Where Can I Buy Pillsbury Biscuit Dough in a Can UK?

When we think of biscuits here in the UK, we usually imagine custard creams, digestives, ginger nuts, etc. – the kind of things you’d find in a biscuit tin. On the other side of the pond, in the States, ‘biscuit’ means something very different. If you’ve ever tried to find Pillsbury biscuit dough in a can UK, I’ve got some good news and bad news.

Which one shall I tell you first?

What is Pillsbury Biscuit Dough?

Why don’t I start with a little info about Pillsbury, then I’ll move on to the biscuit dough? (And then we’ll get to the good and bad news.)

Pillsbury is an American brand of baking and other processed foods, responsible for products such as American biscuit dough in various flavours and varieties, breads, cinnamon rolls, pizza and pie crusts, and more. You can see the full range of products available in North America right here.

You can buy some Pillsbury products in the UK, mostly from places such as specialist import stores and Amazon. Not all of them are available, however. They’re also quite expensive because of the cost of importing them, and it’s hard to find a reliable, regular source.

What is American Biscuit Dough?

Now let’s get to the heart of the matter: the biscuit dough itself.

American biscuits are [usually] a type of buttermilk biscuit. That’s the kind of biscuit dough you’ll get in a can, such as the Pillsbury variety. There are other types available, made with different ingredients, but they come usually fresh and refrigerated, or frozen.

The closest thing to an American buttermilk biscuit in the UK is a scone.

(Don’t get me started on the how-do-you-say-it debate.)  

The biscuits are flaky, crumbly, layered buns, used as the bread part of sandwiches, dunked in soups, eaten warm with butter, and enjoyed in a variety of other ways. They’re not quite in the bread category, however. They’re flakier and more layered, like a hybrid of pastry and bread.

Canned biscuits are mostly savoury, but they can be eaten as a sweet treat, too – just the same as British scones. The latter can be served savoury, made with cheese and other similar ingredients; or sweet, topped with fresh cream and a touch of jam.

Where Can I Buy Pillsbury Biscuit Dough in a Can UK?

So, here comes the bad news. (It’s always best to start with that, right?)

You cannot buy Pillsbury biscuit dough in a can in the UK.

I certainly haven’t found them, and I’ve been looking REALLY hard.

I’m so sorry to just come out with it like that, but that’s the long and short of it. There just isn’t a big market for American-style biscuits in the United Kingdom, which is ridiculous because they are flippin’ delightful! (Trust me, I’ve tried them for myself.)

But when there isn’t a big demand for something, there won’t be supply for it.

What is the UK Equivalent of American Biscuit Dough?

So, here’s the good news: there are lots of ways to recreate or make American-style biscuits right here in the UK. Why don’t we take a look at them:

“British” Scones

The humble British scone is very similar to American biscuit dough, like the Pillsbury variety. It’s not an exact match, of course, but most people would agree it comes pretty close.

You can make scones easily from scratch, or you can buy scone mix, which usually comes in the forms of powder. If you make them from scratch, you will need to remember to leave out the sugar that makes savoury scones sweet. It is also recommended to use a low-protein type of flour.

• Easy Scone Recipe – Baking Mad
• Light & Fluffy Scones Recipe – A Food Lover’s Kitchen

Jus-Rol Tear & Share

Although not the same products, Jus-Rol is a brand in the UK that makes similar food items to Pillsbury. One of the products is said to taste the same as American biscuits, and can be shaped and made as such, too.

Jus -Rol’s Tear & Share Garlic & Herbs Bread is close in taste and texture to Pillsbury biscuit dough.

You’ll just need to leave out the garlic and herbs, but you can always add that mixture to something else. Garlic and herbs go with everything.

Bisquick Pancake & Baking Mix

Bisquick Betty Crocker Original Pancake and Baking Mix can be used to make American biscuits in the UK.

The Betty Crocker website even has a guide on how to make them. You’ll find that right here.

Make American Biscuits from Scratch

You could always make American-style biscuits, using an American recipe.

There are plenty of different recipes out there you can use, with all sorts of tweaks, to suit all sorts of dietary restrictions. (The internet is a wonderful thing sometimes!)

If you’re on the hunt for a recipe to make these delicious scone-like biscuits yourself, here are a couple that have come highly recommended from the people who have actually used them:

• The Food Lab’s Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe – Serious Eats
• Light and Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits – Food 52

American Pillsbury Biscuit Dough in a Can UK: Conclusion

So, I’ve given you bad news, and then quite a lot of good news. You do have options when it comes to enjoying these tasty American pastry-bun-hybrids in the UK. Sadly, you just can’t get the actual Pillsbury product here. America gets all the best food. *Sulk*  

I hope I’ve managed to solve your foodie problem today, but you know where I am if you ever have a question of your own! Enjoy your biscuits! (Hopefully!)