For a budget-conscious Boxing Day buffet, a plain mix is an obvious choice if milk, eggs and cooking fat are already on your shopping list. A complete mix calls for fewer additional ingredients, but check what you need to add to that one, too. Match the number of packs to the stated yield, and check the latest label if you’re catering for dietary requirements.
You’re cooking for several people and can add milk, eggs and cooking fat. For a plain mix, check how much of each ingredient you need per pack, so your shopping list matches the number of pancakes you plan to make.
You want to measure out fewer ingredients. For the complete mixes from PLUS and Koopmans that we looked at, you add water; remember to allow for the cooking fat needed to make the pancakes, too.
You need to know whether a mix suits your guests’ requirements. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack: for example, a gluten-free product name doesn’t tell you whether it may contain egg or milk.
First decide which ingredients you want to add and how many pancakes you need. Then check the allergens for the people who’ll be eating with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Additional ingredients | Check how much milk, how many eggs and how much cooking fat you need to add to each pack of plain mix. | If milk and eggs are already on my shopping list, I want to choose a mix that works with them. Around 36% of consumers prioritise planning their ingredients this way. |
| Preparation | Check whether your chosen mix calls for milk and eggs or is made with water; also check what cooking fat you’ll need. | With other buffet dishes to prepare, I want to measure out as few extra ingredients as possible. Convenience comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Yield | Check how many pancakes or servings the manufacturer says each pack makes, then work out how many packs you’ll need for your guests. | I want to make sure there’s enough without guessing how many packs to buy. Yield is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the latest label for ingredients and allergens; if you’re choosing a gluten-free mix, check for egg and milk, too. | If a guest needs to avoid an allergen, I want to check the pack before making the batter. Around 14% of consumers put this check first. |
Plain mixes often need milk, eggs and cooking fat as well. For example, PLUS says to add 800 ml of milk, three eggs and butter or oil to its plain mix.
Make one shopping list for the number of packs you’re planning to use, including the ingredients you’ll add to the batter.
For the complete mixes from PLUS and Koopmans that we looked at, you add water, but you’ll also need cooking fat to cook the pancakes.
Read the instructions on your chosen pack before gathering the ingredients for the buffet.
PLUS’s product information says that the Koopmans Gluten-Free mix we looked at may contain egg and milk.
Check the latest packaging for the relevant allergens for each guest; don’t rely on the name of the mix alone.
Batter containing raw egg needs to be cooked before serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping dishes made with raw egg in the fridge for no more than 24 hours.
Don’t leave raw batter out for guests to taste, and follow the pack instructions for preparation and storage.
These brands offer different types of pancake mix. Compare your chosen product’s preparation method, yield and ingredients; the brand name alone won’t tell you what’s in the pack.
ALDI shows an ALBONA plain pancake mix.
PLUS offers a plain mix and a complete own-brand mix.
Jumbo shows, among other options, a plain mix and a complete mix in a shaker bottle.
Koopmans offers, among other options, Original, Complete and Gluten-Free pancake mix.
Lidl shows a Belbake mix for traditional pancakes.
Albert Heijn shows own-brand options such as plain, complete, multigrain and wholemeal mixes.
These Koopmans mixes offer different ways to make batter for your buffet: a mix you add your own ingredients to, a complete mix and options in a shaker bottle. Focus on what you need to add and how many pancakes each pack makes.
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For a buffet where you want to add the milk, eggs and cooking fat to the batter yourself. Koopmans says one pack of Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes; check the label for ingredients and allergens.
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For anyone who wants to measure out fewer separate ingredients. According to the product information, you add water to this complete mix in a shaker bottle; each bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes. For a larger group, work out how many bottles you’ll need and check the label for allergens.
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A multigrain option for anyone who wants to add the batter ingredients themselves. The product information says you’ll need milk, eggs and cooking fat, and that one pack makes 11 to 13 pancakes. Check the latest label if you need to account for allergens.
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For a small batch or as an extra for the buffet, if you want to mix the batter in a shaker bottle. According to the product information, you add milk and each bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes; if you’re serving several guests, check how many bottles and how much milk you’ll need.
Choose a plain mix whose additional ingredients and yield fit your buffet plans. Check how much milk, how many eggs and how much cooking fat you need for each pack, as well as how many pancakes the manufacturer says it makes. Multiply those quantities by the number of packs you plan to use.
A complete mix is handy if you want to measure out fewer separate ingredients. The complete mixes from PLUS and Koopmans that we looked at are made with water, but you’ll also need cooking fat to cook the pancakes. Check the instructions for the product you choose.
It varies by mix and pack size. Koopmans says one pack of Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes; Lidl says 400 g of Belbake Original makes around 12. Use the yield shown on the pack you buy when planning your buffet.
Don’t serve batter containing raw egg without cooking it first; cook the pancakes according to the instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping dishes made with raw egg in the fridge for no more than 24 hours.
