Dessert bakers
If you want the pancake itself to have a recognisable dessert flavour, a flavoured mix such as Koopmans Speculoos is a different choice from a standard base that you finish yourself.
Which mix is right for you?
Bakers short on time
If you want to measure out just a few ingredients for a cosy Advent treat, a complete mix that only needs water is worth considering. You can then choose how to finish it as a dessert.
Anyone looking for a gluten-free option
Start with a mix that is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and read the current label on that exact variant. Then decide which flavour and finishing touches are right for your baking session.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want the mix itself to provide the dessert flavour, how much preparation suits your baking session, and whether ingredients or allergens limit your options.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dessert flavour in the mix | Check the flavouring ingredients and the yield. Koopmans says its speculoos mix contains 20% speculoos pieces and makes around eight pancakes per pack. | I want the pancake to taste like a dessert even without elaborate decoration. Around 50% of consumers prioritise having that dessert flavour built in. |
| Easy preparation | Check what you need to add. Koopmans says its Pannenkoeken Compleet only needs water; according to Jumbo, the speculoos mix also needs milk and an egg. | For a busy Advent treat, I want to get just a few ingredients ready and choose the topping myself. Around 30% of consumers prioritise easy preparation. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label for the variant you choose. Koopmans lists wheat in its speculoos mix and also offers a separate gluten-free pancake mix. | If I need to eat gluten-free or avoid a particular ingredient, I check that before considering flavour and convenience. For around 20% of consumers, suitability is the first thing they look for. |
What’s easy to overlook?
-
Mistaking a baking mix for a ready-to-eat treat
Pancake mix still needs to be prepared. Jumbo says to add milk and an egg to the speculoos mix; it makes around eight pancakes.
Set aside time to make them and decide in advance how many pancakes you want. If measuring out fewer ingredients matters more than having flavour in the mix, consider a complete version.
-
Choosing by flavour name when you have dietary requirements
Koopmans lists wheat as an ingredient in its speculoos mix and identifies egg, milk, rye and oats as possible allergens.
Read the current label on the exact pack. If you need a gluten-free mix, check that the particular version you’ve chosen is labelled as such.
-
Planning a dessert without checking stock
Jumbo listed the Koopmans speculoos mix as no longer available in its online range; PLUS showed it as unavailable at the shop checked. This doesn’t tell you what other shops have in stock right now.
Check availability at your local branch or for your delivery address before buying the other ingredients for this particular dessert.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
The Koopmans product ranges covered here include a speculoos mix, Pannenkoeken Compleet and a separate gluten-free pancake mix.
- The options let you choose between flavour in the mix, a preparation that only needs water and a mix explicitly labelled gluten-free.
- The speculoos version needs extra ingredients. Also check availability at your local shop and the label on the version you choose.
Albona
ALDI Netherlands describes Albona as a 400 g multigrain pancake mix.
- A base that you can turn into a dessert with your choice of toppings.
- If you have dietary requirements, check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
Belbake
Lidl Netherlands lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix, 400 g, which makes around twelve pancakes.
- A standard pancake base that you can finish as a dessert just the way you like.
- Check the label for ingredients and allergens, and see whether the mix is available at your local shop.
Products for an Advent baking session
These products include two pancake mixes that you can finish as desserts, plus a related mix for Kaiserschmarrn with raisins. Kaiserschmarrn is a different dish from standard pancakes, so choose this mix only if it suits the treat you have planned.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
A pancake base that you can finish as a dessert just the way you like. According to the Joybuy product information, add 350 ml of water to this shaker bottle.
If you have allergies, check the current label before choosing your toppings too.
Image unavailable
Dr. Oetker Kaiserschmarrn Raisins 165 g
For a warm dessert with raisins, if you’d rather make Kaiserschmarrn than standard pancakes. The pack contains 165 g of mix.
Prepare the mix according to the pack instructions and don’t eat the batter raw. If you have allergies, check the label, and check the serving information if you’re cooking for several people.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
For standard pancakes served with your choice of sweet toppings. This shaker pack contains 175 g of mix.
Check the pack to see what you need to add, and read the current label if you have allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Can pancake mix go straight into an Advent calendar?
No, pancake mix isn’t a ready-to-eat treat. Jumbo says to add milk and an egg to the Koopmans speculoos mix, so plan it as a baking session rather than a ready-to-eat calendar treat.
Which mix gives the pancakes a dessert flavour?
Koopmans Speculoos is a flavoured mix that the manufacturer says contains 20% speculoos pieces. With a standard or complete pancake mix, it’s mainly the toppings and finishing touches that give the pancakes their dessert flavour.
What should I check if someone needs to avoid certain ingredients?
Read the current label on the exact mix and check the ingredients in the toppings too. Koopmans lists wheat in its speculoos mix and identifies egg, milk, rye and oats as possible allergens. Don’t assume the same information applies to a different version.
Can I rely on the speculoos mix being in stock?
Check availability at your local shop or for your delivery address before planning the dessert. Jumbo listed the Koopmans speculoos mix as no longer available in its online range, while PLUS showed it as unavailable at the shop checked. This doesn’t mean it’s unavailable everywhere.