Bisquick is a combination of
hydrogenated fat,
powdered milk, bleached
white flour,
baking powder and
salt (
Betty Crocker, the manufacturer of Bisquick, declines to list the exact
ingredients on its website). The problem is that Bisquick, despite its name, makes pretty lousy
biscuits. It makes perfectly okay pancakes and such, but only if you don't compare them to ones made from scratch, which are a thousand times better.
It's really easy to make your own homemade version of Bisquick (this recipe courtesy of Kristi Gross):
5 pounds all purpose flour
3/4 cup baking powder
3 T. salt
2 cups powdered milk
1 T. cream of tartar
4 cups shortening = 2 lbs.
1/2 cup sugar (optional -- I would leave it out.)
Sift all dry ingredients together 3 times.
Cut in shortening until mix is consistency of corn meal.
Store in covered container at room temperature.
Try to use up within six months or so.
You could also make this with butter instead of shortening. If you do, store the mix in the refrigerator and try to use it up within a few weeks.
To Use:
1 cup mix + 1/2 cup water or milk = pancakes for 2 people
1 cup mix + 1/4 cup water or milk = biscuits for 2 people (knead, roll, cut, bake 450-10 min.)
This will work okay. However, I prefer to make real baking powder biscuits.