For Easter brunch, choose a complete mix if you want to make the batter with water; with a plain mix, you add ingredients such as milk and eggs yourself. Then decide how many pancakes you want to make: a shaker bottle may yield a different number from a packet. If anyone has dietary requirements, always check the label on the pack you choose, as ease of preparation and the type of grain don’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with allergies.
If you’d rather not get lots of separate ingredients ready, compare complete mixes and shaker bottles. Check the preparation instructions, though: a complete mix in a packet may need water, while a shaker bottle may require milk. The stated yield will help you decide whether one pack is enough.
A plain mix lets you add the specified milk and eggs yourself. Before you shop, check exactly what the pack you’ve chosen requires and how many portions or pancakes it’s said to make.
The ingredients list matters more than a name such as ‘complete’ or ‘multigrain’. Check the pack for the grains, egg and milk listed, along with any cross-contamination warnings. Don’t assume another variety has the same ingredients.
First decide how you want to make the batter and how much you need. Then compare the ingredients on the exact pack you’re considering with your guests’ requirements.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Check what you need to add to the batter and whether you’re choosing a packet or a shaker bottle. | If I want to make pancakes just before brunch, I want as few separate ingredients and steps as possible. This convenience is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Yield | Compare the stated number of pancakes or portions on the exact pack; these aren’t necessarily equivalent measures. | I want enough batter for my guests and to know how much I need to add to the recipe myself. For around 27% of consumers, this combination of quantity and control over preparation is a key consideration. |
| Grain ingredients | Read which grains are listed in the ingredients; the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which grains have been used. | The grains in the mix matter to me, even if that means a little more preparation. This is the main reason for choosing a mix for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen information and any relevant ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to assess the variety I’ve chosen by checking the label. This check is the top priority for around 13% of consumers. |
Koopmans Compleet and PLUS Complete are made with water according to their preparation instructions, but fat is also listed for greasing the pan before cooking. The complete varieties checked also contain allergens such as wheat, egg and milk ingredients.
Read both the preparation instructions and the ingredients list before choosing a pack for brunch.
Koopmans says its Schudfles Origineel makes five pancakes. Jumbo states that its 400 g plain mix makes around twelve portions; a pancake and a portion aren’t necessarily the same measure.
Decide how many pancakes you want to make, then compare the yield stated on each pack.
Koopmans offers complete mixes, multigrain mixes and pancake shaker bottles, among other options.
Albert Heijn’s range includes complete, multigrain and wholemeal mixes from AH.
Jumbo offers a plain mix and an organic pancake mix in 400 g packets, among other options.
PLUS lists both a 200 g bottle of plain mix and a 400 g packet of complete mix.
ALDI lists plain and multigrain pancake mixes under the Albona name.
These mixes offer different ways to make batter for Easter brunch: with water, with ingredients you add yourself, or in a shaker bottle. Compare the preparation instructions, stated yield and label for each product; the pack size alone won’t tell you how many guests it will serve.
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This shaker bottle is an option if you want to make a small amount of batter with water. According to the product description, add 350 ml water and shake for one minute; the stated yield is 4 to 6 pancakes. The description lists wheat, gluten, egg and milk as allergens.
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This multigrain mix may suit you if you want to consider the grain ingredients and add the milk and eggs yourself. The product description states that it makes 11 to 13 pancakes and requires 900 ml milk and 2 eggs; butter or oil is listed for the pan. Wheat, oats, rye and barley are also mentioned, so ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean gluten-free here.
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With this mix, you add the ingredients for the batter yourself. The product description states that you’ll need 850 ml milk and 2 eggs to make 11 to 13 pancakes, plus butter or oil for the pan. Cereals containing gluten, including wheat and rye, are listed; according to the description, milk and egg may also be present.
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This shaker bottle is designed for making a small amount of batter, provided you have milk at home. According to the product description, add 400 ml milk and shake for one minute; it makes 4 to 6 pancakes. The description lists wheat, gluten and egg, and states that milk may be present.
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This mix is for anyone who wants to make the batter themselves using the specified additions. The product description states that you’ll need 60 ml water and 1 egg, and lists wheat and gluten. If you’re cooking for a particular number of guests, check how many pancakes the pack makes before buying; don’t infer the yield from its 100 g weight.
Yes, check the preparation instructions on the pack. According to their product information, Koopmans Compleet and PLUS Complete are made with water, but butter, margarine or oil is also listed for greasing the pan.
A shaker bottle may be enough if its stated yield suits your group. Koopmans says that Schudfles Origineel makes five pancakes; Jumbo states that its 400 g plain mix makes around twelve portions. Don’t compare these figures as if one portion always equals one pancake.
No, you can’t tell from the name. The Koopmans Bio Meergranen listed by Jumbo contains wheat flour and oat flour. If you need a gluten-free mix, look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the label on the pack you choose.
Check the current label for any allergens that are relevant to your guests, including cereals containing gluten, egg and milk. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the label; also read any ‘may contain’ warnings for the variety you choose.
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. PLUS says that batter made with milk from its plain mix bottle should be used straight away and not stored; don’t assume the same instruction applies to other mixes.
