Choose a pancake mix to serve with coffee and cake based on how you want to prepare it and the flavour you want to serve, rather than the word ‘premium’. A complete mix needs fewer added ingredients, while a cinnamon and buckwheat version has a distinctive flavour but requires milk and eggs. If nutritional or allergen requirements are the priority, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose before considering convenience or flavour.
Think about whether you want to keep preparation to a minimum, are looking for a particular flavour or need to check the ingredients first. This makes it easier to choose for your coffee break than relying on a general quality description.
Would you like to make pancakes to enjoy with coffee and cake without adding milk or eggs to the batter? According to product information from Koopmans and PLUS, their complete mixes only need water; you’ll still need fat for frying the pancakes.
If you want the pancakes themselves to have a distinctive flavour, consider a version with buckwheat and cinnamon. Albert Heijn says you’ll also need to add milk, eggs and butter or oil to Koopmans Oma’s Pancakes with Cinnamon.
If you need to avoid ingredients such as gluten, milk or egg, choose based on the full information on the pack. A plant-based preparation option or a gluten-free label doesn’t, by itself, tell you which other allergens may be relevant.
First, decide which ingredients you can and want to use. Then compare the preparation, flavour and yield with the number of people you’re making pancakes for.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quick and easy preparation | Check whether you need to add water or milk and eggs, and what the pack says you’ll need for frying. | If I want to make pancakes to go with my coffee on the spur of the moment, I want to get as few extra ingredients ready as possible. Around 33% of consumers value simple preparation most. |
| Flavour of the mix | See whether ingredients such as cinnamon and buckwheat suit the flavours and toppings you plan to serve. | With coffee and cake, sometimes I want pancakes with a flavour of their own, rather than a neutral base. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this kind of distinctive flavour. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the current pack, including those for ingredients you add yourself. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the mix I choose must meet those requirements before I think about flavour. For around 25% of consumers, this is the first thing they check. |
| Suitable yield | Compare the pack weight, the stated number of pancakes and the ingredients you need to add. | When I’m making pancakes for a small group, I don’t want to choose a pack without knowing how many pancakes it will make. Around 17% of consumers give getting the right quantity their highest priority. |
According to their product information, you don’t need to add milk or egg to the batter for Koopmans and PLUS complete mixes. However, the mixes themselves contain ingredients derived from wheat, milk and egg.
Check the ingredients and allergen information separately from the preparation instructions. Also check what you’ll need to fry the pancakes.
Albert Heijn lists a plant-based preparation option for its wholemeal mix, but the mix contains wheat and gluten. The ingredients in the mix and the ingredients you add yourself need to be checked separately.
First, check that the mix meets your dietary and allergen requirements. Then choose how to prepare it and which toppings to add.
If you’re checking for allergens or need a particular preparation method, the information on the pack you buy is what matters.
Each time you buy a mix, check the current ingredients list, allergen information and preparation instructions before you start cooking.
Each brand offers a range of different options. Compare the name and label of the specific mix, rather than choosing based on the brand name alone.
Koopmans offers original, complete, multigrain, wholemeal and gluten-free pancake mixes, as well as a cinnamon version.
The own-brand range includes wholemeal and multigrain mixes for shoppers looking for a grain-based option.
PLUS offers both a complete mix in a box and a plain mix in a shaker bottle.
These mixes offer different starting points for pancakes to enjoy with coffee and cake: a complete mix made with water, shaker bottles for a smaller batch, and larger packs where you’ll need to factor in the extra ingredients. If you have dietary or allergen requirements, always choose based on the current pack.
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For a small batch when you don’t want to add milk or eggs to the batter. According to Joybuy, add 350 ml of water to this shaker bottle to make 4 to 6 pancakes. ‘Complete’ doesn’t mean free from milk or egg, so check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
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For anyone looking to serve a multigrain mix with their coffee. Before cooking, check what you need to add to this pack and whether its ingredients meet any allergen requirements you have.
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The shaker bottle is a handy option if you want to mix the batter in the pack for a smaller batch. Check how much milk you need to add, how many pancakes the bottle makes and which allergens are listed on the label.
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An original mix for anyone happy to get the extra batter ingredients ready. According to Joybuy’s product information, you add 850 ml of milk and 2 eggs; use butter or oil for frying. If the ingredients matter to your choice, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
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A 100 g pack for anyone considering a smaller amount of mix. Check the pack to see which ingredients you need to add, how many pancakes it makes, and which ingredients and allergens it contains. The name alone isn’t a basis for making a nutritional claim.
For the batter made with the Koopmans Complete and PLUS Complete mixes described here, you add water, but you’ll also need fat to fry the pancakes. Check your pack’s preparation instructions for the quantities.
Not just because it’s labelled ‘complete’. The Koopmans and PLUS complete mixes described here contain ingredients derived from wheat, milk and egg, so check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy.
No. A gluten-free label doesn’t mean a mix is free from all other allergens. Before choosing a mix to meet your requirements, read the full ingredients list and any warnings on the current pack.
Pay particular attention to the number of pancakes stated per pack and what you need to add to the batter. Joybuy says the 210 g Koopmans Complete shaker bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes when you add 350 ml of water; if you choose a different shaker bottle, check its own preparation instructions.
No. The product information for this gluten-free Koopmans mix on Jumbo says the batter isn’t intended to be eaten raw and must be cooked thoroughly.
