Party planner keeping an eye on the shopping list
You’re making pancakes for a group of children and want to work out how many packs and extra ingredients you’ll need. You can add the milk, eggs and cooking fat yourself.
Who are these options for?
Parent short on preparation time
You want to measure out fewer ingredients. A complete mix that only needs water, or a shaker bottle, can make mixing easier. Just check what else is needed for the variety you choose.
Organiser taking allergens into account
You want to know which ingredients and potential allergens matter to the children who’ll be eating before you start cooking. So check the label on every mix you choose, as well as the toppings separately.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many children will be eating and which ingredients you already have. Then compare the preparation instructions and check the current label for the variety you plan to use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients required | Check what you’ll need in addition to the mix, such as milk, eggs and cooking fat, and how many packs you plan to use. | When I’m making pancakes for a group, I want to know what I still need to buy and what I already have at home. This is the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check whether you need to add water or milk, and whether you’ll need a bowl or can shake the mix in a bottle. | When there’s little time before the party, I want to make the batter with as little measuring as possible. Preparation is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and any warnings that an allergen may be present. | If a child needs to avoid an allergen, I want to know whether the exact mix and toppings are suitable. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Yield per pack | Use the stated yield as a starting point, then adjust the number of packs to suit the number of people eating, the size of the pancakes and any other snacks. | When I’m catering for a group, I don’t want to run out of batter halfway through, but I don’t want to make far too much either. Planning enough portions is the top consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the mix packaging
A standard mix may require milk, eggs and cooking fat. The ingredients you need to add can differ for a complete mix.
Read the preparation instructions on the pack you’ve chosen and add all the required ingredients to your shopping list.
Remember to include toppings if you plan to serve them.
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Assuming a mix that doesn’t need you to add egg or milk is allergen-free
A complete mix may already contain milk and egg as ingredients. Ingredients can also vary between varieties from the same brand.
Find out in advance which allergens you need to consider, and read the current packaging of every mix and topping you use.
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Counting one shaker bottle as enough for the whole group
Koopmans says its shaker bottle makes around five pancakes, compared with 11 to 13 from a 400 g pack of Pannenkoeken Origineel. The final yield also depends on the size of the pancakes you make.
Plan how many packs you need based on the number of people eating and any other snacks, rather than simply counting the packs.
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Letting children taste raw batter containing egg
Raw egg in batter needs careful handling. The Voedingscentrum advises cooking dishes containing raw egg thoroughly.
Keep raw batter out of children’s reach and only serve the pancakes once they’re cooked through.
Brands to consider
ALBONA
ALDI lists an ALBONA pancake baking mix in a 400 g pack.
- A 400 g pack to factor into your calculations for how many pancakes to make.
- Check the current packaging, ingredients and availability in store.
PLUS
PLUS stocks, among other options, plain, wholemeal and complete pancake mixes. Preparation instructions vary by variety.
- For PLUS Naturel, add milk, eggs and cooking fat; PLUS says to add water and cooking fat to PLUS Complete.
- PLUS Complete contains milk and egg powder. So needing to add fewer ingredients yourself doesn’t mean it’s free from milk or egg.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers standard pancake mixes as well as a shaker bottle. The stated yields differ between the packs.
- Koopmans says a 400 g pack of Pannenkoeken Origineel makes 11 to 13 pancakes, while the shaker bottle is intended to make around five.
- Pannenkoeken Origineel requires milk, eggs and butter or oil. Check the label for each variety separately.
Belbake
Lidl lists Belbake Pannenkoekenmix origineel, a 400 g pancake mix, as a store product.
- Lidl gives around 12 pancakes per pack as a guide for planning portions.
- Check the packaging and availability at your chosen store.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists, among other options, AH plain, complete, multigrain and wholemeal mixes.
- The varieties give you a choice of different ingredients and preparation methods.
- Check the exact variety and its label: a category overview won’t tell you which ingredients are in the pack you’ve chosen.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These Koopmans packs are options if you’re making pancakes for a children’s party: two 400 g packs and a smaller shaker bottle. Check which ingredients you need to add for each variety and how many packs you’ll need.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
An option if you’d like to use the Wholegrains variety for the party pancakes.
400 g pack. Check the preparation instructions and current label before buying ingredients for the group.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
A pack to factor into your plans if you’re making pancakes for several children and want to add milk, eggs and cooking fat.
Koopmans says a 400 g pack of Pannenkoeken Origineel makes 11 to 13 pancakes. The size of the pancakes also affects how many you’ll actually get, so check the current label too.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
The shaker bottle is handy for making a small amount of batter if you’d rather not mix it in a separate bowl.
175 g pack. For a children’s party, check the stated yield and which ingredients you need to add before deciding how many bottles to buy.
Frequently asked questions
How many pancakes can I make from a 400 g pack?
It varies by mix and pancake size. Koopmans says a 400 g pack of Pannenkoeken Origineel makes 11 to 13 pancakes; Lidl says a 400 g pack of Belbake Pannenkoekenmix origineel makes around 12. Use the yield stated on the pack you’ve chosen as a starting point when working out how many packs to buy.
Should I check the allergens on the packaging for a children’s party?
Yes. Check the ingredients and allergens in the exact mix and any toppings before serving them to children. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods. Also read any warnings that an allergen may be present.
Can children taste raw pancake batter containing egg?
Don’t serve batter containing raw egg uncooked. The Voedingscentrum advises cooking dishes containing raw egg thoroughly. Keep the batter out of children’s reach while you’re cooking.