If you already have milk and eggs at home, a plain mix is a natural starting point for pancakes with your coffee. If you’d rather add fewer ingredients to the batter, choose a complete mix with preparation instructions that suit you. If you have a food allergy, always check the latest label.
A plain mix is a good choice if you have milk, eggs and cooking fat ready and want to make a stack of pancakes for your coffee break. Before choosing, check the quantities required for that particular pack.
A complete mix could be a good option if you don’t want to measure out milk and eggs for the batter. According to PLUS, PLUS Complete is made with water; you’ll still need cooking fat.
Ingredients and allergen information vary between products. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, check the latest label, including any warnings about possible allergens.
Start with what you already have in the kitchen, then decide how much preparation you want to do and check that the ingredients are suitable before you buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Additional ingredients | Check the pack size and see whether you already have the milk, eggs and cooking fat you’ll need. | If I already have milk and eggs at home, I want to use them to make a regular stack of pancakes without an extra trip to the shops. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Ease of preparation | Check what you need to add to the batter and whether you’ll also need cooking fat. | If I have unexpected guests, I don’t want to have to measure out milk and eggs first. Around 30% of consumers say convenience is their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information, even if you know the brand. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the information on this particular pack must suit my needs. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
For PLUS plain mix, PLUS lists 800 ml semi-skimmed milk, three eggs and butter or oil, in addition to one pack of mix. PLUS Complete needs water for the batter, but you’ll still need cooking fat.
Before choosing a mix, compare the preparation instructions with what you already have at home.
According to PLUS product information, the plain and Complete varieties differ in their ingredients and allergen information. So, knowing the brand isn’t enough to tell you what’s in another pack.
Check the latest label every time you buy, including any information about ingredients the product may contain.
Moisture and heat can affect the quality of dry mix. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing pancake mix in a cool, dry, dark place and keeping it tightly sealed.
Seal an opened pack tightly and check the mix for an unusual smell or insects before using it again.
ALBONA is ALDI’s own brand and offers a plain pancake mix.
PLUS offers both a plain mix and a 400 g Complete variety.
Albert Heijn offers plain, multigrain and wholemeal mixes, among others.
Koopmans offers Original and Complete, as well as other varieties made with different types of flour.
Lidl lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix as a 400 g in-store product.
These Koopmans and g'woon mixes come in different varieties and pack sizes for pancakes with your coffee. Check each pack to see what you need to add to the batter.
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A Complete variety to consider if you want to add fewer ingredients to the batter.
Pack size: 210 g. Check the pack for the amount of water needed and allergen information.
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A shaker mix for anyone who wants a smaller pack and has milk at home.
Pack size: 175 g. Check the pack for the amount of milk needed and allergen information.
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A multigrain variety to compare if you’re looking for a larger pack for your coffee break and have milk and eggs at home.
Pack size: 400 g. Check this pack to see how many ingredients you need to add and which allergens are listed.
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A regular mix for making a larger stack of pancakes if you have milk and eggs at home.
Pack size: 400 g. According to Koopmans, Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes per pack; Joybuy product information lists 850 ml milk, two eggs and butter or oil as additional ingredients. If you have an allergy, check the latest label.
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A 200 g Complete variety to consider if you’re looking for a smaller pack.
Check which additional ingredients you’ll need before buying. If you have a food allergy, rely only on the latest label: the available ingredient and allergen information is contradictory.
It varies by pack: for 400 g of PLUS plain mix, PLUS lists 800 ml semi-skimmed milk, three eggs and butter or oil. Read the instructions for your chosen mix before you start.
Water may be all you need for the batter, but not necessarily for the whole cooking process. PLUS says to add 700 ml water per 400 g pack of Complete, as well as cooking butter or oil; check the instructions for other varieties separately.
Before buying, read the ingredients list and all allergen information on the latest packaging. Ingredients can vary between varieties; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking the label if you have a food allergy.
Store the mix in a cool, dry, dark place and keep it tightly sealed, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Check a pack that has been open for a while for an unusual smell or insects.
