Start with the requirement that matters most to you: choose a mix explicitly labelled gluten-free if you need to avoid gluten, check the ingredients if you want a wholemeal option, and consider a complete mix if you want to add as little as possible. Then compare the preparation instructions, allergens and yield per pack. A complete mix is not automatically free from milk or eggs.
If you don’t want to add milk and eggs to the batter, check the preparation instructions for a complete mix. According to the product information, Koopmans Compleet and PLUS Complete require water; you’ll also need cooking fat for frying.
Check which types of flour the mix contains rather than relying on the name ‘multigrain’. PLUS states that its wholemeal mix contains 75% wholemeal wheat flour and 20% wholemeal oat flour.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current pack. Also consider what you’ll add yourself: for example, a gluten-free mix may still require milk and eggs for preparation.
First, decide which requirement is non-negotiable. Then compare only the mixes that meet it, looking at preparation, ingredients and how much you want to make.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal preparation | Check which liquid, eggs and cooking fat you need to add. Also look at the stated yield per pack. | If I want to make pancakes without adding extra ingredients to the batter, the preparation method matters. For around 30% of consumers, minimal preparation comes first. |
| Wholemeal base | Check the wholemeal claim and the types of flour in the ingredients list; compare nutritional information on the same basis. | I want to know whether the grains in my mix are actually wholegrain, not just whether it contains several types. For around 40% of consumers, a wholemeal base takes priority. |
| Choosing your own additions | Check the pack contents and preparation instructions so you know which ingredients you’ll need to choose and add yourself. | If I want to choose which milk, eggs or cooking fat to use, a mix that lets me add my own ingredients suits me. For around 20% of consumers, this freedom of choice matters most. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the current label, including the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement, and check what you’ll add yourself. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, both the mix and the way I prepare it must meet that requirement. For around 10% of consumers, this check comes first. |
A mix containing different grains isn’t necessarily made mostly from wholemeal flour. So the name may give a different impression from the ingredients list.
Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and compare the types and quantities of flour listed on the label.
A gluten-free mix may still contain other relevant ingredients or require milk and eggs to be added. For example, Albert Heijn states that you need to add 550 ml of milk and 3 eggs to Koopmans Pannenkoeken glutenvrij.
Check both the current label and the ingredients you’ll use to make the batter.
Ingredients and allergen information can change when a product is updated. So a product page you viewed previously may not match the pack you buy.
Use online information to compare options, then read the label on the pack you’ve bought before using it.
Koopmans offers original, complete, multigrain, wholemeal and gluten-free pancake mixes, among other options.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes plain, multigrain and wholemeal mixes.
PLUS offers plain, complete and wholemeal mixes, with different preparation methods.
Albona is an ALDI own brand with baking mixes for pancakes, including a plain option.
Lidl lists a 400 g pack of original Belbake pancake mix.
These products come in different pack sizes and mix varieties, giving you options to compare with your own preparation and ingredient requirements. For products labelled ‘Complete’ and ‘Wholegrains’, in particular, check the instructions and ingredients for the specific variant you choose.
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A complete mix in a 210 g pack for anyone looking to add as few ingredients as possible. Check the pack for the exact preparation instructions and allergen information.
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A 175 g shaker mix for anyone looking for this type of preparation. Check which liquid you need to add; don’t assume that every shaker mix only requires water.
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A 100 g pack for anyone looking for a smaller quantity of mix. Check the preparation instructions, yield and ingredients on the pack; don’t infer nutritional value from the product name.
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A 400 g mix for anyone looking to compare different grains. If a predominantly wholemeal base matters to you, check the types and quantities of flour on the label rather than relying on ‘Wholegrains’ alone.
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A 200 g complete mix for anyone looking to compare its preparation method with other complete mixes. Check the additions required and the current label carefully: the available allergen information is contradictory.
No. ‘Multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean that a pancake mix contains mostly wholemeal flour. If wholemeal is your priority, check the ingredients list. PLUS states that its wholemeal mix contains 75% wholemeal wheat flour and 20% wholemeal oat flour.
Not automatically. Gluten-free doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the mix contains milk and eggs or what you’ll need to add yourself. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for Koopmans Pannenkoeken glutenvrij lists 550 ml of milk and 3 eggs as additions. Always check the current pack.
Read the allergen information on the pack you buy, as well as checking the ingredients you’ll add yourself. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes mandatory labelling for 14 allergens, so don’t rely on the product name alone when making your choice.
It depends on the variant you choose: according to the product information, PLUS Naturel requires 800 ml of semi-skimmed milk, 3 eggs and cooking fat, while PLUS Complete requires 700 ml of water and cooking fat. Read the instructions on your pack before deciding what else you need.
