Which mix is right for you?

Budget-conscious cook who adds their own flavour

You want to start with a plain mix and use cinnamon or other flavourings you already have at home. Just check which ingredients you’ll need for the batter and cooking.

Shopper looking for a festive flavour mix

You want speculoos or cinnamon already in the mix for a sweet pancake. Koopmans varieties in these flavours are listed at Albert Heijn; check which variety is available at your store and how to prepare it.

Cook checking ingredients and allergens

You need to be able to check that a mix and any ingredients you need to add suit your dietary requirements. Always read the current ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging, even if you’ve already looked at the product page.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check that the ingredients are suitable for you. Then choose between a flavour that’s already in the mix and a plain base that you can finish yourself. Remember to factor in any extra ingredients needed for the batter, too.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Keeping your shop within budget Check what you’ll need in addition to the mix and which flavourings you already have at home. When I’m cooking on a limited shopping budget, I don’t want to buy extra ingredients I won’t use again. For around 38% of consumers, keeping additional shopping to a minimum is the top priority.
Built-in flavour Check which flavour ingredients the mix contains and whether the variety is available at your store. For a sweet brunch, I want speculoos or cinnamon already in the batter, without having to create my own flavour combination. Built-in flavour is the main deciding factor for around 31% of consumers.
Ease of preparation Check the packaging to see which liquid, eggs and cooking fat you’ll need. When I want to measure out as few ingredients as possible, I look for a mix with a short list of preparation steps. Keeping extra ingredients to a minimum matters most to around 23% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging. If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, I need to know what the mix contains and what may be present before I buy it. For around 8% of consumers, this check is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a festive flavour means it’s a limited edition

    A speculoos or cinnamon variety isn’t automatically a limited-time release. A notice from Jumbo that a product has left its online range doesn’t tell you whether the manufacturer’s edition is limited.

    Check whether the manufacturer or retailer explicitly describes the mix as a limited edition. Then check separately whether the variety is available at your store.

  • Forgetting the extra ingredients you’ll need

    A pack of dry mix isn’t always all you need for the batter. For example, PLUS lists semi-skimmed milk and eggs for its plain mix, as well as butter or oil for cooking.

    Before you shop, read the preparation instructions on the packaging and check what you already have at home. A complete mix may need different additions.

  • Relying only on the allergen information on a product page

    If you need to avoid certain ingredients, use the packaging of the product you’re actually buying as your guide. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label.

    Before using the mix, check the current packaging for both allergens that are present and any ‘may contain’ statements.

  • Using a flavoured mix as a plain base

    The speculoos variety already contains flavour ingredients, so it’s a different starting point from a plain mix if you want to decide the flavour of the batter yourself.

    Choose a plain mix if you want to switch between sweet and savoury toppings. Pick a flavoured mix if its built-in taste suits what you have in mind.

Brands to consider

Koopmans

Alongside its regular pancake mixes, Koopmans offers speculoos and cinnamon varieties. These are worth considering if you want the flavour already in the mix.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the Speculoos variety contains 20% speculoos pieces; Grandma’s Pancakes with Cinnamon contains buckwheat and cinnamon, among other ingredients.
  • Both varieties need additional ingredients. Check availability at your store, as Jumbo lists the Speculoos variety as no longer part of its online range.

Albona

Albona is ALDI’s own brand behind a 400 g multigrain pancake mix, a base for anyone who wants to add their own flavour.

  • The multigrain mix gives you a starting point without a pre-selected speculoos or cinnamon flavour.
  • If you want those flavours in your pancakes, you’ll need to add suitable flavourings yourself.

PLUS

The 400 g PLUS plain mix is a base for pancakes that you can finish with sweet or savoury toppings.

  • The plain mix leaves you free to choose your own flavourings and toppings.
  • According to PLUS, you’ll need 800 ml semi-skimmed milk, 3 eggs and butter or oil to prepare it. The mix contains wheat and oats and may contain barley, egg and milk.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s range includes plain and complete pancake mixes, as well as flavoured varieties.

  • You can explore different ways to prepare pancakes, from a plain base to a mix that needs fewer additions.
  • Check the preparation instructions and availability for each product. Jumbo lists Koopmans Speculoos as no longer part of its online range.

Belbake

Belbake is Lidl’s own brand behind its Original pancake mix.

  • Lidl lists a 400 g pack, which makes around 12 pancakes.
  • Lidl states that this product is available in store only. Check the packaging and preparation instructions there.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is Koopmans Speculoos Pancake Mix a limited edition?

You can’t tell from the speculoos flavour or the product’s status at a retailer. Check whether Koopmans or the retailer explicitly describes the variety as a limited-time edition; Jumbo’s notice about its online range doesn’t confirm a limited release.

What should I add to a speculoos or cinnamon mix?

According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Koopmans Speculoos needs 550 ml milk, 1 egg and butter or oil. For Koopmans Grandma’s Pancakes with Cinnamon, you’ll need 850 ml milk, 2 eggs and butter or oil. Check the preparation instructions on the packaging you buy.

Can I taste the batter from these flavoured mixes raw?

No. Albert Heijn states that the batter for the Koopmans Speculoos and Grandma’s Pancakes with Cinnamon varieties isn’t intended to be eaten raw and must be thoroughly cooked.

How do I check for allergens in pancake mix?

Read the current label on the pack you’re buying, including the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label. The Koopmans Speculoos mix examined contains wheat and gluten-containing cereals; egg and milk are listed as possible allergens.