biscuits. The good news is that they lend well to additional ingredients, which also serve to alter their texture. For example, cheddar cheese and chive drop biscuits would bring a creamy, gooey depth of texture, dotted with bright bits of aromatic crunch. Furthermore, adding cold, grated butter to the batter will amp up the tenderness of their crumb.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

How To Determine When To Make Drop Biscuits Vs Roll-And-Cut (2024)

FAQs

How do you know if you should roll or drop biscuits? ›

Drop biscuits have a dense, crusty, and crumbly consistency, whereas roll-and-cut biscuits are light, fluffy, and flaky. Since roll-and-cut biscuits hold their shape better and have a fluffier crumb, they'd work best for biscuit sandwiches and as a flaky topping for pot pies or casseroles.

What are two differences between the preparation of rolled biscuits and dropped biscuits? ›

Drop biscuits have more milk or other liquid added to the dough than rolled biscuits. The dough is moister and cannot be kneaded or rolled; simply drop tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet. Drop biscuits don't rise as much as other biscuits and they are always coarser in appearance and texture.

Which are more likely to be flaky, rolled and cut biscuits or drop biscuits? ›

From technique to texture, there are major differences between these two types of biscuit. Rolled biscuits have flaky layers, while drop biscuits have an airy, fluffy texture.

Why is it important to fold your dough before you cut out your biscuits? ›

To create flaky layers in your biscuits, it's important that you fold the dough a few times. When cutting the butter into your dough, the fat forms small pockets coated by flour. By folding the dough you create layers of those fat pockets and flour.

How do you check the doneness of drop biscuits and rolled biscuits? ›

Bake the biscuits until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 20 minutes.

Why are my drop biscuits crumbly? ›

When the fat is cut too small, after baking there will be more, smaller air pockets left by the melting fat. The result is a baked product that crumbles. When cutting in shortening and other solid fats, cut only until the pieces of shortening are 1/8- to 1/4-inch in size.

Is buttermilk or heavy cream better for biscuits? ›

Heavy cream provides rich butterfat that gives the biscuits tenderness and flavor, as well as moisture from its water content. The formula requires minimal mixing, reducing the risk of too much gluten development.

Which method produces a more cakelike and less flaky texture in biscuits? ›

Creaming Method

This is used for batters that are higher in fat and sugar because it gives a more complete mix of the ingredients. This will give the finished product a more cake like texture.

What is the secret to making biscuits rise? ›

A hot oven helps biscuits bake—and rise—quickly. We recommend 475˚F for 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven as soon as they are lightly brown.

How many times should you fold biscuit dough? ›

Don't fold more than five times. Be careful, too, when you pull together the scraps from cutting out the dough. You can quickly overwork it, which will leave you with biscuits that won't rise.

Do all biscuits have to be rolled out? ›

DO ALL BISCUITS HAVE TO BE ROLLED OUT? No, some biscuits have more liquid and need to be dropped onto the pan or can be used as a dumpling in a soup or stew.

Should you roll out biscuit dough? ›

Rolling the Dough Out Once

You can't roll out your dough only once for layers and layers of buttery goodness. For flaky layers, fold and roll the dough five times before cutting.

Do you have to roll biscuit dough? ›

Can classic Southern biscuits (soft wheat self-rising flour, buttermilk) be done as drops, or must they be rolled and cut? You can make them either way. As a drop, you need the dough to be slightly looser in consistency because you will be spooning it out. You just add a little more buttermilk.

How many times do you fold biscuit dough? ›

Don't fold more than five times. Be careful, too, when you pull together the scraps from cutting out the dough. You can quickly overwork it, which will leave you with biscuits that won't rise.

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