October 8, 2010
Gluten-Free Bisquick Review & Giveaway
As many of you know, Gluten-Free Bisquick is now out in stores. I had an opportunity to try it for the first time thanks to My Blog Spark and General Mills. Not only did they send a box of GF Bisquick, but I also received a cast iron pancake pan, a spatula, and a bottle for squeezing pancake batter in fun designs.
Bisquick Gluten Free vs. Original Bisquick
When you hear “Bisquick” you can’t help but compare it to the original, gluten-filled Bisquick. Obviously, it uses different flour (rice flour and potato starch), but there are two other differences that might surprise you. First is the size of the box. It is not as large as regular Bisquick and is about the size of a Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mix box. It’s not too surprising since gluten-free is always more expensive. A small box keeps the price down. Just don’t expect to make a lot from one box.
Second, it does not contain any fat. Regular Bisquick basically has shortening mixed in; the GF Bisquick does not. I don’t necessarily see this as a bad thing, because it gives you the option of choosing what fat you want to use. For example, if I use shortening, it is Spectrum brand which is not hydrogenated. However, this difference does mean that you can’t use an old recipe that called for regular Bisquick without making adjustments for the fat.
Trying it Out
I stuck with the recipes on the box and make half a batch of pancakes and a full batch of biscuits, and that used the whole box. I was anxious to try the cast iron pancake pan. The circles on the pan are very small and I thought it would take forever to make a batch of pancakes. I was wrong, though. While the pancakes turn out small, they are thick because the batter is held in place and doesn’t run. I used the pan for Bisquick pancakes and my butternut squash pancakes and found the small size to be fun. The pancakes in the picture are on a small plate, making it more difficult for you to tell the size.
The pancakes and biscuits were good. They weren’t great. I’ve had better and I’ve had worse. The rice flour makes them a bit heavy, but my kids liked them and no one complained. My only criticism would be the lack of whole grain flour. If I’m feeding pancakes or biscuits to my family as part of a meal, I would like them to have more nutrition. I also think other flours give it a nicer texture. But as I said, they weren’t bad, just not great.
For someone new to the gluten-free diet, or someone who doesn’t do much baking and prefers not to have lots of gluten-free flours and ingredients in their cupboards, or for someone who likes to have a quick and easy back-up mix, this is a reasonable choice.
If you would like to try Gluten-Free Bisquick, you can enter the giveaway below. You can also print a $1 coupon.
Note: The General Mills line of gluten-free products including the Bisquick, Betty Crocker mixes, and Chex cereals are made in a gluten-free processing facility. However, I don’t believe they are part of any gluten-free certification program. That is something I would like to see happen. I am glad to know that they are a proud sponsor of the Celiac Disease Foundation.
The Giveaway
Through My Blog Spark, Bisquick is providing a prize pack giveaway like the one I received. To enter, leave a comment on this post. You must leave separate comments for each entry. Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Up to four entries per person:
Bisquick Gluten Free vs. Original Bisquick
When you hear “Bisquick” you can’t help but compare it to the original, gluten-filled Bisquick. Obviously, it uses different flour (rice flour and potato starch), but there are two other differences that might surprise you. First is the size of the box. It is not as large as regular Bisquick and is about the size of a Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mix box. It’s not too surprising since gluten-free is always more expensive. A small box keeps the price down. Just don’t expect to make a lot from one box.
Second, it does not contain any fat. Regular Bisquick basically has shortening mixed in; the GF Bisquick does not. I don’t necessarily see this as a bad thing, because it gives you the option of choosing what fat you want to use. For example, if I use shortening, it is Spectrum brand which is not hydrogenated. However, this difference does mean that you can’t use an old recipe that called for regular Bisquick without making adjustments for the fat.
Trying it Out
I stuck with the recipes on the box and make half a batch of pancakes and a full batch of biscuits, and that used the whole box. I was anxious to try the cast iron pancake pan. The circles on the pan are very small and I thought it would take forever to make a batch of pancakes. I was wrong, though. While the pancakes turn out small, they are thick because the batter is held in place and doesn’t run. I used the pan for Bisquick pancakes and my butternut squash pancakes and found the small size to be fun. The pancakes in the picture are on a small plate, making it more difficult for you to tell the size.
The pancakes and biscuits were good. They weren’t great. I’ve had better and I’ve had worse. The rice flour makes them a bit heavy, but my kids liked them and no one complained. My only criticism would be the lack of whole grain flour. If I’m feeding pancakes or biscuits to my family as part of a meal, I would like them to have more nutrition. I also think other flours give it a nicer texture. But as I said, they weren’t bad, just not great.
For someone new to the gluten-free diet, or someone who doesn’t do much baking and prefers not to have lots of gluten-free flours and ingredients in their cupboards, or for someone who likes to have a quick and easy back-up mix, this is a reasonable choice.
If you would like to try Gluten-Free Bisquick, you can enter the giveaway below. You can also print a $1 coupon.
Note: The General Mills line of gluten-free products including the Bisquick, Betty Crocker mixes, and Chex cereals are made in a gluten-free processing facility. However, I don’t believe they are part of any gluten-free certification program. That is something I would like to see happen. I am glad to know that they are a proud sponsor of the Celiac Disease Foundation.
The Giveaway
Through My Blog Spark, Bisquick is providing a prize pack giveaway like the one I received. To enter, leave a comment on this post. You must leave separate comments for each entry. Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Up to four entries per person:
- Tell me what you plan to make first with the GF Bisquick.
- Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email (or tell me you already do)
- Like me on Facebook (or tell me you already do)
- Follow me on Twitter (or tell me you already do)
Comments:
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I've tried it, and it is convenient and good, but expensive for the little you get in the box. But I would love to win the items you showed!
rothellen@gmail.com
rothellen@gmail.com
I follow you on Twitter. :) I stalk you really. :) Actually I love all your stuff. My mom is a celiac and anything I can find for her, I'm all for.
I would love to make a chocolate version and a cinnamon version and make ice cream sandwiches!!
olives6494 at yahoo
olives6494 at yahoo
Hm...not sure what I'd make first.... But, I'd definitely like to try out that pan!
themommybowl@gmail.com
themommybowl@gmail.com
I am totally new to GF baking/cooking and I'd love to try this out! I will make biscuits. love biscuits!
I would love to make some pancakes. I get your emails, follow you on facebook and twitter!
awspencertp@yahoo.com
awspencertp@yahoo.com
I really need some of this! I have a 2 yr old and he loves pancakes...need to find a good mix! Also, I could really use the pan!!! LOL
I would like to make cheesy herb biscuits
subscriber via email
like on facebook
despise twitter
smithereens.01 at gmail
subscriber via email
like on facebook
despise twitter
smithereens.01 at gmail
It's funny that you just posted about this because I saw that Amazon was selling this and came over to see if you tried it yet :)
I think I would make biscuits first.
I think I would make biscuits first.
Gluten free Bisquick ROCKS!!! I "like" you on Facebook, sorry, I don't tweet!! ;)
kristid@hotmail.com
kristid@hotmail.com
I follow you, and I like you on facebook.
I would make cheesy herb biscuits, and topping on chicken pot pie with this!! Love it!!
I would make cheesy herb biscuits, and topping on chicken pot pie with this!! Love it!!
We did try it for hubby who recently was diagnosed with celiac disease. I made him a deep dish pizza crust, he loved it! ;) love the $1 off coupon too, thanks!
I bought this product the moment I found it in the store and went home and made pancakes...LOVED IT!! Even my kids liked them!! Although I have to agree they need to make a bigger box or maybe give us a choice and make two sizes like they do with the original bisquick!! :))
bethjodahl@gmail.com
bethjodahl@gmail.com
I would love to just try the biscuits, as I have yet to have tried a yummy GF one!
celsass1@yahoo.com
celsass1@yahoo.com
I like you on facebook.I would lovet to make biscuits for my husband.He grew up on them and would love them again!alysmi@ptd.net
I would really love to win this because Bisquick was a huge part of my life growing up. Really -- HUGE! I think the first thing I'd make would be Chicken and Dumplings. Those were my absolute favorite of all time. Next, it would be deep dish pizzas. Yum. Super yum.
GF bisquick- yeah!! We used regular bisquick for pancakes and biscuits. Looking forward to trying GF bisquick to make these.
jkraussabel(at)comcast(dot)net
jkraussabel(at)comcast(dot)net
I subscribe to your email and look forward to them for all the good information you share.
jkraussabel (at) comcast (dot) net
jkraussabel (at) comcast (dot) net
I already "like" you on facebook. I've enjoyed all the recipes and ideas you have posted there! I've been gluten free for 8 and a half yrs now and FINALLY the food companies are making more gluten free foods! I'd love to make some gluten free bisquick pancakes!
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