For a spontaneous pancake dinner for two, a complete mix is handy if you don’t want to buy milk and eggs separately. Just check the allergens and what else you’ll need for cooking. A plain or original mix lets you choose how to prepare it and what toppings to add, but you’ll need extra ingredients, and one pack may make more pancakes than you want to eat that evening. If someone needs to avoid gluten, choose only a clearly labelled gluten-free option whose other ingredients are suitable too.
If you’d like to create sweet or savoury combinations together, a plain or original mix gives you the freedom to choose how to prepare it and what toppings to add. Check in advance which milk, eggs and other ingredients you’ll need.
A complete mix can reduce the number of separate ingredients you need for the batter. For the variants described, you only need to add water to the batter, but also check which cooking fat you’ll need and what allergens the mix contains.
Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variant you’ve chosen, including any ‘may contain’ statements. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a product contains egg or milk.
First, check that the ingredients are suitable for everyone at the table. Then compare what you need to add to the batter and how many pancakes you want to make. Finally, think about how much freedom you want to choose your own toppings when deciding between a neutral base and another variety.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and toppings | Is the mix plain, original, complete or flavoured? Check which ingredients you need to add yourself. | If I want to mix and match sweet and savoury toppings, I’d rather choose a base that lets me control how it’s prepared. This freedom of choice is a top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients you need | Check what you need to add to the batter and whether you’ll need cooking fat. A shaker bottle doesn’t automatically mean you only need to add water. | If I want to cook on the spur of the moment, I want to know in advance whether I need to buy milk or eggs. Around 36% of consumers give top priority to keeping extra shopping to a minimum. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients and statements such as ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the exact pack, including for any ingredients and toppings you add yourself. | If someone I’m eating with needs to avoid an ingredient, the information on the pack determines which mix I can use. This is the most important consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
| Yield and leftovers | Compare the number of pancakes stated on the pack with how many you want to eat together, and think about what you’ll do with any leftovers. | For dinner for two, I don’t want to make far more batter than I need without realising. Around 21% of consumers prioritise making a suitable quantity. |
With the complete mixes described, you don’t need to add milk or eggs separately to the batter, but the mixes do contain wheat, milk and egg.
Read the allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen, and check what’s in your toppings too.
A pack that makes around twelve pancakes may be more than you want to cook for one dinner for two.
Compare the yield per pack and decide in advance whether you want to keep any leftover cooked pancakes.
Without a plan for leftovers, some of the meal you’ve prepared may go to waste.
The PLUS shaker-bottle mix described should be used as soon as the batter has been mixed.
Check the preparation and storage instructions on your chosen mix before making more batter than you can cook straight away.
Among the Koopmans mixes described, you can choose between an original base, a complete mix and a clearly labelled gluten-free option.
According to Albert Heijn, its 400 g AH Plain Pancake Mix makes around twelve pancakes.
The Jumbo varieties described include a 400 g plain mix and a smaller complete mix in a shaker bottle.
PLUS offers both plain and complete pancake mixes, including varieties in shaker bottles.
These mixes offer different ways to plan a pancake dinner for two: a complete mix, smaller shaker-bottle options and larger base mixes. Above all, compare what you need to add, the yield and the ingredients listed on the exact pack.
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A complete mix to consider if you don’t want to buy milk and eggs separately for the batter. According to Koopmans’ product information, this pack makes four to six pancakes. Check the pack to see how much water and cooking fat you’ll need, and whether the allergens are suitable.
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A shaker bottle to consider if you want to make a smaller amount of batter and choose your own toppings. You’ll need milk for the batter. Read the preparation instructions and allergen information for this variety before you shop.
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A larger base mix for anyone who wants to choose their own toppings. Remember that you’ll need extra ingredients for the batter, and compare the yield with how many pancakes you want to make for two. Check the allergens on the pack too.
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An original base mix for a dinner with your choice of sweet or savoury toppings. Make sure you have the ingredients for the batter, and plan what to do with any leftovers when cooking for two. Read the allergen information on the exact pack.
For the Koopmans and PLUS complete mixes described, you add water to make the batter. Also check which cooking fat you’ll need and read the allergen information: these varieties contain wheat, milk and egg, among other ingredients.
For its plain mix described here, Albert Heijn provides a plant-based method using a plant-based drink and apple sauce or an egg replacer. Follow the instructions for the exact variety, and check the ingredients and allergen statements on the pack too.
No, the ‘gluten-free’ label doesn’t mean that. For the gluten-free Koopmans mix described here, you also need to check for egg and milk, both in the mix and during preparation. So read all the information on the pack you’ve chosen.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for pre-packed products must appear on the label. For your chosen pancake mix, check for statements about gluten-containing cereals, egg and milk, among other allergens, and separately check anything you add yourself.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, cooked pancakes keep for two days in the fridge and three months in the freezer. Cool leftovers quickly and store them in a well-sealed container.
