Biscuit 314994 225466578 2008-07-13T21:06:06Z SoWhy 54890 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/72.234.151.201|72.234.151.201]] to last version by Landon1980 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Unreferenced|date=October 2006}} {{otheruses}} A '''biscuit''' ({{IPAEng|ˈbɪskɨt}}) is a small [[Baking|baked]] product; the exact meaning varies markedly in different parts of the world. The [[etymology|origin]] of the word "biscuit" is from [[Latin language|Latin]] via [[Middle French]] and means "cooked twice" (similar to the [[German language|German]] [[Zwieback]]). Some of the original biscuits were British naval [[Hardtack|hard tack]]. That was passed down to American culture, and hard tack (biscuits) was made through the 19th century. == Biscuits in British usage == [[Image:Digestive biscuits.jpg|right|150px|thumb|British digestive biscuits]] A biscuit is a hard baked sweet product like a small, flat cake, which in [[North America]] may be called a "[[cookie]]" or "[[cracker (food)|cracker]]". The term biscuit also applies to [[sandwich]] type biscuits, where a layer of 'cream' or [[icing (food)|icing]] is sandwiched between two biscuits. In the UK, a "cookie" is only usually used as part of the name of a specific type of softer, chewier biscuit e.g. the "chocolate chip cookie". The British usage of the word ''biscuit'' was defined in the defence of a [[tax]] judgement found in favour of [[McVitie's]] and their product [[Jaffa Cake]]s which [[Her Majesty's Customs and Excise]] claimed was a biscuit and was therefore liable to [[value added tax]]. The successful defence rested on the fact that "biscuits go soft when stale, whereas cakes go hard when stale". In Britain, the [[digestive biscuit]] has a strong cultural identity as the traditional accompaniment to a cup of [[tea]], and is regularly eaten as such. Many tea drinkers "[[Dunk (biscuit)|dunk]]" their biscuits in tea, allowing them to absorb liquid and soften slightly before consumption. Although there are many regional varieties, both sweet and [[Umami|savoury]], "biscuit" is generally used to describe the sweet version. Sweet biscuits are commonly eaten as a snack and may contain chocolate, fruit, jam, nuts or even be used to sandwich other fillings. Savoury biscuits (such as [[cream cracker]]s, water biscuits or [[crisp bread]]s) are plainer and commonly eaten with [[cheese]] following a meal.<ref>[http://www.jacobs.co.uk/recipes/ Jacobs Crackers recipes] that use cheese, as well as other toppings.</ref> Generally, [[Australia]]ns, [[New Zealand]]ers and the [[Irish people|Irish]] use the British meaning of "biscuit" (colloquially referred to as ''bickie'' or ''biccie'' or ''bikkie'') for the sweet biscuit. Two famous Australasian biscuit varieties are the [[ANZAC biscuit]] and the [[Tim Tam]]. Despite the difference, this sense is at the root of the name of the United States' most prominent maker of cookies and crackers, the National Biscuit Company (now called [[Nabisco]]). ==Biscuits in North American usage==<!-- This section is linked from [[Gravy]] --> [[Image:Runny hunny.jpg|thumb|150px|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 bread]]s" to indicate that they do not need time to rise before baking.) Biscuits are extremely soft and similar to [[Scone (bread)|scones]]. In the United States, there is a growing tendency to refer to sweet variations as "scone"{{fact|date=May 2008}} and to the [[Umami|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 [[cuisine of the Southern United States|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 (fruit preserves)|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 cheese|Cheddar]] or [[American cheese]] to the basic recipe. American biscuits can be prepared for baking in several ways. The dough can be rolled out flat and cut into rounds, which expand when baked into flaky-layered cylinders. If extra liquid is added, the dough's texture changes to resemble stiff pancake batter so that small spoonfuls can be dropped into the baking sheet to produce "drop biscuits", which are more amorphous in texture and shape. Large drop biscuits, because of their size and rough exterior texture, are sometimes referred to as "cat head biscuits". Pre-shaped ready-to-bake biscuits can also be purchased in supermarkets, in the form of small refrigerated cylinders of dough. Biscuits are now ubiquitous throughout the U.S. and feature prominently in many [[fast food]] breakfast [[sandwich]]es. 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]], [[Church's Chicken]], [[Chicken Express]], and [[Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits]]. === Beaten biscuits === Beaten biscuits date from the 1800s [http://web.foodnetwork.com/food/web/encyclopedia/termdetail/0,7770,310,00.html] and are a Southern U.S. food. They differ from a regular biscuit in that they are more like [[hardtack]] instead of soft because the dough is beaten with a hard object or against a hard surface for at least a half hour. They are also pricked with a fork prior to baking and are usually smaller than a regular biscuit. These are the biscuits traditionally used in "ham biscuits", also known as hog cakes, a traditional Southern [[canapé]], which are simply tiny sandwiches of these bite-sized biscuits sliced horizontally, spread with butter, jelly, [[Mustard (condiment)|mustard]], filled with pieces of [[country ham]], or sopped up with gravy or syrup. ===Dog biscuits=== Dog biscuits are a [[dog]] treat intended as a dietary supplement to [[dog food]], similar to any human [[snack food]]. Dog biscuits are widely sold in the U.S. Dog biscuits tend to be hard and dry, much like the British definition of a biscuit, and totally unlike the American definition. Unlike British human biscuits, however, dog biscuits are frequently sold in a flat bone-shape (as might be made using a bone-shaped [[cookie cutter]]). Some dog biscuit manufacturers claim the dry and hard biscuit texture helps clean the dog's teeth while the biscuit is being eaten, promoting better oral health. ==See also== *[[Rusk]] *[[Zwieback]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Quick breads]] [[Category:Cookies]] [[Category:Crackers (food)]] [[Category:American breads]] [[Category:British cuisine]] [[de:Biskuit]] [[es:Galleta]] [[eo:Biskvito]] [[fa:بیسکویت]] [[fr:Biscuit]] [[id:Biskuit]] [[it:Biscotto (cucina)]] [[he:ביסקוויט]] [[ja:ビスケット]] [[pl:Ciastko]] [[pt:Biscoito]] [[ru:Бисквит]] [[sv:Kex]] [[tr:Bisküvi]] [[zh-yue:餅乾]] [[zh:餅乾]]