Breakfast cooks keeping an eye on their shopping bill
If you make pancakes regularly and usually have milk, eggs and cooking fat at home, a plain mix could be a good choice. You won’t need to buy extra ingredients first.
Which mix is right for you?
Breakfast cooks who want less measuring
With a complete mix, you only need to add water to make the batter. A shaker bottle can also save you using a bowl and whisk, but you’ll still need to cook the pancakes in a pan.
Breakfast cooks who read labels carefully
If particular ingredients or allergens matter to you, check the packaging of the option you’ve chosen. The preparation instructions matter too: they may call for milk or eggs.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with what you already have at home, then decide how much mixing you want to do and check the label of the option you’re considering. None of these mixes is ready to eat: you’ll still need time to cook the pancakes for a quick breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Extra shopping | Check whether the recipe calls for milk, eggs and cooking fat, or just water and cooking fat. | If I make pancakes often, I mainly want a mix that works with ingredients I already have at home. For around 42% of consumers, avoiding extra shopping is the top priority. |
| Preparation | Check whether you make the batter in a bowl or mix it in a shaker bottle; you’ll still need to cook it in a pan. | On a busy morning, I want to measure out as few ingredients as possible and keep the washing-up to a minimum. For around 33% of consumers, less preparation is the priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the packaging of the option you’ve chosen. | If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, I want to be able to check the exact option before using it. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the mix
A plain mix may need milk, eggs and cooking fat. That matters if you don’t already have those ingredients at home.
Before you choose, read the preparation instructions and check what you’ll need to add to make the full batter.
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Assuming a shaker bottle is a ready-to-eat breakfast
The bottle makes mixing the batter easier, but you’ll still need to cook the pancakes in a pan.
Choose this format if doing less mixing would make your morning easier, not if you’re looking for something you can eat straight away.
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Assuming another option has the same information
Ingredients and allergens can vary between pancake mixes. A different preparation method doesn’t automatically change the properties of the dry mix either.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact option you’re buying.
Brands to compare
Koopmans
Koopmans offers a range that includes original, complete and shaker-bottle options. The right one for you will mainly depend on which ingredients you want to add and how you’d like to mix the batter.
- According to the product information at Albert Heijn, the 400 g complete mix needs 700 ml of water for the batter.
- The original mix calls for milk and eggs; the convenience options still need to be cooked too.
AH
Albert Heijn’s own brand offers several pancake mixes, including plain and complete options.
- Albert Heijn also lists a plant-based preparation method for its plain mix.
- The standard recipe for this mix calls for milk and eggs. If ingredients or allergens matter to you, check the packaging separately.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes plain, complete and wholemeal pancake mixes to compare.
- The different options let you choose based on how you want to prepare the pancakes and which ingredients you’d like to use.
- Check what you need to add for each option; the range name alone doesn’t tell you enough.
PLUS
PLUS offers a plain mix and a 400 g complete mix, each requiring different ingredients for the batter.
- PLUS says to make the complete mix with 700 ml of water; you’ll also need cooking fat to cook the pancakes.
- The plain mix calls for milk and eggs. If allergens are a concern, check the packaging of both options.
Albona
Albona is an option for anyone looking for a plain mix at ALDI.
- ALDI’s product information says to prepare it with milk and eggs, so you can check what you’ll need in advance.
- Check which option is available at your store and read the instructions on the packaging.
Belbake
Belbake Original Pancake Mix is available from Lidl Netherlands.
- Lidl Netherlands states that it makes around 12 pancakes.
- Check the packaging in store to see which ingredients you’ll need to add.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
These mixes are designed for making pancakes at home. Shaker-bottle options mean less mixing; for the other options, the main thing to check is which ingredients you’ll need for the batter. None of these products is a ready-to-eat breakfast.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
For anyone who wants to mix the batter in a bottle and add only water. According to the product information, add 350 ml of water; one bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes. You’ll still need to cook them in a pan.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A shaker bottle for anyone who wants to make batter without a separate mixing bowl. This option needs milk and the pancakes still need to be cooked; check the packaging for the preparation steps and allergen information.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu milk-flavoured pancake mix 100 g
For anyone looking for a 100 g pack to prepare with water and egg. Check the preparation instructions and yield on the packaging; these pancakes also need to be cooked in a pan.
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Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g
For anyone who wants to make a larger batch of pancakes at home and has milk and eggs to hand. Check the preparation instructions and ingredients for this multigrain option before you start.
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Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g
For anyone who wants to use a standard mix and has milk, eggs and cooking fat available. According to the product information, add 850 ml of milk and two eggs; then cook the pancakes in a pan.
Frequently asked questions
Is pancake mix suitable for a ready-to-eat breakfast?
No, pancake mix needs to be made into batter and cooked in a pan first. A complete mix or shaker bottle can cut down on preparation, but you’ll still need to cook the pancakes.
When should I choose a complete mix instead of a plain mix?
A complete mix is handy if you’d prefer to add only water to make the batter. If you already have milk and eggs at home, a plain mix could also work for you; check what you’ll need to cook the pancakes for either option.
Can I prepare a plain mix using plant-based ingredients?
For AH Plain Pancake Mix, Albert Heijn lists a plant-based preparation method. This doesn’t automatically apply to other plain mixes or mean that the mix is suitable for people with allergies: check the label on the packaging you’ve chosen.
Where can I check the allergens in a pancake mix?
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the exact option you’ve chosen. Look out for any ‘may contain’ information too, as well as the ingredients you need to add yourself according to the recipe.