Which method is right for you?

Home bakers who want to make kruidnoten

For small biscuits baked in the oven, you need a dough you can shape. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s kruidnoten recipe uses self-raising flour for this, rather than runny pancake batter.

Fans of festive pancakes

If you’re after a spiced pancake, pancake mix could be a good fit. Choose it as a base for cooking in a pan, not as a substitute for kruidnoten dough.

Shoppers who need to check allergens

Ingredients vary between baking mixes and product variants. Always check the current label for the grains, milk and egg they contain, as well as any warnings about possible cross-contamination.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to bake kruidnoten in the oven or cook pancakes in a pan. Only then do flavour and ease of preparation become useful criteria when choosing a pancake mix.

Kruidnoten with self-raising flour

Choose this option: if you want to bake kruidnoten you can shape, following an oven recipe such as Albert Heijn Allerhande’s.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to add the other recipe ingredients yourself and shape the dough.

Pancake mix

Choose this option: if you want to make festive pancakes and aren’t expecting it to make kruidnoten.

Bear in mind: even a speculoos-flavoured mix is still intended for pancake batter.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
The right baking base Match the method to what you want to make: dough you can shape and bake in the oven for kruidnoten, or batter cooked in a frying pan for pancakes. I want to shape and bake kruidnoten, not make batter that runs across the pan. Around 42% of consumers put choosing the right baking base first.
Allergens Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the current label for the exact variant. If I need to avoid certain grains, milk or egg, I want to know what’s in the mix before choosing based on flavour. Around 25% of consumers put this check first.
Ease of preparation For pancake mix, check whether you need to add water, milk or other ingredients. When making pancakes, I want to keep the number of separate ingredients to a minimum; baking kruidnoten isn’t my aim. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this convenience.
Spiced flavour For pancake mix, check the flavour or additions shown on the packaging, and whether the variant you want is available. I’m mainly after a pancake with a speculaas-like flavour, not a biscuit baked in the oven. Around 16% of consumers put this flavour first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking speculoos pancake mix for kruidnoten mix

    Speculoos flavour doesn’t turn pancake batter into dough you can shape into biscuits. The Koopmans Speculoos variant described by Jumbo is prepared with milk and egg as a pancake.

    If you want to make kruidnoten, follow a kruidnoten recipe with a suitable dough base. Use speculoos pancake mix for pancakes.

  • Assuming ‘complete’ means suitable for every diet

    The complete pancake mix described by Jumbo contains, among other things, wheat, milk and egg. ‘Complete’ tells you what you can make with the mix, not which allergens it’s free from.

    Check the ingredients and allergens on the label of the variant you’re buying.

  • Assuming a particular flavour variant will always be available

    Availability of a speculoos variant may vary by shop and over time. So don’t base your baking plans on a single packet.

    Check what’s currently available at your chosen shop before gathering your ingredients.

Relevant brands to consider

Koopmans

Koopmans offers several pancake mixes, including Origineel, Compleet and Glutenvrij. Choose according to the preparation method and the label for the specific variant.

  • According to Koopmans, you only need to add water to Pannenkoeken Compleet.
  • These pancake mixes aren’t a like-for-like substitute for the dough in Albert Heijn Allerhande’s kruidnoten recipe.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes a complete pancake mix in a 200 g shaker bottle, prepared with water.

  • According to the product information, you add 400 ml of water to this variant.
  • This particular mix contains wheat, milk and egg; check the label if these ingredients are important to your choice.

Smaakt

Smaakt Bio Boekweit Pannenkoekenmix is another pancake base for anyone specifically looking for a buckwheat option.

  • According to the product information at Jumbo, the mix consists of 90% organic buckwheat flour and tapioca flour.
  • The same product information says it may contain nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds and soya. The mix is intended for pancakes, not as kruidnoten dough.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use pancake mix to bake kruidnoten?

Don’t use pancake mix as a like-for-like substitute for kruidnoten dough. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s kruidnoten recipe uses self-raising flour and dough baked in the oven; the pancake mixes described here are intended for batter cooked in a frying pan.

What’s the difference between Koopmans Origineel and Compleet?

According to Koopmans, Compleet only requires water, whereas you need to add ingredients yourself when preparing Origineel. Check the preparation instructions and ingredients list on the packet you choose; both variants are pancake mixes.

How do I check for allergens in a baking mix?

Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current label for the exact variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly listed in the ingredients; also look for warnings about possible cross-contamination.

Is gluten-free pancake mix also suitable for gluten-free kruidnoten?

A gluten-free label on pancake mix doesn’t automatically make it suitable for kruidnoten dough. Look for a recipe specifically intended for kruidnoten and check the current labels for all the ingredients.