Eating together, with different toppings
You want to make one batter, but one of you prefers a sweet topping and the other a savoury one. With a plain mix, you can choose which milk, eggs and cooking fat to add yourself.
Which option is right for you?
Prefer wholemeal flour?
You want to know which flours are in the batter. Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information: the words ‘multigrain’ don’t automatically mean wholemeal.
Less preparation or a specific dietary requirement
A complete mix could suit you if you want to make the batter with water. If you need to avoid gluten, eggs or milk, check the current allergen information separately. Convenience doesn’t mean a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which ingredients you need to avoid for your pancake dinner. Then compare the preparation instructions, types of flour and quantity of batter you’ll need for the meal.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| One batter, different toppings | Check which ingredients you need to add and how many pancakes the instructions make. | If everyone wants a different topping, look for a batter you can all use without making two separate mixes. Around 31% of consumers give this shared base top priority. |
| Prefer wholemeal flour? | Compare the types of flour and the stated percentages of wholemeal flour. Compare fibre content on the same basis in the nutritional information. | If the type of grain matters most to you, don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Around 31% of consumers put this need first. |
| Less preparation | Check what you need to add to the batter and whether you’ll still need cooking fat. | If you want to get as few ingredients as possible ready on the night, a complete mix could be appealing. Around 23% of consumers value this convenience most. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Check for a gluten-free label where necessary, and read the current allergen information, including for toppings. | If an ingredient needs to be avoided, choosing a suitable product comes before taste or convenience. Around 15% of consumers put this requirement first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘complete’ means egg- or milk-free
According to the product information, Koopmans Compleet and PLUS Complete are made with water, but the mixes contain egg and milk ingredients. So, the preparation method doesn’t make these products suitable for someone who needs to avoid those ingredients.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before choosing a mix.
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Assuming multigrain means wholemeal
Koopmans lists, among other ingredients, 78% wheat flour in its Multigrain mix. For its separate Wholemeal mix, the brand lists 60% wholemeal oat flour and 35% wholemeal wheat flour. The names therefore refer to different flour compositions.
Compare the types of flour in the ingredients list, and use the nutritional information if you also want to compare fibre content.
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Calling a grain mix gluten-free without checking
The regular multigrain and wholemeal mixes described here aren’t necessarily gluten-free. Toppings and shared kitchen utensils can also matter if you need to avoid cross-contamination.
Where necessary, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the packaging of everything you’re serving.
Brands and supermarket ranges to consider
Koopmans
Koopmans offers, among other options, classic, complete, multigrain, wholemeal and separate gluten-free pancake mixes.
- According to Koopmans, you add milk, eggs and butter to Origineel, while Compleet is made with water. The Wholemeal mix lists 60% wholemeal oat flour and 35% wholemeal wheat flour.
- The gluten-free label on the separate variant doesn’t automatically apply to other Koopmans mixes, so check the label for each product.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s online range features its own pancake mixes alongside branded products.
- The range includes AH Naturel, Compleet and an organic Multigrain mix.
- Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the pack you choose.
Jumbo
At Jumbo, you can compare a plain own-brand mix with other types of mix on offer.
- Jumbo states that its 400 g Naturel mix makes around 12 portions.
- If you have a specific dietary requirement, check the label and information on the product you’re actually buying.
Albona / ALDI
ALDI offers a plain baking mix and a multigrain version under the Albona name.
- According to ALDI, the plain baking mix is made with milk and eggs.
- If you’re choosing based on ingredients or allergens, check the information on the packaging.
PLUS
PLUS offers, among other options, a complete and a wholemeal pancake mix.
- PLUS says to use water and cooking fat to prepare Complete. For its Wholemeal mix, PLUS lists 75% wholemeal wheat flour and 20% wholemeal oat flour.
- Adding water doesn’t mean the complete mix is free from eggs or milk, so check the current label.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These mixes suit three different choices for your dinner: a classic base, a mix made with water and a mix containing several types of grain. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal flour, don’t judge the third mix by the name Wholegrains alone.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix, 400 g
A classic choice if you want to make one batter and serve it with different toppings. Before cooking, check which ingredients you need to add yourself. If you have an allergy, check the packaging too.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete, 210 g
A good fit for an evening when you want to make a complete mix with water. Check how many pancakes the pack makes, and read the label first if you have an egg or milk allergy.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix, 400 g
Worth considering if the types of grain matter to you. Before choosing this as a wholemeal option, compare the flours and the proportion of wholemeal flour listed on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a complete pancake mix if I don’t have milk or eggs at home?
Yes. According to the instructions, Koopmans Compleet and PLUS Complete are made with water. However, the dry mixes described contain egg and milk ingredients, so don’t choose them without checking the label if you need to avoid those ingredients.
What’s the difference between multigrain and wholemeal pancake mix?
Multigrain means the mix contains several types of grain; it doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. For the mix you’re thinking of buying, compare the types of flour and percentages in the ingredients list. If fibre matters to you, compare the nutritional information on the same basis too.
Is a regular wholemeal or multigrain mix suitable for someone with coeliac disease?
Don’t assume it is: the regular mixes described here list cereals containing gluten. Look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the toppings and the possibility of cross-contamination during preparation too.
Where can I find allergen information for pancake mix?
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information is shown on the label of prepacked foods. If you need to avoid an allergen, check the current packaging of both the mix and any toppings.