The Best Biscuit From a Mix

We tested making biscuits from 4 popular baking mixes. It may surprise you to discover which one came out on top!

Disclosure: We have no prior affiliation with any of the products used in this test. We conducted our testing using controls of the methods to be as fair as possible. We wanted to know the answer, just like you do. Which mix produces the best biscuit?

Below is a sneak preview look at one biscuit made from each mix.

Why test biscuit mixes?

We're no strangers to shortcuts, even though we love, love, love our southern foods and many of those recipes can take some time. The number one biscuit recipe on our site is 3 Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits and it has, well - just 3 ingredients.

Several of our other recipes, including Cinnamon Biscuits and Mexican Biscuits use the two ingredient base of heavy cream and self-rising flour.

So we know there are times a freshly baked biscuit is what you want on your table, but you have little time available. Therefore, keeping the best biscuit mix in your pantry is the way to go.

How we tested

We made one batch from each of 4 baking mixes.

We followed the directions on the package for rolled biscuits with one exception. That one only had drop biscuit directions on the box, but their associated website had the rolled biscuit recipe, so we went there to get it.

We used the same insulated baking pan for all 4 tests. We also lined the pan with parchment paper each time.

We used a two and one-half inch biscuit cutter in every case. Each time we cut straight down and back up, which is the standard for cutting biscuits and getting the best rise.

We brushed all with melted butter when they came out of the oven.

The ones we tried

These were all available at our local grocery store, though you could certainly order them from Amazon if you like. We'll link at the bottom for convenience.

In no particular order, the baking mixes we used:

Bisquick

Quite possibly the best known and most universally available - Bisquick comes in a familiar yellow box. It's widely used for lots of recipes, including pancakes, sausage balls, waffles and more. We even use it in our Apple Cobbler!

Jiffy

Jiffy is probably best known for their sweet yellow cornbread mix. The brand also has cake mixes (single layer, small mixes) and this baking mix that can be used for making waffles, cinnamon rolls, etc. in addition to biscuits.

Pioneer

Seems to be most widely available next to Bisquick, but that could be just from our southern states perspective. The box had a couple of intriguing recipes that we'd like to try - Brownie Cupcakes and Cranberry Orange Scones.

Southern Biscuit Company

This is the only one that came in a bag versus a box. This is also the only one actually named "biscuit mix" though there are other recipes on the package, like cobbler and pancakes.

How we rated

We used three main criteria for rating each biscuit:

1. How easy is it? Were the added ingredients something the average home cook will have in their fridge/pantry, or do they need to go out and buy something? Also, how easy is the dough to work with after the ingredients are blended?
2. Performance and Looks: Did it brown evenly on top and bottom, rise an appropriate amount? In general, did it make a good looking biscuit?
3. Taste: Was it dry, pasty, rich, buttery? In general, is this a good tasting biscuit?

Here's your first look at a biscuit and the mixes they were made from. What are your impressions?

Our comments on each

Bisquick

How easy is it? Very. It was mixed with milk and the dough was easy to work with.

Performance/Looks? It browned evenly, but had an exaggerated rise. We've never made a homemade biscuit with this kind of rise.

Taste? It was somewhat dry and tasted "floury".

Jiffy

1. How easy is it? Very. The only added ingredient was milk and the dough was easy to work with.
2. Performance/Looks? It made a beautiful biscuit, browned evenly top and bottom, and rose an appropriate amount. There were a few dry lumps still in the mixture after stirring according to directions.
3. Taste? The taste was good, though if you bit into one of those dry lumps you definitely knew it. One taste tester said it was a bit floury tasting, though not as much as the Bisquick biscuit.

Pioneer

How easy is it? Very. The only added ingredient was milk and the dough was easy to work with.

Performance/Looks? It made a beautiful biscuit, browned evenly top and bottom and rose an appropriate amount.

Taste? Overall, the biscuit was excellent in taste. It wasn't quite as rich and buttery as another one.

Southern Biscuit

How easy is it? This one rated least easy of the 4. It required buttermilk which not all home cooks keep on hand. The dough was also a little wet and messy to work with.

Performance/Looks? It browned evenly top and bottom and rose an appropriate amount though was a little flatter than the others. It had a "lumpy" appearance, probably due to the buttery "bits" in the mix.

Taste? This biscuit was excellent in taste. It had a good texture and the richest taste of the 4.

The final results of the biscuit mix test

If you keep buttermilk on hand and don't mind working with a sticky dough, this one looked and tasted most like homemade.

Pioneer Baking mix was easy to work with, needed only milk added, and produced a beautiful biscuit with good flavor.

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For your convenience, we're linking below to each of the mixes below.

• BISQUICK
• JIFFY
• PIONEER
• SOUTHERN BISCUIT

You're probably going to have some mix left over if you try this yourself. If you're looking for another yummy breakfast option for these mixes, check out these easy, 5 ingredient Cranberry Orange Scones and Cinnamon Scones.

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