Start with a mix that has verifiable organic certification, then choose the ingredients and yield to suit your guests. A multigrain mix is an option if you’d like to serve a variety of grains. If you’re looking for a mix without wheat as an ingredient, consider a buckwheat option and check the allergen information too.
If you want a certified organic mix for pancake night, look beyond words such as ‘natural’. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo may only appear on certified organic products. Check the logo and the information that accompanies it on the packaging.
When you’re catering for a group, it’s worth checking how many pancakes you can make from a pack and what else you need to add to the batter. Albert Heijn states that Koopmans Bio Meergranen makes 12–14 pancakes per pack, using 900 ml of milk and 4 eggs for the standard preparation.
If a guest wants to avoid wheat as an ingredient, or you’d like to make plant-based pancakes, check the ingredients, the ‘may contain’ statement and the preparation instructions separately. Seeing another type of grain on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you the whole story.
First check the organic label, then work out how much batter you’ll need and which ingredients are suitable for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Check the current packaging for the EU organic logo, inspection code and country-of-origin information. | If I want to make organic pancakes, I want to be able to verify the claim on the packaging rather than rely on a general description. This check is a top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Yield and preparation | Compare the stated yield per pack with the number of people you’re serving, and check which ingredients you need to add. | For an evening with several guests, I want to know in advance whether I can make enough batter and plan the preparation. Around 29% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Grains and allergens | Read the full ingredients list and the ‘may contain’ statement, and also consider what the chosen preparation method adds. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to make sure both the mix and the preparation suit their needs. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Extra ingredients to buy | Before you start cooking, check that you have the milk, eggs or other ingredients listed in the preparation instructions. | I want to have everything ready for the batter before I start cooking, rather than having to go out and buy something. For around 14% of consumers, this preparation is their top priority. |
An organic multigrain mix may contain cereals that contain gluten. According to Koopmans, its dry Bio Meergranenmix is plant-based, but the standard preparation uses milk and eggs.
Check the certification, ingredients, allergen information and preparation instructions separately. If you have an allergy, rely on the current packaging, not just the product name.
For Koopmans Bio Meergranen, Albert Heijn lists 900 ml of milk and 4 eggs in addition to the mix for the standard preparation. The yield per pack also determines how many you’ll need for your group.
Read the preparation instructions before pancake night, then work out how many packs and extra ingredients you’ll need for the number of guests.
The Voedingscentrum warns that eating raw batter or dough can make you ill.
Don’t let anyone taste the raw batter. Wash your hands while preparing it, and cook the pancakes thoroughly.
Albert Heijn offers a 400 g organic multigrain mix made with spelt, rye and wheat.
Jumbo Biologisch Pannenkoekenmix is a 400 g pack made with organic wheat flour.
Koopmans Bio Meergranen is for anyone looking for a mix with wheat, oats, maize and buckwheat.
Smaakt Bio Boekweit Pannenkoekenmix is a 400 g mix for anyone looking for buckwheat without wheat in the listed ingredients.
Leev offers a 500 g organic pancake mix made with spelt and buckwheat.
Look for the EU organic logo and the accompanying inspection and origin information on the current packaging. According to the European Commission, the logo may only be used on products certified as organic by an approved body.
No. Check both the mix and the ingredients you need to add according to the recipe. Koopmans describes its dry Bio Meergranenmix as plant-based, but the standard preparation requires milk and eggs. The brand also provides a recipe using plant-based milk and apple purée.
No. The type of grain alone isn’t enough to determine whether it’s suitable. The ingredients listed for Smaakt Bio Boekweit Pannenkoekenmix include buckwheat flour and tapioca flour, while the allergen information mentions possible traces of peanuts, soya, nuts and sesame. Always check the current packaging.
It’s best not to taste raw batter. The Voedingscentrum warns that raw batter or dough can make you ill, so cook the pancakes thoroughly before serving.
