Who is this choice relevant to?

Family cook making lots of pancakes at once

You want to work out in advance how many packs you need and which ingredients to buy. For the mixes we looked at, Koopmans and Lidl state the yield per pack, which gives you a useful starting point.

Cook looking to cut down on preparation

You want to make batter without having to add milk and eggs separately. The complete mixes from Koopmans and PLUS that we looked at use water to make the batter; you’ll still need butter or oil for frying.

Family looking for a particular grain or allergen option

You might be comparing wholemeal flour, an organic certification or a gluten-free variant. Also check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy: these vary between mixes and may include milk, egg or a ‘may contain’ statement.

What should you look for when buying?

First, decide how many pancakes you want to make. Then compare the extra ingredients needed for each pack and the ingredients that matter to your household.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Yield per pack Compare the stated number of pancakes and work out how many packs you need. If I’m cooking for lots of people, I want to know in advance whether I’ve got enough mix in the cupboard. Yield is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Preparation Check whether you need to add water, or milk and eggs as well, to make the batter; remember to allow for cooking fat. When things are busy, I want to be able to make batter with as few extra ingredients as possible. Simple preparation is the main priority for around 29% of consumers.
Grain choice Check whether the variant states that it contains wholemeal flour or carries an organic certification; compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g of prepared product. I want to base my choice on a stated ingredient or certification, not the word ‘premium’. Grain choice matters most to around 21% of consumers.
Diet and allergens Check the ingredients and ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack; also check what you’ll be adding yourself. If I have dietary requirements or allergies, I want to know what’s in the mix and the finished batter. This check is the top priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Treating ‘premium’ as a specific product feature

    The word doesn’t tell you how many pancakes a pack makes, whether the mix contains wholemeal flour or how to prepare the batter.

    Decide which feature matters for your family meal, then compare the relevant information on the packs.

  • Treating a basic mix and a complete mix as the same thing

    In the examples we looked at, PLUS Naturel requires milk and eggs, while PLUS Complete is made up with water, according to PLUS. This affects your shopping list, even though both packs contain 400 g.

    Read the preparation instructions and check the yield for each variant before deciding how many packs to buy.

  • Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from all allergens’

    The Koopmans Glutenvrij mix we looked at is sold as gluten-free, but the product information states that it may contain egg and milk.

    Check the current allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying, along with the ingredients you’ll add to the batter.

Brands to compare

Compare variants within each brand individually: the yield, preparation and ingredients of one mix don’t necessarily apply to another.

Koopmans

Koopmans offers, among other options, a classic mix, a complete mix and an organic multigrain mix.

  • According to Koopmans, Pannenkoeken Origineel makes 11–13 pancakes per pack; the organic multigrain variant states 13–15 and carries an EKO certification.
  • The complete variant only requires water for the batter, but check the allergens listed for this variant too, including wheat, milk and egg.

AH

The AH wholemeal mix we looked at is an option to compare based on its stated ingredients and nutritional value.

  • Albert Heijn states that this 300 g pack contains wholemeal wheat flour and provides 2.9 g of fibre per 100 g of prepared product.
  • The standard preparation uses milk and eggs; the mix contains wheat. A plant-based preparation suggestion doesn’t change the ingredients in the mix itself.

PLUS

The PLUS Naturel and Complete mixes we looked at show why the preparation instructions matter for each variant.

  • According to PLUS, 400 g of Naturel requires 800 ml of semi-skimmed milk and 3 eggs; for 400 g of Complete, PLUS states that you need 700 ml of water.
  • Needing to add water doesn’t mean a complete mix is free from milk or egg. Check the allergen information on each pack.

Albona

ALDI lists a 400 g Albona multigrain baking mix for pancakes.

  • The pack weight gives you a concrete point of comparison when comparing packs.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and yield on the pack before comparing this mix with a wholemeal variant or one with a stated number of pancakes.

Belbake

Lidl lists a 400 g pack of Belbake Pannenkoekenmix origineel.

  • According to Lidl, this pack makes around 12 pancakes, which helps you plan how many packs to buy.
  • Check the label on the pack you buy for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.

Pancake mixes on Joybuy

These two 400 g Koopmans mixes are worth considering if you want to compare a Wholegrains variant with a classic Original variant for a family meal. To work out how much you need, always check the yield and preparation instructions on the pack.

Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix, 400 g

Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g

If you want to take grain choice into account when planning a family meal, this Wholegrains variant is one to compare on the label.

Pack size: 400 g. Check the yield, preparation instructions and ingredients on the pack before deciding how much you need.

View on Joybuy
Koopmans Original pancake mix, 400 g

Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g

This classic mix is a good choice when planning a big stack of pancakes and you want to add the batter ingredients yourself.

Pack size: 400 g. Koopmans states that Pannenkoeken Origineel makes 11–13 pancakes per pack; check the preparation instructions on the variant you buy to see what else you need to add.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How many packs of pancake mix do I need for a large family?

Divide the number of pancakes you want to make by the stated yield per pack, then round up to the next whole pack. Koopmans states that Compleet makes 8–10 pancakes and the organic multigrain mix makes 13–15 per pack, so the yield of the mix you choose will determine how many packs you need.

When should I choose a complete pancake mix?

Choose a complete mix if you want to make the batter with water instead of adding milk and eggs yourself. The complete variants from Koopmans and PLUS that we looked at call for 700 ml of water, but check their allergen information too, and have butter or oil to hand for frying.

Is wholemeal or organic automatically a better choice?

No. Wholemeal and organic describe different product features and don’t, by themselves, tell you anything about the yield or how easy the mix is to prepare. Think about which feature you’re looking for, check it on the pack and only compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g of prepared product.

What should I check if I need a gluten-free option or have an allergy?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack of the exact mix, and check what you’ll be adding yourself too. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be listed in the ingredients; a gluten-free mix may still contain egg or milk, or carry a ‘may contain’ statement.