This homemade Bisquick alternative is healthier than the bought stuff and literally takes minutes to mix up. Plus it tastes so much better too!
If you are like me and looking for ways to eat healthier and save at the same time, then you’ll love this copycat “Bisquick” mix!
It takes just minutes to make, is cheaper than buying the Bisquick brand and it doesn’t have any ingredients that you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce.
On top of all that, we actually like the things I make with this homemade mix better than when I made them with the Bisquick brand! Definitely a win all around!
Two of my favorite recipes using this homemade Bisquick: Deep Dish Taco Squares and Crustless Zucchini Quiche.
Homemade Bisquick Mix
Homemade Bisquick Mix
This homemade Bisquick alternative is healthier than the bought stuff and literally takes minutes to mix up. Plus it tastes so much better too!
Servings: 6 cups
Ingredients
- 5 cups flour (you can use part whole wheat flour)
- 1/4 cup baking powder
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 cup butter (or shortening)
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients together then cut in shortening until crumbly. (I like to use a pastry blender to do this.)
- Store in refrigerator and use cup for cup as you would Bisquick. (see Notes below)
Notes
If you don’t use butter or margarine for this recipe, but instead use vegetable shortening, you could store at room temperature.
GLUTEN FREE VARIATION FROM A READER:
She said "I have successfully made this homemade Bisquick mix using a GF flour mix I buy. The only alteration I made to the recipe was to add 1 1/2 times the amount of baking powder. (As per Meister’s suggestion for regular use of this flour mixture.) I hope this helps someone on a GF diet."
She said "I have successfully made this homemade Bisquick mix using a GF flour mix I buy. The only alteration I made to the recipe was to add 1 1/2 times the amount of baking powder. (As per Meister’s suggestion for regular use of this flour mixture.) I hope this helps someone on a GF diet."
Other recipes you might enjoy:
Dee says
i made this and it grew moldy in the pantry. How can I store this w/o the mold? Bi don’t have room to put in the fridge…
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Oh no, I’m sorry Dee! That had to be disappointing. Did you make it with butter? If so, then it has to be kept refrigerated. If you make it with shortening (Crisco) though, I would think it should be okay in the pantry since that is how you store shortening.
Phyllis Breese says
you should store it in mason jars…
Julie Parnell says
Make up the mixture without the shortening, sture In an airtight container.
Add the shortening when you are ready to use it x
Sara says
This is a great recipe. However, i was wondering if i could use coconut oil instead of butter or shortening? I have substituted C.O. in place of shortening for tons of recipes when baking. I am hoping it will work the same and be able to be unrefrigerated. What are your thoughts?
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Sara, I had a reader that tried it with coconut oil several years ago and said she didn’t care for it that way because the coconut flavor was just too strong. I know that brands of coconut oil vary a lot though, and I don’t know what brand she used. You could always try it with half butter, half coconut oil and see how that tastes and then go from there. If you do try it with the coconut oil, I’d love to know how it worked for you so that I can let other’s know.
Chelsey says
I think the coconut taste depends on the brand you use. I use coconut oil a lot in place of butter/margarine (though not usually in baking) and it doesn’t taste anything like coconut. It pretty much tastes like margarine, actually. But it’s also advertised *not* to taste like coconut. I can’t remember what brand it is….
I would also be interested in knowing how that turns out for you, Sara!
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Yes, I also use a coconut oil that is extra virgin and doesn’t have a strong coconut flavor. But I’m not sure how it would work in something like this because you can still slightly taste the coconut.
nan mathews says
I tried with a popular coconut oil. It was great for a short while then it developed a soapy taste. My daughter tried with a more expensive brand of coconut oil and had the same results. We believe that the preparation causes the oil to become rancid.
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Thanks for letting me and other readers know how the coconut oil worked, Nan. I really appreciate it! I am curious though, did you keep it in the fridge or at room temp. Just wondering because I know with butter that if you melt it, it will spoil very quickly at room temp, whereas if it’s not melted and left as is, it will actually stay okay at room temp for a long time. So maybe coconut oil is the same way? Just a thought.
Meaghan | Cook. Craft. Love. says
I’ve never heard of a recipe that puts butter in with the dry ingredients! Might be giving this a try so I don’t have to pull out 100 different containers every time I want to make pancakes!
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Yeah, the whole point of doing that is to save time and keep things simple. I love having it all mixed up and being able to just pull out the container and make my recipes. So easy!
Chelsey says
I’m very surprised that this recipe includes butter/shortening with the dry ingredients. Is there a reason you don’t mix that in with the rest of the wet stuff later?
This is awesome, though, and I love that you included a GF option. It’s always nice to know how to change that easily. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Chelsey, because then it wouldn’t be “Bisquick”! 🙂 I think adding the butter later would defeat the whole point because then you’d have to mix up the stuff each time plus figure out how much butter to actually use for the amount you need etc. By mixing it all together like this, you can use this mix in place of Bisquick in your favorite recipes and it makes it super easy and healthier too!
Kim Smith says
This is s great idea. I always wondered if I could make my own Bisquick. I will probably try the half coconut oil and half crisco. Thanks.
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Oh, the half coconut oil, half Crisco is a good idea! If you think about it, let me know how it turns out.
Tracy says
Ok, this is probably annoying, but could you tell me your “recipe” for making pancakes and biscuits out of this mix? I’m living in India right now and don’t have access to a box of Bisquick, so I’m excited about making this! I’m also excited to try your taco squares recipe that uses this recipe!
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Not annoying at all, Tracy! But the problem is, I have never actually used it to make pancakes or biscuits since I just make them from scratch. (Not totally sure why though, when this mix would make it a bit faster to make, especially for the biscuits.) I’m going to go grocery shopping later this week and I’ll try to remember to take a look at the Bisquick there and let you know what the box says.
Neva says
Just curious, if you don’t use your Bisquick to make pancakes or biscuits, what do you use it for?
Lydia Beiler says
Good question, Neva! I use it a lot for other recipes that call for Bisquick. Recipes like this Easy Chicken Pot Pie and these Deep Dish Taco Squares.
Linda D says
Go to Bisquick website for recipes
ThriftyFrugalMom says
Okay, so I finally remembered to look at a box of Bisquick when I was at the store, and this is what it said:
PANCAKES:
2 c. mix
1 c. milk
2 eggs
Mix together (try not to overmix for fluffier pancakes). Makes 14 pancakes
BISCUITS:
2 1/4 c. mix
2/3 c. milk
Combine and drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 8 to 10 min. Makes 9 biscuits.
Hope that helps!
Ruth Sayers says
With kidney problems, sodium is a no-no for me. Can I cut the salt in this recipe, and if so how much. Thanks a bunch!
Rrruth
ThriftyFrugalMom says
I don’t know that cutting back on the salt would be a problem, other than it might affect the taste. But if you are used to not having much salt you might not even think about it. You could try doing 1/2 or 3/4 tsp and see how that tastes. Just a thought though…1 tsp of salt really isn’t a lot for as much as this recipe makes, so it’s kind of low salt already.
Judy says
Most of the sodium comes from the baking powder. You could try a salt substitute or some herbs in place of the salt. There are baking powder substitutes out there
https://healthyheartmarket.com/products/baking-powder-featherweight-sodium-free-8-oz
Ivy Granderson says
Hey. the recipe didn’t mention whether to use plan flour or self rising
Lydia Beiler says
You’ll want to use plain flour, Ivy. Happy mixing!
Julie B says
How long does it keep in both locations? That may be the deciding factor between using shortening or butter. Can margarine be used instead of butter?
Lydia Beiler says
If you use shortening, the homemade Bisquick can be kept at room temp and should be good for as long as the expiration date on the shortening, which is typically quite long. And yes, I’m sure you could sub margarine. If you use butter or margarine, the homemade mix will need to be kept refrigerated and should be good for several months at least. I’ve had my mix in the fridge sometimes for as long as 6 months, maybe longer, and it’s been perfectly fine. If you are concerned though, you can always freeze it in between uses. You may just want to let it warm up a bit before you use it in a recipe so the butter isn’t quite so hard.
Bonnie Turner says
It’s nice to know that it works wit GF flour since I have to be gluten free (It’s not a choice). Do you know what is in the GF flour that is used – as there are other flours that I can’t have. I wonder if it would work with just almond flour. I used to love using Bisquick before I found out I couldn’t have gluten. thanks
Lydia Beiler says
My sister-in-law was the reader that let me know that she tried it with gluten free flour and the flour that she used is linked at the bottom of the recipe. It’s Meister’s brand and according to their website it contains “white rice flour, sorghum flour, tapioca starch, soy flour, cornstarch and xanthan gum and is free of any gluten, wheat or sugar”. I hope that helps and that you are able to figure out a way to make it work!
Donna says
What about dehydrate butter
Lydia Beiler says
I’m sorry, but I don’t have any experience with dehydrated butter so I don’t know how that would work.
Tamara Musick says
WHat temp do you cook this at and for how long on bisc.?
Lydia Beiler says
I’m sorry for the slow response, Tamara! Somehow I didn’t see your comment until now. The temp and cooking time will vary depending on what you make with it. For biscuits or pancakes, it should be the same as the instructions on a Bisquick box.