For Father’s Day, choose a pancake mix based on how many people you’re feeding, how you want to prepare it and any dietary requirements – not just a label such as ‘premium’. A classic mix generally requires more additional ingredients; a complete mix or shaker bottle can reduce the amount of measuring, but check the yield and allergens for each variety. ‘Just add water’ does not mean a mix is free from milk or egg.
First, decide whether you’re cooking for a group, want to keep preparation to a minimum or need to take a dietary requirement into account. These choices determine which information on the packaging matters most.
If you’re making a Father’s Day breakfast for a group, the stated yield per pack is a useful starting point. Koopmans says its 400 g Multigrain mix makes 11 to 13 pancakes; according to Jumbo, you’ll also need 900 ml of milk and 2 eggs.
A complete mix can reduce the number of separate ingredients you need: according to Albert Heijn, you just add water to the Koopmans Complete batter. A shaker bottle is another option for a smaller batch, but check which liquid that particular bottle requires.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety, even if the front says ‘gluten-free’ or ‘complete’. The Koopmans mix labelled gluten-free requires milk and eggs for preparation; also check the current packaging for its allergen information.
First, choose a mix that meets any dietary requirements. Then compare the yield with the number of people you’re feeding and check which ingredients you’ll need to add for the batter and cooking.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| A meal for a group | Compare the stated yield per pack with the number of guests and check which additional ingredients are needed. | When I’m cooking for the family, I want to know whether one pack will be enough without making the portions too small. For around 36% of consumers, sharing a meal is the main priority. |
| Minimal preparation | Check whether you need water or milk, and whether the mixed batter needs to be used straight away. | On a busy morning, I want to measure out as few ingredients as possible, even when I’m cooking for a smaller group. For around 29% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information; if you need a gluten-free option, also check the toppings and the possibility of cross-contamination. | If someone at the table has a dietary requirement or allergy, the chosen mix needs to be suitable. For around 21% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider when choosing. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack size and yield, as well as the milk, eggs or other ingredients you’ll need to provide. | If I don’t want anything left over unnecessarily – or need to buy several packs – I look beyond the size shown on the front. For around 14% of consumers, this is the deciding factor. |
Albert Heijn says you add water to Koopmans Complete batter. That doesn’t mean it is free from allergens: the listed ingredients include wheat, whey and egg.
If you have an allergy, always check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the exact variety you’re buying.
A shaker bottle means less measuring, but its smaller size may mean you need more than one.
Compare the stated yield with the number of people you’re feeding before choosing a bottle or a larger box of mix.
The Voedingscentrum warns that raw flour can contain harmful bacteria. Tasting raw batter is therefore not a good way to find out how the pancakes will taste.
Follow the preparation instructions and cook the pancakes thoroughly.
A distinctive name doesn’t tell you whether a mix is right for your Father’s Day meal. A special variety may require different ingredients or preparation steps from a classic mix.
Decide what matters for your table: the flavour, convenience, yield or a dietary requirement. Then compare those features on the packaging.
These brands offer different types of pancake mix. Compare specific varieties: a feature of one mix does not automatically apply to the whole brand.
Koopmans offers original, complete, multigrain and gluten-free-labelled pancake mixes, among other varieties.
The AH range includes own-brand mixes in several varieties, including complete and multigrain.
PLUS offers original plain pancake mix in a 400 g box and a 200 g shaker bottle, among other products.
Lidl Netherlands describes a 400 g pack of Belbake Original Pancake Mix.
These mixes suit different ways of preparing a Father’s Day meal: a classic batch of pancakes, a different grain variety or a smaller batch made in a shaker bottle. Choose the pack size once you know how many people you’re cooking for and which ingredients are suitable for everyone at the table.
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A multigrain option if you fancy something different from the original mix for your Father’s Day meal. You’ll need milk and eggs to prepare it. If you have dietary requirements, check the allergen information on the current packaging.
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For a classic pancake meal where you add the batter ingredients yourself. Koopmans’ recipe for 400 g of Original mix calls for 850 ml of milk and 2 eggs; check the packaging if allergens are a concern.
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A shaker bottle for a smaller batch, with water to add. Compare the yield with the number of people you’re feeding; ‘complete’ does not mean a product is free from allergens.
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A shaker bottle for a smaller group when you want to keep measuring to a minimum. This variety requires milk, so check the packaging for both the amount needed and the yield.
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A 100 g pack for anyone considering a smaller amount. You’ll need water and egg to prepare it. Check how many pancakes it makes before choosing this mix for a group. The mix contains wheat.
For Koopmans Complete, it means that according to the product information, you add water to the batter; you’ll still need butter or oil for cooking. The name doesn’t mean the mix is free from milk, egg or gluten, so if you have an allergy, check the current packaging.
No. ‘Gluten-free’ on its own says nothing about milk or egg. Koopmans’ information for its Gluten-Free mix lists milk and eggs as ingredients needed for preparation; if you have an allergy, also check the allergen information on the packaging and the ingredients in any toppings.
Not for the PLUS Original shaker bottle: according to PLUS, the batter should be used straight after mixing with milk. For another shaker bottle, follow the instructions on its specific packaging.
It’s best not to taste raw batter. The Voedingscentrum warns that raw flour can contain harmful bacteria, so cook the pancakes thoroughly and follow the preparation instructions.
