On Saturdays I usually make something fun for breakfast. It’s tradition. If I’m feeling lazy, the fun breakfast is either Bisquick pancakes or waffles. One of the first gluten free things I bought was Gluten Free Bisquick because Bisquick has always been a pantry staple in our home. I really wanted to try it and compare it to the original, so this morning I did.
Cost
Before we get to the actual product comparison, these two boxes of Bisquick are a perfect example of how eating gluten free is more expensive. The original box contains twice as much product for about $1 less per box! However, if you can’t eat gluten without becoming very ill, there’s really no way around that if you are craving baked goods. All of the substitute flours are more expensive.
Bisquick Consistancy
As soon as I scooped my measuring cup the difference was obvious. Original Bisquick is flour-based and sticks to itself. The gluten free version is rice-based, granular, and not sticky at all.
Recipe
I’ve always halved the waffle recipe on the back of the box to feed myself, my husband, and our toddler. As soon as I looked on the back of the box, I realized the recipe was not what I was used to. The recipe made fewer waffles with less Bisquick and more oil than I was used to. I knew from previous experience that the various flour options do not behave the same and are not directly interchangeable; however, for some reason I expected the two types of Bisquick to be interchangeable. I plan to do a research project on how the flours behave, but that’s for another day.
Please note that I substituted almond milk for cow’s milk, but I also do that with the original mix.
Original Bisquick Waffles: 54.6% Bisquick, 36.4% Milk, 5.6% Egg, 3.4% Vegetable Oil
Gluten Free Bisquick Waffles: 44.8% Bisquick, 42.0% Milk, 6.8% Egg, 6.3% Vegetable Oil
Waffle Consistency
The waffles did not come out looking like normal waffles (as shown on the box). Air bubbles were very obviously visible, and the surface of the waffles were more crispy than typical waffles.
Taste
The waffles tasted great! The taste was very similar to traditional Bisquick waffles. As mentioned before, they were a little crispier and lighter than traditional waffles; however, they definitely fulfilled my waffle cravings, and I did not feel deprived. Best of all, they were toddler approved!
