Southern Beaten Biscuits

Preheat your oven to a high temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius).

Next, take some butter or cooking spray and lightly coat your baking sheets to prevent the biscuits from sticking.

Then, combine all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Use a fork to break down the ingredients into smaller pieces until they resemble coarse crumbs.

Using either an electric mixer or a wooden spoon, gradually incorporate lard into the dry ingredients until they form a rough mixture. Continue to mix the dough as you slowly pour in heavy cream, blending everything together until a cohesive ball forms. If necessary, add small amounts of cold water to achieve the right consistency.

Place the dough on a clean surface and perform some gentle kneading motions. Using a meat mallet or a specialized rolling pin, repeatedly strike the dough to shape it into a rough rectangle. Fold the dough back onto itself and repeat this process several times, until it reaches a pale color and small blisters have formed on the surface, approximately 15 minutes.

Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Cut it into uniform rounds, each measuring 2 inches in diameter. Use a fork to create small holes on the surface of each round, allowing steam to escape during baking. Arrange these rounds on your prepared baking sheets.

Finally, place the biscuit rounds in the preheated oven and bake until they are golden brown, taking about 15 minutes to achieve this.