Comparing Krusteaz and Betty Crocker’s Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix

It is super interesting to me how you can find two companies that make the same product with the exact same name such as “wild blueberry muffin mix”. Are they actually sourcing wild blueberries or are they both using this word as an attractive addition to draw you in to their product? While I don’t have the answer to that, I do plan on giving you all of the information on both box mix brands so you can determine which one to pick up on your next trip to the store.

Let’s compare Krusteaz and Betty Crocker’s wild blueberry muffin mixes side by side. Right off the bat, the packaging is similar, the product name is the same, and the list of required ingredients is almost identical. The pricing from Walmart where I picked these up was $2.97 for Krusteaz and $2.84 for Betty Crocker so they are even similar in pricing. Inside the boxes, both companies include a bag of dry mix and a can of blueberries in syrup to mix in.

Both mixes require 2 eggs, 2/3 cup of water, and oil. Krusteaz asks for 2/3 cup of oil while Betty Crocker calls for only 1/3 cup. Oil typically creates a more moist cake but due to other factors like the blueberries, this may not have a noticeable change in the muffin consistency. I mixed both batter mixes side by side starting with draining the canned blueberries and rinsing them. I then added the wet ingredients to the dry mixes. Krusteaz’s muffin batter tasted fruity before the blueberries were mixed in while Betty Crocker’s batter tasted like a standard cake mix with no hints of any blueberry flavor.

I scooped the batter’s into similar cupcake pans with cupcake papers using a 3tbsp scoop. Both boxes claimed to make 12 muffins however I got 13 out of Betty Crocker’s batter and then 17 out of Krusteaz’s batter. I really appreciate that neither box shorted a muffin or two, they both went over the amount they claimed to make which feels like a happy little accident. If you plan on bringing 12 muffins to an event (I’m thinking potluck’s, family brunch, work party, etc.) you get an extra muffin or a few just for yourself. Both boxes called for 400°F in the oven however the cook times were different. Betty Crocker called for 15-20 minutes and at 13 minutes they were finished. Krusteaz called for 18-22 minutes and finished at 14 minutes. I am not surprised by the cook times being wrong, I have come to expect it.

Out of the oven, the muffins all looked pretty tasty. The visual appearance of these muffins was very similar and would not draw me in to one or the other. After they cooled I gave them both a taste test. Betty Crocker’s muffin was good but it really struck me as a plain muffin with some blueberries thrown in, almost like the berries were an after thought. It was a subtle flavor in the muffin. Overall, it was good, not great. Krusteaz’s muffin was so much better. It was clearly a blueberry muffin with the blueberry flavor front and center. I suspect the dry mix had a blueberry additive that really enhanced the noticeable flavor. Both muffins were insanely moist and it didn’t seem that the difference in oil amounts made any noticeable change. If you’re looking for a quick Wild Blueberry muffin, definitely go for the Krusteaz box mix. It is 13 cents more expensive and in my opinion, worth the difference.

As prepared, Betty Crocker’s batter totaled 3,536 calories. If divided into 13 muffins, they are 272 calories each. Krusteaz’s batter totaled 4,016 calories and if divided into 17 muffins, they came to 236 calories each.

Here are the links to products used today:
Rubber Spatulas – https://amzn.to/3JWDtAA
Other spatulas https://amzn.to/4dAelNI
Oven Mitts – https://amzn.to/3JYq5Mg
Cookie scoop 3tbsp – https://amzn.to/3wwHRDj
Plastic Measuring Cup – https://amzn.to/4bDJIoV
Glass Measuring Cup – https://amzn.to/44IuX1B
*These are affiliate links meaning if you click on the link and buy the product, I will earn a small commission, but you will not be charged a penny more.