Budget-conscious home baker
You already have milk, eggs and cooking fat at home, or want to factor these essentials into your choice. A dry mix is a useful starting point; check the packaging to see what you need to add to your chosen version.
Which mix is right for you?
Baker with few ingredients at home
You want to avoid gathering or measuring lots of separate ingredients. Compare the instructions for a complete mix with those for a shaker bottle, as the ingredients you need to add vary between versions.
Snack maker looking for a heartier result
You’re after something other than a thin pancake. Check the recipe and preparation method rather than assuming that a mix with a particular name will automatically make thicker pancakes.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you mainly want a dry mix, fewer additional ingredients or a small batch. Then check the batter instructions and, if it matters to you, the ingredients and allergen information on the exact product packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients to add | Check what milk, eggs and cooking fat the mix calls for, and what you already have at home. | If you want to keep the cost of a batch low, consider not only the mix but also what you’ll need to add. For around 36% of consumers, all the required ingredients are the most important factor in this choice. |
| Preparation | Check whether the mix needs water or milk, and whether you can mix the batter in a bottle. | If I want to keep measuring to a minimum, I focus on how to make the batter and which ingredients I need. Around 29% of consumers put ease of preparation first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the exact version. | If I have dietary restrictions, I first need to know what’s in the pack; the word ‘naturel’ doesn’t tell me that. For around 21% of consumers, checking this is the most important consideration. |
| Desired thickness | Read the preparation instructions and, if you like, try a small amount of batter in your own pan first. | If I’m making a heartier snack, I want to know whether the recipe and my cooking method will give me the result I’m after. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers, although ‘thick cut’ isn’t a standardised mix specification. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the pack
A standard dry mix often needs extra ingredients for the batter, as well as fat for cooking. So the pack alone doesn’t tell you everything you’ll need for the whole batch.
Read the preparation instructions before choosing, and check which extras you already have at home.
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Choosing a shaker bottle without checking the instructions
A shaker bottle lets you mix the batter in the bottle, but you’ll still need the liquid required for that version. PLUS also says that batter mixed in its shaker bottle should be used straight away.
Choose this format if the preparation method suits you, and check what you need to add and whether you want to use all the batter at once.
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Expecting a thick pancake because of the mix name
The instructions for PLUS Naturel and PLUS Complete describe a thin layer of batter. A product name or stated number of pancakes doesn’t determine how thick yours will be.
Use the preparation instructions as a starting point. If thickness matters, try a small amount of batter in your own pan first.
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Assuming ‘naturel’ tells you about allergens
‘Naturel’ doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for an allergy or dietary restriction. Ingredients and allergens can vary between versions.
Check the label on the exact product every time you buy it, including any ‘may contain’ statements.
Brands to compare
These brands offer different types of pancake mix. The preparation method for one version doesn’t automatically apply to other versions from the same brand.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers Original, Complete and shaker bottle versions, among others.
- According to Koopmans, a pack of Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes; you add milk, eggs and butter.
- The shaker bottle version needs milk. Check the instructions for your chosen version rather than assuming they’re the same for every format.
PLUS
The own-brand range includes a dry plain mix, a complete mix and a shaker bottle version.
- PLUS Naturel needs milk, eggs and butter or oil; PLUS Complete needs water and cooking fat or oil.
- Batter mixed in the PLUS shaker bottle with milk must be used straight away and not stored.
Albona
Albona is ALDI’s own brand, with a plain pancake mix among its products.
- ALDI lists Albona Plain Pancake Baking Mix in a 400 g pack.
- For this version, ALDI lists milk and eggs as ingredients to add, so bear that in mind when planning your batch.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists its own-brand mixes in plain, multigrain and wholemeal versions.
- The different versions give you the option to choose by product type.
- Check the preparation instructions and ingredients on the exact pack; the version name doesn’t tell you what you’ll need to add.
Belbake
Lidl lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix.
- The Original version is one to consider when comparing pancake mixes.
- Check the pack for ingredients, additions and preparation instructions before deciding whether this version is right for you.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
This selection includes dry mixes and shaker bottle versions for home baking. Choose based on the ingredients you want to use, and check the preparation instructions if you’re looking for a heartier result.
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Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g
For anyone looking for a dry mix in a multigrain version. Check the pack to see which ingredients you need to add and which allergens are listed.
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Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g
A standard dry mix for anyone who wants to add milk, eggs and butter. According to Koopmans, a pack of Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes; this doesn’t indicate how thick they’ll be.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu milk-flavoured pancake mix 100 g
A smaller pack for anyone who finds the preparation method for this version suitable. Check which ingredients you need to add before use, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the label.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
A complete mix in a shaker bottle for anyone who wants to measure fewer separate ingredients. Check what you need to add to this pack; don’t assume the instructions are the same as for another Koopmans product called Complete.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A shaker bottle for anyone who wants to make a smaller batch without using a separate mixing bowl. Check the label to see which liquid this version needs, and follow the cooking instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Is ‘thick cut’ a useful feature to look for when choosing pancake mix?
Not as a standard thickness description for the mixes discussed here. The instructions for PLUS Naturel and PLUS Complete describe a thin layer of batter. If you want to judge whether you can get a heartier result, try your recipe and the amount of batter in your own pan.
What should I add to a standard dry pancake mix?
It varies by version. For a 400 g pack, PLUS Naturel calls for 800 ml semi-skimmed milk, 3 eggs and butter or oil; Koopmans Original calls for milk, eggs and butter. Follow the instructions on the pack you’re using.
When is a complete mix a better choice than a dry pack?
A complete mix is a good fit if you want to use or measure fewer separate ingredients. PLUS Complete needs water and cooking fat or oil; always check the instructions for any other complete mix you choose.
Can I tell from ‘naturel’ whether a mix is suitable for my dietary restriction?
No. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, including any ‘may contain’ statements. The name of a version doesn’t give you that information.