If you want to make Dutch doughnuts (oliebollen) at home, choose a mix with explicit instructions for making them. The pancake mixes we looked at are designed for cooking in a frying pan, not as a confirmed substitute for oliebollen mix. Then check which ingredients you need, how many the mix makes, whether the dough needs to rise and what allergens it contains. If you’d rather not deep-fry, you could consider ready-made Dutch doughnuts.
You want to deep-fry them yourself and are looking for a mix with instructions on the packaging explaining how to make Dutch doughnuts. Check whether the batter needs to rise and what the deep-frying instructions say.
You’re looking at the pack size and how many portions it makes, as well as what else you’ll need to add. Don’t compare pancake mix as though it were automatically suitable for the same purpose as oliebollen mix.
You’ll need the current ingredients list before making your choice. The mixes we looked at include ingredients such as wheat, milk, egg and sulphites; which of these apply varies by product.
First decide whether you want to deep-fry Dutch doughnuts yourself or buy them ready-made. If you’re making them at home, check the method and any extra ingredients needed for a specific oliebollen mix. The instructions on pancake mixes are for a different dish.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable for Dutch doughnuts | Look for Dutch doughnuts as a suggested use on the packaging, and read the instructions for the batter and deep-frying. | I want to make Dutch doughnuts, not discover halfway through that my mix is meant for a frying pan. Around 46% of shoppers would put choosing the right type of product first. |
| Ingredients and yield | For oliebollen mixes, compare what you need to add and how many Dutch doughnuts the manufacturer says the pack makes. | If I want to use ingredients I already have at home, I need to know what else I’ll need alongside the mix and how many I can make. For around 27% of shoppers, this would be the main consideration. |
| Time and equipment | Check the rising time, deep-frying instructions and whether a complete kit includes a filling. | I want to keep preparation to a minimum or don’t deep-fry at home, so it matters whether the mix needs to rise or I choose ready-made Dutch doughnuts instead. This would be the main concern for around 18% of shoppers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging of the product you choose. | If I need to avoid specific ingredients, I can’t rely on the product name or an old pack. Around 9% of shoppers would make checking allergens their first selection criterion. |
PLUS and ALDI describe their pancake batter as suitable for cooking in a frying pan. The oliebollen mixes from Jumbo and Koopmans we looked at have separate instructions for rising or deep-frying.
Check the intended use on the packaging. Only use pancake mix for Dutch doughnuts if the manufacturer gives instructions for that exact mix.
An online page can remain visible even when an item is listed as unavailable or discontinued. This applied to some of the oliebollen products we looked at from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and ALDI.
Check that your chosen product is available from your shop shortly before buying, and read the details for the current version.
The mixes we looked at differ in their declarations of wheat, milk, egg and sulphites. A similar name won’t tell you which ingredients a particular version contains.
Always read the label on the pack you’re going to use. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens required by law must be clearly listed in the ingredients.
The temperature and cooking instructions vary between the sources consulted. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises frying Dutch doughnuts until golden brown, but not too dark.
Follow the cooking instructions for your own mix and check the oil temperature with a suitable thermometer or deep-fat fryer.
Compare the exact type of product in each range: pancake mix, traditional oliebollen mix and a complete kit all require different preparation methods.
Koopmans sells both pancake products and specific oliebollen mixes.
The own-brand range includes several pancake mixes, while oliebollen mixes are listed as separate products.
Jumbo lists pancake mixes and separate oliebollen mixes, including a traditional own-brand version.
PLUS Pannenkoekenmix naturel is an own-brand product for making pancakes.
Albona pancake mix and ALDI’s oven-fresh Dutch doughnuts are two different options.
Lidl features both making Dutch doughnuts at home and fresh Dutch doughnuts in its seasonal range.
Don’t assume pancake mix is a suitable substitute for oliebollen mix. The pancake mixes we looked at have instructions for cooking in a frying pan. For Dutch doughnuts, choose a product that states it’s suitable, unless the manufacturer provides instructions for making them with your exact mix.
Follow the deep-frying temperature on the packaging of your oliebollen mix. The Jumbo and Koopmans mixes we looked at specify around 190 °C, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 175 °C. Don’t automatically use a temperature from another recipe.
For the oliebollen mixes we looked at, use oil and follow their cooking instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends oil rather than hard frying fat. Check which oil and method are specified on your pack.
Check the ingredients list and warnings for the product you actually buy. The mixes we looked at include ingredients such as wheat, milk, egg and sulphites, but the declarations vary by product and version.
For these seasonal products, don’t assume they’re available just because a product page still exists. Check your chosen shop’s current range before visiting. The pages consulted for some oliebollen products from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and ALDI said they had been discontinued or were unavailable.
