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Homemade Baking Mix (DIY Bisquick)

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Homemade Baking Mix (DIY Bisquick) made with a healthier shortening substitute.

Yesterday I was talking with my cousin and we were discussing quick and easy dinners. She mentioned a family favorite at her house is a recipe found on a Bisquick box called Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie. I asked her more about the recipe and her reply was “just look on the box, it is on all the yellow Bisquick boxes”.  I tried to recall the last time I actually even picked up a yellow box of baking mix at the grocery store. I think it has been years.

What is in Homemade Baking Mix?

Homemade Baking Mix is super easy to make, and you probably already have all the ingredients on hand. Flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and shortening, are the only ingredients in Homemade Baking Mix or DIY Bisquick

Flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and shortening is all it takes to make your own Baking Mix

So, why pay a premium just for the “convenience” of buying all the stuff I already have in my pantry in a pre-made mix? 

Yeah, I don’t know either.

And that is exactly the thought process that got me started mixing up my own spice blends, mixes, and seasonings.

Homemade Baking Mix (DIY Bisquick) was one of my first homemade swaps for a commercial pantry staple and has become a kitchen mainstay. I mix up a batch and keep it in my pantry. I try to make sure I have some on hand all times, it really comes in handy for a quick batch of pancakes or biscuits.

How Long Is Homemade Baking Mix Good For?

When stored in an airtight container your baking mix will keep for several months in your pantry.  I personally go through the amount this recipe makes in about a month. If you are wondering this recipe mixes up the equivalent of a large box of Bisquick (about 40 ounces).

Shortening Update 5/23/17

Homemade Baking Mix (DIY Bisquick) made with organic Palm Oil makes great baked goods.

Shortening Substitions in Homemade Baking Mix

So many of you have commented that you want to make this mix, but don’t love traditional shortening, or can’t use it because of allergies. I actually have done quite a bit of research and tested out a few substitutes before I found one that will consistently produce good results regardless how you are using your baking mix, and I can very confidently say that palm oil shortening is your go to substitute for this mix, and I specifically like   Spectrum Naturals Organic Shortening

I have noticed from your comments that there is a lot of interest in the use of Coconut oil as a shortening substitute in this Baking mix, maybe because a lot of us already have it sitting in the pantry? But, I found that coconut oil can make some baked goods heavy and chewy, and there is that slight coconut flavor, that made the use of coconut oil less than desirable for me.

At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I like Spectrum Naturals Organic Shortening because it’s not hydrogenated, has zero grams of trans fat, and is made from palm oil, which is naturally cholesterol-free, has a neutral flavor, and bakes up wonderfully with the texture and lightness you would expect from shortening. If allergies were a concern for you with regular shortening, Spectrum Palm Oil Shortening is gluten, casein, and soy free. It is also cultivated and pressed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

While I really, really like Spectrum Naturals Organic Shortening one of it’s biggest drawbacks is the price. I picked up my container at Wegmans for around $9, it is slightly more expensive at Amazon, a 24 oz container will cost you about $12. I don’t use a ton of shortening, so for my own needs, this seems to be a worthwhile healthier occasional purchase.

Homemade Baking Mix Recipe

I have been using this recipe for Homemade Baking Mix (DIY Bisquick) found at King Arthur Flour forever. This is one of the best recipes for Baking Mixes around, the only changes I have ever needed to make to it was occasionally doubling it.

Homemade Baking Mix (DIY Bisquick)

Homemade Baking Mix (DIY Bisquick)

Ingredients

  • 9 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 5 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening

Instructions

Putting your baking mix together:

  1. In a large bowl, blend together the dry ingredients. Then, with a pastry cutter, a fork or your fingertips, cut or rub in the vegetable shortening until it is evenly distributed and the resulting mixture looks like cracker crumbs.

Storage of your baking mix

  1. Place the mix in a large, airtight container (I had a plastic canister that was empty to store mine in, but Ziploc bags work well too) or divide it into pre-measured 2 cup portions don't pack the baking mix into the measuring cup when measuring . It will make approximately 7 batches of 12 pancakes.
  2. If you decide to include whole grain flours in your baking mix for a healthy spin, you are introducing the perishable oils that come from the germ of the grains that may deteriorate at room temperature. Mixes made with whole grain flours will best be stored in an airtight container in the freezer.

How to Use Homemade Baking Mix

Biscuits Made with Homemade Baking Mix

Biscuits Made with Homemade Baking Mix

Yield: 8 Servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups Homemade Baking mix
  • 2/3 cup milk

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 450°F. In medium bowl, stir ingredients until soft dough forms.
  2. Turn dough onto surface dusted with Bisquick mix. Knead 10 times. Roll dough 1/2 inch thick. Cut with 2 1/2-inch cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Homemade Baking mix uses beyond biscuits and pancakes

Here are just a few recipes I have used homemade baking mix in. What are your favorite uses for homemade baking mix? Let me know in the comments below!

Impossible Pie on and white plate with a bowl of toasted coconut in the background

Coconut Impossible Pie Recipe This pie is so incredibly easy to make! It forms 3 pie like layers while baking, almost impossibly! Hence it’s name!

Double Streusel Coffee Cake This Coffee Cake made with homemade baking mix is a quick and easy coffee cake you can make anytime. 

Have you ever made your own baking mix? What prompted you to go the homemade route? Was it for healthier foods? So you could be in control of the ingredients? I would love to hear your thoughts! In the upcoming days I will be sharing some simple recipes that use this baking mix. Make sure you check back for them!

Missy

Friday 14th of April 2023

Going to mix up a batch with Gluten free all purpose flour. I don’t like the bisquick gf mix and I think home made would be better! Thank you so much for a great sounding recipe!

Gail

Wednesday 19th of February 2020

Can I substitute Swerve granulated sugar in place of regular granulated sugar?

C harvey

Wednesday 4th of December 2019

How much milk for biscuits

Jennifer Morrisey

Thursday 5th of December 2019

To make biscuits with homemade baking mix you will need to mix up:

2 1/4 cups Homemade Baking mix 2/3 cup milk

I added a recipe card to this post for biscuits, I hope it helps!

Danielle

Friday 25th of October 2019

How much mix and what else do you mix to make pancakes and waffles?

Baking Mix Muffins-With Five Flavor Variations - roostersinthekitchen.comroostersinthekitchen.com

Friday 4th of October 2019

[…] the possibilities are endless when making Baking Mix Muffins, I have five variations that I like to make. This way, I can bake a different muffin for each week […]

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