Time-Saving Homemade Mixes

I love serving homemade biscuits and muffins with my meals but working more hours than I have in years has forced me to find an easier way to incorporate them into meals during the week.  The answer:  Homemade Mixes.  I found this Basic Muffin Mix and 'tweaked' it a bit since we are on a strict low-fat, low-sodium diet. 

Below you'll find the entire recipe as well as lots of different 'variations' to make lovely things like Blueberry Lemon Sour Cream, Banana Nut and Cranberry Orange Muffins . . . all from this one mix!  This was my 'variation' . . . Strawberry Walnut -- I added 1 c diced, fresh strawberries and 1/2 c coarsely chopped walnuts to the batter.

Finding a low-fat biscuit mix recipe was a REAL challenge as nearly all that I found incorporated shortening in the mix but persistence paid off and I found this one that uses just 3 T of butter (although I swapped that out for fat free, plain yogurt). 

For a different 'twist', you can add dried herbs, Cheddar cheese, garlic and more depending on what you'll be serving these with.  They're also great for breakfast spread with some honey and jam!  I put the mixes in a gallon zip-lock bag and write the directions right on the bag so when I'm ready to bake them up, it's all right there.

Got any time-saving tips for cooking you'd like to share with us?

Fat-Free Biscuit Mix

4 c white flour

4 c wheat flour

½ c wheat germ

2 T baking powder

1 T Salt ( I use ½ and ½ salt)

1 t baking soda

2 t Cream of tartar

Mix all ingredients well and store in cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

To make one dozen biscuits:

Combine 2 cups of mix with ½ c fat free mayo or ½ c fat free, plain yogurt*, and ½ - ¾ c sour milk**.  Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.  Pat out ½” thick on lightly floured surface and cut into 2” biscuits.  Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

* You can cut in 3 T butter instead of the mayo or yogurt but I use the others to cut more fat.

**To make sour milk, add 1 t lemon juice to ½ c milk and let sit for 10 minutes.

Low Fat Muffin Mix

9 cups flour 2 ½ cups sugar (or equivalent substitute) 1 1/8 cups non fat dry milk 3 Tbsp. baking powder

1 Tbsp. baking soda 1 Tbsp. salt 1 1/2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 1 ½ tsp. ground nutmeg

Stir together well, breaking up lumps. Store in a large airtight container labeled with the date and contents. Store in a cool, dry place. Shelf life: 6 to 8 months. 


To make 12 regular sized muffins: Preheat oven to 400° F. Coat muffin tins with cooking spray.  In a large bowl, beat: 2  eggs, 1/2 tsp. vanilla,1 cup water ,1/2 cup fat free, plain yogurt. Stir in 2 1/4 cups muffin mix just until moistened. The batter should be lumpy. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown. Muffins freeze well. To reheat frozen muffins, microwave on high for 30 seconds per muffin. 

These two toppings would go well with almost any of the muffins. Sprinkle mixture atop uncooked muffins before popping them into preheated oven:
STREUSEL TOPPING for 12 muffins: Mix together: 1/2 cup sugar ½ tsp. Cinnamon, 1/3 cup flour cut in ¼ cup cold butter or margarine until mixture is crumbly. 

CRUNCHY TOPPING for 12 muffins: Mix together: ½ cup rolled oats ½ cup flour, ¼ cup brown sugar,  1 tsp. ground cinnamon and  cut in 1/4 cup softened butter or margarine with fork or pastry cutter until crumbly.

TYPE OF MUFFIN: Ingredients to add to mix before baking: 

APPLE MUFFINS: 1 1/2 cups raw grated apples 1/2 tsp. gr. cloves 1/2 cup nuts or raisins.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture before baking 

APPLESAUCE MUFFINS: ½ cup applesauce -- yogurt 

APRICOT MUFFINS: 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots 

BANANA MUFFINS: 1 mashed banana,  ½ cup walnuts (optional) 

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS: 1 cup fresh or frozen rinsed blueberries 

BUTTERSCOTCH MUFFINS: 1 c butterscotch chips ½ cup chopped nuts 

CARROT MUFFINS: 1 cup grated carrots ½ cup raisins  3/4 tsp. allspice 

CHOCOLATE CHIP FUDGE MUFFINS: 3/4 cups cocoa 1/4 cup sugar  1 cup  mini chocolate chips 

CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS: 1 cup  chopped fresh or frozen cranberries ½ cup nuts ¼  cup orange juice 1 Tb. orange peel 

INCREDIBLE CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS: combine: 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese ¼ cup sugar 1 egg Drop this mix by Tb. onto top of muffins before baking


KISSES AND HUGS MUFFINS: ¾ cups cocoa 1/4 cup sugar
After filling muffin tins 3/4 full, drop one Hershey's kiss into the center of each muffin, pushing down slightly until kiss is covered. Ice cooled muffins with confectioners sugar and water glaze. 

LEMON MUFFINS: omit 1/2 cup water and replace with 1/2 cup lemon juice  1/4 cup chopped nuts 

LEMON POPPY SEED MUFFINS: 1 package (3.4 oz each) instant lemon pudding mix 1 Tb. poppy seeds  - omit 1/2 cup water and replace with 1/2 cup lemon juice 

OATMEAL MUFFINS: reduce muffin mix to 2 cups and add: 1/2 cup oats  1 cups raisins or grated apples 

ORANGE MUFFINS: 1 cup sour cream ½  cup nuts or coconut (opt) 1 can (11 oz. each) mandarin oranges, drained. 

PEANUTTY MUFFINS: 1 cup peanut butter chips 1/4 cup chopped peanuts 

PEANUT BUTTER BANANA MUFFINS: ½ cup peanut butter 1/4 cup chopped peanuts 2  mashed bananas 

PUMPKIN MUFFINS: 1 cups or ½ can solid pack pumpkin  2 t pumpkin pie spice 1/4 cup each chopped nuts and raisins 

RASPBERRY MUFFINS: 1 cups fresh or frozen whole, unsweetened raspberries

ZUCCHINI MUFFINS: 1 cups grated zucchini 1 Tb. cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)