In the United States, biscuit means a form of bread similar to a roll made with baking powder or baking soda as a rising agent rather than yeast (rolls made with yeast are often called "yeast rolls" to distinguish them, and biscuits and corn bread are sometimes referred to collectively as "quick bread")
Biscuits are a common feature of Southern US cuisine. They are similar to scones but served as a side dish with a main meal or as a breakfast item. Biscuit are often eaten with butter and jam or jelly or as part of a dish called biscuits and gravy which consists of biscuits covered with small pieces of loose sausage and with a white gravy made from sausage drippings. Biscuits are also eaten covered in pizza sauce and cheese as very small pizzas.
A basic biscuit recipe includes flour, shortening (often lard), baking powder or soda, and milk (buttermilk or sweet milk). Common variations involve cheese or sugar.
In Europe, a biscuit is a harder baked product which in North America would be called a "cookie". The origins of the word biscuit mean twice cooked.
