Home cooks making lunch for a crowd
You want to make several pancakes and already have milk, eggs and cooking fat at home. Check how many pancakes the supplier says the pack makes, and which ingredients you’ll need to add.
Who are the options suitable for?
Shoppers who want to add fewer ingredients
You want to keep your shopping list short. For the PLUS Complete mix we looked at, you add water and cooking fat, while the plain mix also requires milk and eggs.
Lunch planners short on preparation time
You don’t want to make batter and cook pancakes on the day of the lunch. Ready-made pancakes are a separate alternative to consider, not a type of mix.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to cook from scratch or simply reheat. If you choose a mix, compare what you need to add and how many pancakes you’ll need.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Making a bigger stack from scratch | Check the stated yield per pack and which ingredients you need to add to the dry mix. | If I’m cooking for several people, I want to know in advance how many packs and extra ingredients I’ll need. Around 46% of consumers prioritise this need to cook from scratch. |
| Adding fewer ingredients | Read the preparation instructions: PLUS Complete requires 700 ml of water and cooking fat; PLUS plain requires 800 ml of milk, 3 eggs and cooking fat. | If I don’t want to use milk and eggs in the batter, I look for a mix that can be made with water. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Keeping preparation to a minimum | For ready-made pancakes, check how many are in the pack and how to reheat them. | On the day of the lunch, I’d rather not make batter or cook pancakes. Around 27% of consumers prioritise being able to simply reheat them. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the size of the pack
The amount of dry mix in a pack doesn’t tell the whole story if you also need milk, eggs and cooking fat for the batter.
Check the preparation instructions and make a note of what you already have at home before you shop. Also check the stated yield against the number of people you’re serving.
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Assuming ‘complete’ means allergen-free
The PLUS Complete mix we looked at contains wheat, milk and egg. Plain mixes can also list allergens or possible traces on the packaging.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variant; don’t rely on words such as ‘complete’, ‘plain’ or ‘wholegrain’ alone.
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Comparing ready-made pancakes with dry mix
Ready-made pancakes are reheated, whereas a mix still needs to be made into batter and cooked.
First decide how much preparation you want to do on the day of the lunch. Then compare packs within the product type you’ve chosen.
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Not checking the packaging information again
Preparation instructions and ingredients can vary between variants or change over time.
When you buy, check the pack of the mix you’ve chosen, especially the preparation instructions, best-before date and allergen information.
Brands and product ranges to consider
ALDI / Albona
ALDI offers Albona plain and wholegrain mixes for anyone who wants to cook pancakes from scratch.
- The range lets you choose between plain and wholegrain varieties.
- The plain mix requires milk and eggs; check the preparation instructions for the variant you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo has its own 400 g plain mix.
- The ingredients list includes wheat, buckwheat and oats.
- The allergen information lists gluten, oats and wheat, and possible traces of barley, eggs and milk.
PLUS
PLUS offers a plain mix, a complete mix and a shaker bottle, each with a different preparation method.
- With PLUS Complete, you add water and cooking fat instead of milk and eggs.
- The PLUS shaker bottle requires milk; PLUS says you should use the mixed batter straight away.
Koopmans
Koopmans Pannenkoeken Origineel is a dry mix with a yield stated by the manufacturer.
- Koopmans says one pack makes 11 to 13 pancakes.
- For this variant, you add milk, eggs and butter or oil.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers its own mixes in varieties including plain, complete, wholegrain and wholemeal.
- You can choose a product type that suits the ingredients you want to add.
- Check the preparation instructions and nutritional information on each pack; the variants are not interchangeable.
Lidl / Belbake
Lidl lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix, 400 g, as an in-store product.
- Lidl gives a yield of around 12 pancakes.
- Check whether your chosen store stocks the product before you visit.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
These Koopmans products are mixes for making pancakes from scratch. The selection includes a complete mix, dry mixes and a shaker; for a bigger Easter lunch, the preparation method and yield per pack are particularly important.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
An option if you don’t want to add milk and eggs to the batter. For this 210 g complete mix, Joybuy says to add 350 ml of water; you’ll still need to cook the pancakes afterwards.
For a bigger lunch, check how many pancakes the pack makes and read the allergen information on the label.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
A 400 g wholegrain mix for anyone who wants to cook pancakes from scratch. Check the preparation instructions to find out which ingredients you need to add and how many packs you’ll need for lunch.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for this variant on the pack.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
A dry mix for a stack made from scratch. Joybuy states that this 400 g pack makes 11 to 13 pancakes; to prepare it, add milk, eggs and butter or oil.
When you buy, check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the exact pack.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
The 175 g shaker pack suits anyone who wants to make batter without using a separate mixing bowl. Check the pack to see which ingredients to add and how many pancakes one shaker makes.
A shaker is still a mix: the batter needs to be cooked.
Frequently asked questions
Which pancake mix needs fewer extra ingredients?
Of the variants we looked at, PLUS Complete requires 700 ml of water and cooking fat. PLUS plain requires 800 ml of milk, 3 eggs and cooking fat; Koopmans Original also requires milk, eggs and cooking fat. Read the instructions on the exact pack before you shop.
Are ready-made pancakes the same as pancake mix?
No. A dry mix makes batter that you still need to cook, while ALDI describes the Delicious Home pancakes we looked at as a product that only needs reheating. Choose between these product types based on what you want to prepare on the day of the lunch.
What should I look out for regarding allergens in pancake mix?
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. Jumbo lists gluten, oats and wheat for its plain mix, and possible traces of ingredients including egg and milk; the PLUS Complete mix we looked at contains wheat, milk and egg. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared should be clearly listed in the ingredients.
Can I keep batter from a shaker bottle for later?
Not for the PLUS Pannenkoekmix naturel bottle we looked at: PLUS says to use the batter straight away after mixing it with milk. If you’re using a different shaker bottle, follow the instructions on that specific pack.