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Again since Laura Ingalls did it I thought I should at least try making old fashioned buttermilk biscuits with lard. It turns out she was right and they are really the best biscuits I have ever made. Side note if it is a skill or recipe that Laura Ingalls made/did I probably want to do it. Hmmm maybe I should make a Laura Ingalls bucket list. Anyways back to the biscuits.

You might see a trend here that buttermilk, lard and flour make for wonderfully flakey and light backed goods. These biscuits are no exception. They make up very quickly and are the perfect base for strawberry shortcake, breakfast sandwiches, regular sandwiches, for dinner rolls, to use in place of dumplings in chicken and dumplings and anytime you just want something delicious to eat.

Why use lard in these old-fashioned buttermilk biscuits?

Lard shortens the gluten in the biscuits making them flakey and dairy free (if you don’t use buttermilk). Not only that but lard does not have to be cold to used in baked goods.

Do I Have To Render My Own Lard To Make These?

No! You can buy lard and it works just as well. However if you raise your own pigs, buy pigs in a whole or a half or know someone who does raise pigs I highly recommend rendering your own lard. It is easy and simple (tutorial coming soon).

Can I Make These Dairy Free?

Yes you can use really cold water instead of cultured buttermilk.

How To Make Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits With Lard

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees

Gather the following ingredients:

2 1/2 cups. All-purpose flour

2 TBS. Baking Powder

1 TBS. Sugar

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 cup. Room Temperature Lard

1 cup. Cold Buttermilk

ingredients for old fashioned biscuits with lard

In a large bowl whisk dry ingredients together.

Place your lard in the bowl and gently squish the flour and lard together until it is combined. This dough will look different than butter pastry dough.

mixing old fashioned biscuits with lard by hand

Make a well in the middle and pour in buttermilk. Stir until just coming together, pour onto a work surface.

Shape into 1″ thick rectangle, flour the edge of a wide mouth jar.

cutting out old fashioned biscuits with lard

Cut our and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits with Lard

Perfect so a side with diner or with strawberry shortcake.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups. All-purpose flour
2 TBS. Baking Powder
1 TBS. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 cup. Room Temperature Lard
1 cup. Cold Buttermilk

Instructions

In a large bowl whisk dry ingredients together.
Place your lard in the bowl and gently squish the flour and lard together until it is combined. This dough will look different than butter pastry dough.
Make a well in the middle and pour in buttermilk. Stir until just coming together, pour onto a work surface.
Shape into 1" thick rectangle, flour the edge of a wide mouth jar.
Cut our and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes.