Cheddar and Onion Drop Biscuits
Made with 100% whole-grain pancake mix, these biscuits couldn’t be easier to whip up. There’s no kneading, no rolling, and no cutting – just mix, drop, and bake.
Today’s drop biscuit recipe was a bit of an experiment that resulted from my need to use up some almost-ready-to-expire boxed pancake mix. Not being in the mood for pancakes, I wondered what else I could make with my Kodiak Buttermilk Power Cakes Flapjack (aka pancakes) and Waffle Mix. Maybe biscuits.
What I like most about this particular pancake mix is that it’s made from whole grains. The first two ingredients are 100% whole-grain wheat flour and whole-grain oat flour, respectively. It’s important to know that the ingredients found on a food product’s ingredient list are required to be listed in descending order by weight. That means the first ingredient listed contributes the largest amount to the food item, and the last ingredient listed contributes the least.
When whole grains are at the top of the ingredient list, dietary fiber content increases. A serving of the Kodiak buttermilk pancake mix has 5 grams of dietary fiber. Typical buttermilk pancake mixes are often made with enriched flour (wheat flour) and usually have 1 gram of dietary fiber at best per serving.
The amount of added sugar in the Kodiak mix is also a plus. Notice on the label comparison below where sugar lands on the ingredient list and the amount of added sugar in each mix. On the Kodiak mix, brown sugar is the fifth ingredient, and a serving contains just 2 grams of added sugar.
For the typical buttermilk pancake mix, sugar is the second ingredient and dextrose (another form of sugar) is the third ingredient. This mix contains 9 grams of added sugar per serving. Nine grams of added sugar equates to 2 1/4 teaspoons of sugar.
When it comes to protein, typical buttermilk pancake mixes usually contain 4 to 6 grams per serving. If you’re looking for a protein boost, opt for high-protein pancake mixes. Beyond the protein supplied by the whole grains, higher protein mixes often contain wheat protein and whey protein. A serving of the Kodiak buttermilk mix has a whopping 14 grams of protein.
One final nutrient to take note of on boxed pancake mixes is the sodium, especially if you have high blood pressure and are concerned about your sodium intake. In order for a food company to get the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Heart-Check Food Certification Program seal of approval on boxed pancake mixes, the sodium content must not exceed 240 milligrams per serving. Of all the brands I evaluated at local grocery stores, I did not find a pancake mix that met the AHA sodium guideline. Most brands ranged from 380 milligrams to 650 milligrams of sodium per 1/2 cup serving.
When it comes to the sodium content of boxed pancake mixes, a more realistic recommendation would be to select one that contains the least amount of sodium. The Kodiak buttermilk mix has 380 milligrams of sodium per serving, the lowest amount of all the brands I reviewed.
So, let’s talk price. The Kodiak mix, when compared to typical buttermilk pancake mixes, does cost more. Buttermilk pancake mixes such as Hungry Jack, Jiffy, and Krusteaz ranged from $3.49 to $3.79 for a 32-ounce box. A 20-ounce box of Kodiak buttermilk pancake mix cost $6.29.
Bottom line – if you’re looking for a more nutritious pancake mix and it fits your food budget, give the Kodiak Buttermilk Power Cakes Flapjack and Waffle Mix a try. And, as I learned from today’s recipe, it’s not just for making pancakes. It worked really well in these Cheddar and Onion Drop Biscuits. The biscuits are great just on their own or serve them with my recipe for Classic Beef Stew or Chili con Carne.
Full disclosure – I did not receive payment or free product from the Kodiak Cakes company.
To your health,
Darlene
CHEDDAR and ONION DROP BISCUITS
Yield: 12 servings
Serving Size: 1 biscuit
Prep: 10 minutes
Ready: 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS
Parchment paper or vegetable oil cooking spray
1 1/2 cups whole-grain buttermilk pancake and waffle mix (such Kodiak Buttermilk Power Cakes Flapjack and Waffle Mix)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3/8 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder, divided
2/3 cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup sliced green onion (green tops only)
2/3 cup 1% milk
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together pancake mix, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic, cheddar cheese, and green onion. To pancake mixture, stir in milk and oil just until ingredients are moistened. Allow batter to rest in bowl while preparing parmesan cheese topping mixture. This resting time allows the batter to thicken slightly, making it easier to drop the biscuits onto the baking sheet.
In a small bowl, mix parmesan cheese and remaining 1/8 teaspoon granulated garlic. To yield 12 biscuits, drop dough by heaping tablespoon onto prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle parmesan cheese mixture over tops of biscuits. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes and serve.
Nutrition Information per Serving
121 Calories, 7 g Total fat, 1 g Saturated fat, 0 g Trans fat, 7 mg Cholesterol, 153 mg Sodium, 11 g Total carbohydrate, 1 g Dietary fiber, 4 g Total sugars, 3 g Added sugars, 5 g Protein, 0 mcg (0%) Vitamin D, 114 mg (8%) Calcium, 0 mg (0%) Iron, 74 mg (2%) Potassium
© 2023 RECIPES MADE HEALTHY BY DARLENE ZIMMERMAN, MS, RD LLC
