Bisquick was originally created to help at-home cooks quickly make biscuits but its uses go far beyond that.
The mix can be used to help create delicious buttermilk biscuits, but also a sticky cobbler, or a crumb cake.
It is also an ideal mix to have in the cupboard if you ever need to create such a dessert and realize that you are out of leavening, shortening, or even running low on flour.
In this guide, we will look at how you can choose an easy substitute for Bisquick and even how you can make your own.
The Best Substitutes For Bisquick
Do not be too worried if you run out of Bisquick as there are plenty of substitutes you can use.
From another branded baking mix to various flours and mixes for similar products like pancakes.
You could even make your own Bisquick if you want to.
Pancake Mix
Considering that you can make pancakes with Bisquick, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that you can use pancake mix as a substitute.
Both mixes use a similar range of ingredients, primarily an all-purpose flour and a leavening agent such as either baking powder or baking soda.
A number of pancake mixes may involve sugar which would give it a sweet edge over Bisquick and is something to consider if you are making a savory dish like a Chicken Pot Pie.
You may even want to involve another ingredient or distinct flavor to mask over the sweetness.
How To Substitute
For recipes including dough for pizza or bread and biscuits, you should cut back on any liquid.
As you are creating the dough, add the water in gradually and once you have reached the desired consistency then you no longer need to add any more liquid.
The dough should be malleable and also sticky so reduce the liquid by half and see how it goes.
If you want to create a dough with a bigger rise then add more baking powder, only around half a teaspoon will do.
Jiffy Baking Mix
A well-known shortcut that you may already have in your kitchen cupboard is Jiffy Baking Mix, and yes, you can use it as a substitute for Bisquick.
There are many different types of Jiffy Baking Mix which are for specific dishes, including pizza crusts, pie crusts, brownies, cakes, and muffins.
However, you will want to concentrate on the pancake/waffle mix, the mix for buttermilk biscuits, and the all-purpose baking mix for the best results as a substitute for Bisquick.
How To Substitute
As Jiffy’s pancake/waffle mix includes lard, sugar, baking soda, and flour (as well as a few flavorings and additives), it can be used as a direct substitute for Bisquick.
The mix is a bit sweet and seems to include hints of maple syrup which may work in the recipe you are hoping to do.
For the buttermilk biscuits mix, this can also be substituted in a 1:1 ratio though it does include a few preservatives.
Also, the all-purpose baking mix contains what is known as a ‘milk replacer blend’ which is crucial to know if you are looking to avoid dairy.
However, with a tiny amount of dextrose, the mix can work as a substitute for savory and sweet recipes in a 1:1 ratio.
Cassava Flour
Cassava flour may be difficult to find, but it is free of nuts, grains, and gluten so is ideal for baking something for an individual with several food allergies.
The flour is also known as yuca and is derived from cassava which is a root vegetable mainly found in South America.
When ground, it becomes a light flour that can be a direct substitute for all-purpose flour.
How To Substitute
To use cassava flour as a substitute for Bisquick, you will need to add a few ingredients as you are only really replacing the flour.
Add in ¼ tsp of salt, 1 ½ tsp of baking powder, and a tbsp of butter or shortening.
Almond Flour
Given that almond flour is essentially ground-up almonds, it stands to reason that they can be really good for baking.
The almonds are skinned, then blanched before being ground to a powder, and as an ingredient, it works really well for making muffins, biscuits, scones, and cakes.
Be careful not to confuse almond flour with an almond meal as the latter is a lot denser.
How To Substitute
As a gluten-free alternative to flour, you can substitute the flour element of Bisquick with almond flour.
However, you still need a few more ingredients to create a direct substitute and these include a tablespoon of butter, ¼ tsp salt, 1 ½ tsp baking powder, and ¾ cup of almond flour to create a single cup of a substitute.
As it is a finer flour than regular flour, you may want to think about adding a binding agent such as guar gum, xanthan gum, or psyllium husk.
There is also the issue of time, as almond flour is finer it typically bakes faster than regular flour so consider lowering the oven temperature by around 25°C as well as reducing the cooking time by around a quarter.
Cake Flour
As you may expect, cake flour is great for baking light, airy delicacies.
This is wheat-based and bleached, but also a low-protein flour that is fine-milled with slightly less protein than you can get in all-purpose flour.
With less protein, you can expect less gluten to form and less of a texture in the finished baked product.
That’s great for cakes and biscuits, not so much for bread.
How To Substitute
Cake flour is fine as a direct substitute for the all-purpose flour you would find in Bisquick.
However, you will still need to add your salt, leavening agent, and fat to use it as you would Bisquick.
Self-Rising Flour
As self-rising flour includes some of the same ingredients as Bisquick, it can be used in a direct substitute mix.
These additional ingredients are salt, baking powder, and flour so you’d only need to add the butter or shortening.
How To Substitute
Using self-rising flour as a substitute for Bisquick can be kept to a 1:1 ratio.
However, you will need to add a tablespoon of shortening for every cup of flour.
The main difference between Bisquick and any other substitute tends to be the lack of butter or shortening so do not forget that crucial ingredient as your final dish may appear dry without it.
As Bisquick contains sugar, you should also include 1 ¾ tsp of sugar for every cup of flour too.
Making Your Own Bisquick
Introduced in the 1930s, Bisquick was originally used to help quickly create biscuits (hence the name).
Since then, the versatile mix has been used in a large range of dishes.
You can make your own supply of Bisquick using ingredients that you should have at hand.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose white flour (you could also mix in all-purpose white flour with wholewheat flour)
- 4 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 8 tbsp butter, cold and cubed
Calories (per quarter-cup serving): 137
Equipment
- Kitchen scales
- KitchenAid Mixer
- Mixing bowl
Instructions
- Measure out the flour, salt, and baking powder then add them to a mixing bowl
- Add in the cubed butter and mix using a pastry blender, two forks, or a kitchen mixer with the paddle attachment on a low setting
- Mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
- Pour the mixture into an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator
Frequently Asked Questions
What Baking Creations Can You Traditionally Make With Bisquick?
Aside from simple biscuits, you can also use Bisquick to make a range of sweet and savory recipes.
On the sweet side, this includes donuts, pancakes, peach cobbler, and buttermilk biscuits.
As far as savory creations go, you can make Chicken Pot Pie or even a Cheeseburger pie.
What Is The Difference Between Bisquick And Bisquick Shake?
The main difference between Bisquick and Bisquick Shake is the form.
Bisquick is a powder and used as a baking mix yet Bisquick Shake went further so you only need to add water to create a viable batter.
Therefore, you no longer need to add eggs or milk, without measuring anything you can just add water, shake it, and use it.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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Freddy Selvage
Tuesday 30th of August 2022
I have enjoyed a beef tongue in green sauce, accompanied by black beans, typical Mexican food, very tasty.