Figuring out whether Bisquick mixes are vegan can be a bit tough.
Pancake mixes and other baking mixes often contain many ingredients and some of them can be derived from animals, such as eggs, milk, and butter.
To make sure you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and ethics, I’ve investigated the ingredients of Bisquick’s pancake mixes and other baking mixes.
Here’s what I found out.
Is Bisquick Vegan?
No. Betty Crocker’s Bisquick pancake mixes and other baking mixes are not vegan.
Most varieties of Bisquick pancake mixes are not vegan because they contain milk ingredients. Some do not list milk as an ingredient but do contain whey, which is a by-product of milk.
Some flavors, such as the Bisquick Original pancake mix, Heart Smart Bisquick mix, and Gluten-Free Bisquick pancake mixes reportedly do not have milk or eggs (though according to some reports, that is disputable) but do have sugar and monoglycerides in them.
Sugar is technically vegan, as is it plant based. However, most types of sugar are processed using animal bone char to make the sugar white. Vegan-friendly sugar is typically labeled as “organic,” “raw,” or “unrefined” on the packaging, so if you don’t see those terms on your sugar, it’s probably not vegan.
Monoglycerides are also often used in Bisquick pancake mix. These can be plant-based but are sometimes derived from animal fats.
While some plant-based fats can be used to make monoglycerides, many manufacturers use animal-based fats because they are cheaper. This means that Bisquick is not vegan.
Is Bisquick Cruelty Free?
Yes. These delicious baking mixes are definitely cruelty free.
General Mills, the company that owns Betty Crocker, does not use animal testing on any of its products or ingredients. Except when required by law, they do not test on animals nor do they ask others to test on their behalf.
Bisquick also uses palm oil in some of its products. While the harvesting of palm oil has contributed to the destruction of rainforests and the displacement of animals, the palm oil used in Betty Crocker’s products is not associated with these practices.
General Mills uses sustainably sourced palm oil that is certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO promotes the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products through conservation, social development, and economic progress.
Bisquick’s various pancake mix and baking mix varieties may not be vegan because of the milk ingredients, sugar content, and monoglycerides, but they are cruelty free.
What Is Bisquick Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Bisquick Original:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Monoglycerides
- Cornstarch
- Dextrose
Enriched flour bleached
Enriched flour bleached is a type of flour that has been enriched with vitamins and minerals, and then bleached with chemicals. Enriched flour is made up of the following six ingredients”
- Wheat flour
- Niacin
- Iron
- Thiamin mononitrate
- Riboflavin
- Folic acid
Vegetable oil
Vegetable oil is an oil that is made from vegetables. It is a type of fat that is liquid at room temperature. Here are the oils used in Bisquick:
- Palm
- Canola
- High oleic soybean
- Sunflower oil
Leavening
Leavening is a process that helps the dough to rise. This is usually done with baking soda or baking powder, sodium aluminum phosphate, or monocalcium phosphate.
- Baking soda
- Sodium aluminum phosphate
- Monocalcium phosphate
Let’s break down each ingredient of Bisquick Original:
Wheat flour
The main ingredient in Bisquick is wheat flour. Flour is a powder made by grinding cereal grains, like wheat. Wheat flour is the primary ingredient in most baked goods. This ingredient is vegan friendly.
Niacin
Niacin, or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin that is found in many foods. This vitamin helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Niacin is vegan friendly.
Iron
Iron is a mineral that is found in many foods. It helps in the production of hemoglobin and myoglobin, which are responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. Iron from ferrous sulfate is vegan friendly.
Thiamin mononitrate
Thiamin mononitrate, or vitamin B1, is a water-soluble vitamin that helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates. This is also used to treat or prevent thiamine deficiency. This vitamin is found in many foods, including fortified cereals and grains. Thiamin mononitrate is vegan friendly.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin, or vitamin B12, is a water-soluble vitamin that helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It is also used to treat or prevent riboflavin deficiency. Riboflavin is vegan-friendly.
Folic acid
Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that is found in many foods. It helps the body produce new cells and prevents anemia. Folic acid is vegan friendly.
Palm oil
Palm oil is an oil that is extracted from the fruit of the African oil palm tree. It is a type of vegetable oil that is high in saturated fats.
Palm oil is vegan friendly in the sense that it does not contain any animal products. However, many vegans don’t see this product as vegan friendly because of the destruction of rainforests and the displacement of animals that are associated with its production.
The good thing is that the palm oil used in Betty Crocker’s products is not associated with these practices. General Mills uses sustainably sourced palm oil that is certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
Canola oil
Canola oil is an oil that is made from the seeds of the canola plant. It is a type of vegetable oil that is low in saturated fats. This helps to reduce the risk of heart disease. Canola oil is vegan friendly.
High oleic soybean oil
Soybean oil is an oil that is made from the seeds of the soybean plant. It is a type of oil that is high in polyunsaturated fats, which can help to lower cholesterol levels. High oleic soybean oil is vegan friendly.
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is an oil that is made from the seeds of the sunflower plant. It is a type of vegetable oil that is high in polyunsaturated fats. Sunflower oil is vegan friendly.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a type of starch that is made from corn. It is a white powder that is used as a thickening agent. Cornstarch is vegan friendly.
Dextrose
Dextrose is a type of sugar that is made from corn. It tastes sweet and is used as a sweetener. Dextrose is vegan friendly.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a type of leavening that helps the dough to rise. This is a white powder that is made from sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is vegan friendly.
Sodium aluminum phosphate
Sodium aluminum phosphate is a type of leavening that helps the dough to rise. This is a white powder that is made from aluminum sulfate and sodium carbonate. Sodium aluminum phosphate is vegan friendly.
Monocalcium phosphate
Monocalcium phosphate is a type of leavening that helps the dough to rise. This is a white powder that is made from calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Monocalcium phosphate is vegan friendly.
Salt
Salt is a mineral that is used to add flavor or as a preservative. It is also used to control the growth of bacteria and fungi. Salt is vegan friendly.
Sugar
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that is found in many foods. It is used to sweeten food or to add flavor. Sugar is vegan friendly if not processed with animal products such as bone char.
In Bisquick, it is unspecified if it is processed with bone char or not, so stay on the safe side and assume that it is not vegan.
Monoglycerides
Monoglycerides are a type of fat that is used as an emulsifier. It helps to prevent the separation of ingredients. Monoglycerides can be derived from animal or plant sources.
The monoglycerides in Bisquick are not specified, so assume that they are not vegan friendly.
Why Isn’t Bisquick Vegan?
Bisquick isn’t vegan because most of its products have dairy.
Bisquick does have dairy-free products, but they also include questionable ingredients like sugar and monoglycerides.
Bisquick has not specified whether their sugar is processed with bone char or not. It’s the same with monoglycerides. Because of this, I simply cannot recommend Bisquick as vegan friendly. It is always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to your food choices.
While some vegans might be okay with the sugar and monoglycerides in Bisquick, it cannot be considered a vegan-friendly product. There are other brands that make vegan pancake mix that do not have any questionable ingredients. I recommend that you check out some of those brands instead.
Is Bisquick Heart Smart Pancake and Baking Mix Vegan?
No. Bisquick Heart Smart Pancake and Baking Mix is not vegan because it contains sugar that is probably not vegan.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Bisquick Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix Vegan?
No. Bisquick’s gluten-free mix is not vegan because it contains sugar that is probably not vegan.
Gluten-free Bisquick mix is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Bisquick Complete Pancake Mix Flavor Burstin’ Cinnamon Vegan?
No. Bisquick Complete Pancake Mix Flavor Burstin’ Cinnamon is not vegan because it contains whey, a milk by-product. It also contains sugar that is probably not vegan.
This Bisquick mix is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Bisquick Complete Cheese Garlic Biscuit Mix Vegan?
No. Bisquick Complete Cheese Garlic Biscuit Mix is not vegan because it contains whey and cheese, milk by-products, and milk itself.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Bisquick Pancake Mix Flavor Burstin’ Chocolate Chip Vegan?
No. Bisquick Pancake Mix Flavor Burstin’ Chocolate Chip is not vegan because it contains whey, a milk by-product, and sugar that is probably not vegan.
This Bisquick mix is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Bisquick Complete Buttermilk Biscuit Mix Vegan?
No. This buttermilk pancake mix from Bisquick is not vegan because it contains buttermilk, a milk by-product.
This Bisquick mix is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Waffle Mix Bisquick Shake ‘n Pour Vegan?
No. Waffle Mix Bisquick Shake ‘n Pour is not vegan because it contains buttermilk, a milk by-product.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Vegan Alternatives to Bisquick
If you’re in the mood for some vegan pancakes or biscuits but Bisquick is not an option for you, don’t worry! There are plenty of vegan pancake mix brands on the market. Here are some of my favorites:
- Purely Elizabeth Grain-Free Protein Waffle Mix
- Orgain Protein Pancake & Waffle Mix, Whole Wheat & Oat
- Cusiworld Organic Quinoa & Oat Pancake & Waffle Mix with Cinnamon
- Birch Benders Organic Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Pancake Mix & Waffle Mix
These are all vegan-friendly alternatives to Bisquick. You can feel good about eating these delicious pancake mixes without having to worry about whether or not they have animal products in them.
Or, if you’re feeling creative, there are many recipes for vegan Bisquick pancakes and biscuits online. With a little bit of time and effort, and a few ingredients such as flax egg, coconut milk, almond milk, and peanut butter syrup, Bisquick vegan pancakes are definitely achievable!
Is Bisquick Vegan? Final Words
So there you have it! As you can see, most Bisquick mixes and products are not vegan friendly due to the inclusion of milk and milk by-products, as well as sugar and monoglycerides that are not specified as vegan.
However, there are plenty of delicious vegan alternatives on the market that you can enjoy without having to feel guilty about it. So get out there and enjoy some pancakes!