Are homemade biscuits healthier than shop bought?

November 25, 2025 •

4 min read

According to nutritional analysis, many commercially produced biscuits are high in refined sugar, saturated fat, and artificial additives. This raises the common question: Are homemade biscuits healthier than shop bought? The answer depends entirely on the ingredients you choose, offering a degree of control unavailable with packaged versions.

Quick Summary

Homemade biscuits can be nutritionally superior to store-bought options by allowing full control over ingredients like flour, sugar, and fat while avoiding artificial additives and preservatives.

Key Points

Ingredient Control: Homemade biscuits allow for complete control over flour, fat, and sugar choices, enabling healthier substitutions.
Avoid Additives: Baking at home eliminates the need for artificial preservatives, emulsifiers, and flavourings found in most commercial biscuits.
Enhance Nutrition: Substitute refined flour with whole grains like whole wheat or oats to boost fiber content in your homemade recipe.
Reduce Sugar and Unhealthy Fats: It's easy to reduce the sugar and replace unhealthy hydrogenated fats used in commercial production with healthier alternatives like butter or olive oil.
Control Portion Sizes: Homemade versions facilitate better portion control, which is key for managing overall calorie intake from treats.
Superior Freshness and Taste: Without preservatives, homemade biscuits offer a fresher, more natural flavour and texture that can be more satisfying.

The Core Difference: Ingredient Control

At the heart of the homemade vs. shop-bought debate lies the issue of ingredient control. When you bake biscuits at home, you are in charge of every single component. This empowers you to make conscious, healthier choices. Conversely, store-bought biscuits are formulated for mass production, shelf stability, and palatability, often at the expense of nutritional quality.

Homemade Ingredient Freedom

Making biscuits from scratch means you can immediately improve upon the typical store-bought recipe. This includes:

Flour Choice: Swap nutritionally-impoverished refined white flour (maida) for whole grains like whole wheat, oats, or millets to increase fiber content.
Fat Selection: Instead of cheap, potentially hydrogenated or palm oils, use healthier fats like unsalted butter, olive oil, or coconut oil.
Sweeteners: Replace refined white sugar with natural alternatives like honey, maple syrup, or jaggery, or simply reduce the quantity overall.
Additives: Avoid the artificial flavours, colourings, emulsifiers, and preservatives that lengthen shelf life but add no nutritional value and can build up in the body over time.

The Additive-Filled World of Shop-Bought Biscuits

Commercial biscuits are designed for longevity on supermarket shelves, which is achieved through a cocktail of chemical additives. Common ingredients you might find on a label include invert sugar syrup, artificial flavourings, dough conditioners, and various raising agents that enhance texture and appearance. These ingredients are often hidden behind complex chemical names and are not necessary for a simple, delicious biscuit. They also can contribute to higher sugar and unhealthy fat content without providing any redeeming nutrients.

A Nutritional Comparison

To highlight the stark differences, let's examine the typical ingredients and nutritional profiles of a homemade biscuit versus a standard commercially baked one.


Feature	Homemade Biscuits	Shop-Bought Biscuits
Ingredients	All-purpose or whole wheat flour, butter or healthier fat, buttermilk, sugar (often less), salt.	Refined wheat flour, high sugar content (including syrups), hydrogenated vegetable oils, preservatives, emulsifiers, artificial flavors.
Nutritional Profile	Varies widely based on ingredients. Can be high in fiber (with whole grains) and lower in sugar and unhealthy fats.	Generally high in refined carbohydrates, added sugar, and saturated/trans fats. Often low in fiber and micronutrients.
Control	Complete control over ingredients and portion size. Easy to make healthier substitutions.	No control over ingredients. Must rely on often-misleading nutritional labels.
Processing	Minimally processed; made fresh from whole-food ingredients.	Highly processed; designed for maximum shelf life and flavour enhancement.
Preservatives	None needed; best when eaten fresh or stored correctly for a short time.	Contains various chemical preservatives to inhibit spoilage and extend shelf life.

How to Make Healthier Homemade Biscuits

Crafting a healthier biscuit at home doesn't mean sacrificing flavour. Here are some simple swaps to boost the nutritional value of your next batch:

Use a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour for a fiber boost without sacrificing texture.
Incorporate ingredients like oats, nuts, and seeds for added protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Substitute some of the fat with ingredients like Greek yogurt or unsweetened applesauce to reduce calories while keeping moisture.
Add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to enhance flavour without extra sugar.
Reduce the sugar by 25% or more; you'll often find the biscuit still tastes delicious.

Other Factors Beyond Ingredients

It's worth noting that while ingredient quality is key, other factors influence the health impact of biscuits.

The 'Treat' Mindset: A homemade biscuit, even with healthier ingredients, is still a treat. Overindulging can negate any health benefits. The psychological factor of having a whole batch readily available can lead to overeating. Portion control is crucial.

Cost and Time: While ingredients for homemade biscuits might seem cheaper, the time investment is higher. Store-bought biscuits offer unparalleled convenience. This trade-off is often a deciding factor for busy households.

Freshness and Taste: Homemade biscuits offer an unmatched freshness and flavour profile. The absence of preservatives and additives means a cleaner, more vibrant taste. This can lead to a more satisfying experience that curbs cravings more effectively than an ultra-processed version.

Conclusion: Homemade Offers a Healthier Path

Ultimately, the answer to "Are homemade biscuits healthier than shop bought?" is a resounding yes, assuming you use healthier ingredients and practice moderation. While store-bought biscuits offer convenience, they typically come loaded with refined flours, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and a host of artificial preservatives and additives. By choosing to bake at home, you take back control of your diet, allowing you to select high-quality, nutrient-rich ingredients. This results in a biscuit that is not only fresher and more delicious but is also genuinely better for your health. For those seeking to reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods, making biscuits from scratch is a simple and effective step toward a more mindful diet.

For more information on the nutritional quality of different baked goods, check out the analysis of biscuits and sweet snacks on the National Institutes of Health website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, homemade biscuits can still be unhealthy if you use large amounts of refined white flour, sugar, and butter. The key advantage is the ability to choose and control the quantity of each ingredient, making them healthier by design.

Typical unhealthy ingredients include refined wheat flour (maida), high sugar content (including high-fructose corn syrup), hydrogenated vegetable oils (trans fats), and a variety of preservatives and artificial additives.

Whole wheat biscuits are generally healthier because they contain more fiber than those made with refined flour. However, the overall healthiness depends on the other ingredients, such as sugar and fat content.

Yes, you can substitute some of the fat in homemade biscuits with alternatives like Greek yogurt, applesauce, or puréed banana to reduce calories while maintaining moisture.

Biscuits labeled 'healthy' can sometimes be misleading. It's crucial to read the nutritional label carefully, as they can still be high in sugar and fat. Organic labels primarily refer to how the ingredients were grown, not necessarily the overall nutritional value.

Calories can be similar between homemade and store-bought biscuits, depending on the recipes used. The main nutritional difference lies in the quality of ingredients, with homemade versions allowing for more nutrient-dense choices.

Making biscuits from scratch is often more cost-effective than buying pre-made, especially when using basic ingredients. The cost savings come from buying staple items in bulk versus the higher price of processed, packaged goods.