If you’re sharing a meal with someone who has coeliac disease, choose a mix whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’, and avoid contact with gluten while preparing it. Then compare the pack weight and stated yield with the number of people you’re serving. Don’t assume there’s a special sharing or seasonal pack: standard packs can work for a group too.
If at least one person eating has coeliac disease, you’ll want to choose a mix clearly labelled gluten-free and make sure the batter doesn’t come into contact with gluten while you’re cooking. That means you won’t necessarily need to make two separate batters.
For breakfast, lunch or a light meal, a compact pack or gluten-free shaker may better suit the number of people you’re serving. Check which ingredients you’ll need to add, too.
You want to have enough gluten-free mix at home without relying on a special large pack. Compare the weight and, if stated on the exact pack, the yield of the packs you buy.
Start by checking the gluten-free label and making sure you can prepare the mix without cross-contamination. Then work out how much batter you need and whether the size you want is available where you shop. Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used for products containing no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and free from cross-contamination | Check the current gluten-free label and any warnings on the pack. Use clean utensils and a clean work surface when cooking. | If someone at the table has coeliac disease, I want to know which mix I’m using and make sure no gluten gets into the batter. For around 36% of consumers, this safety concern would come first. |
| Enough batter to share | Compare the pack weight with the stated yield for the exact variant; if needed, allow for more than one pack. | When we’re having guests for a meal, I want to be able to make enough gluten-free pancakes for everyone. The number of portions would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Availability and pack size | Check whether the gluten-free mix you want is available in your shop or through your chosen ordering method, and compare pack weights. | When I’m shopping for a planned get-together, I want to be able to buy the right number of packs. Around 21% of consumers would consider availability the most important factor. |
| Easy preparation for smaller numbers | Check which ingredients you need to add and choose a pack size that suits the number of people you’re serving. | For a small meal, I don’t want to make more batter than I need, and I want to keep preparation simple. That convenience would matter most to around 14% of consumers. |
The words ‘pancake mix’ don’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. A standard mix isn’t a substitute for a product labelled gluten-free.
First check the current pack for the words ‘gluten-free’ and read any warnings. Only then compare pack sizes.
The Dutch Coeliac Society says gluten can accidentally get into gluten-free food. This can happen while mixing and cooking, too.
Use a clean pan, mixing bowl, whisk, spatula and work surface. Keep the gluten-free batter away from ordinary mix and crumbs.
A 230 g shaker is a different size from the standard 400 g packs shown. One small pack may not be enough for several people.
Work out how much batter you’ll need beforehand, and check the yield if it’s stated for the variant you’ve chosen.
A meal for several people doesn’t automatically call for a special seasonal pack. You can put together the amount you need using standard packs, too.
Check which gluten-free packs are available just before you buy, and take more than one suitable pack if needed.
Koopmans makes a gluten-free pancake mix for anyone who wants to cook for someone with coeliac disease using a baking mix.
This own-brand range includes a 400 g pack of gluten-free pancake mix.
Albert Heijn lists a 400 g pack of its own-brand gluten-free pancake mix.
Consenza is a gluten-free brand with products including a pancake shaker for smaller batches.
Lidl is a shop where you can check the current range, rather than assuming ordinary pancake mix is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
If someone has coeliac disease, don’t rely solely on the fact that wheat isn’t listed in the ingredients. Choose a mix whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’, and check for any warnings. Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ is used for products containing no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
No, the trademark isn’t a requirement for a product to be called ‘gluten-free’. The Dutch Coeliac Society describes Crossed Grain as an additional way to identify a product. Always check the gluten-free label and other information on the current packaging, too.
Use a clean pan, mixing bowl, whisk, spatula and work surface, and keep ordinary pancake mix and crumbs separate. The Dutch Coeliac Society notes that gluten can accidentally get into gluten-free food.
Check availability at the shop where you plan to do your shopping. Albert Heijn lists its 400 g own-brand gluten-free mix as available in store only; that doesn’t tell you whether it’s stocked at your local branch. Check the current packaging when you buy it, too.
