Choose a flavoured mix such as Koopmans Speculoos if you want the pancake itself to have a distinctive sweet note. An original or plain mix gives you more scope to vary the toppings and presentation, while a complete mix mainly reduces the number of ingredients you need to add to the batter. Before finalising your menu, check the ingredients required, the yield and the allergens for each variant.
You want to finish your pancakes with toppings such as fruit, cream or ice cream, and have time to prepare these extras. Koopmans shows with its pancake cake recipe that even a standard pancake base can be used to create a layered dessert.
You want to make the batter just before your guests arrive, using as few separate ingredients as possible. Even with a complete mix or a shake bottle, it’s worth reading the instructions: mixing, cooking and any garnishing still take time.
You want to know which ingredients and allergens are relevant to your guests before serving. Check the packaging for the exact mix, as well as any toppings and ingredients you add yourself; a gluten-free label doesn’t tell you everything about other allergens.
First decide whether the sweet flavour should come from the mix or mainly from the toppings. Then think about how much preparation suits your get-together, and check the ingredients for your guests.
Choose this if: You want a distinctive sweet note in the pancake itself. According to PLUS, Koopmans Speculoos contains pieces of speculoos biscuit and makes around 8 pancakes.
The trade-off: That flavour leaves less room for subtle or savoury combinations. Also check whether your chosen shop stocks the exact variant.
Choose this if: You want to offer a choice of toppings or stack the pancakes to create a dessert.
The trade-off: The dessert-style finish will come mainly from what you add yourself. The manufacturer says Koopmans Original also requires milk, eggs and butter.
Choose this if: You want to keep the number of basic batter ingredients to a minimum. According to PLUS, its Complete mix requires water and baking butter or oil.
The trade-off: You’ll still need to cook the pancakes and add the finishing touches separately if you’re serving them as a dessert.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dessert presentation | Compare the flavour of the mix, the yield per pack and what you want to add to finish the pancakes. | If I want to serve several sweet combinations, the pancake needs to work with the toppings I’ve chosen. For around 43% of consumers, dessert presentation is the most important consideration. |
| Preparation time | Check the exact instructions to see which liquid, eggs and baking butter or oil are required. | When my guests are about to arrive, I want to be able to make the batter without lots of separate ingredients. Around 29% of consumers prioritise preparation time. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the mix; check any additions and toppings separately. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check in advance what’s in the whole dessert. For around 28% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
Pieces of speculoos biscuit give the mix its own flavour, but you’ll need to choose fruit, cream or ice cream separately for the presentation. A plain mix may be more practical if you want to offer a range of toppings.
Before buying, decide whether you want the dessert’s sweet note to come from the mix or the finishing touches. Also check how many pancakes the supplier says each pack makes.
Albert Heijn states that Koopmans Gluten Free may contain egg and milk. For PLUS Plain, remember to distinguish between the dry mix and the milk and eggs required by the preparation instructions.
Check the current packaging for the exact variant, as well as all the additions and toppings. If necessary, keep ingredients and utensils separate to avoid unwanted contact.
A drinks party menu built around one flavoured mix can be difficult to adapt if your chosen shop doesn’t stock that variant.
Check the exact variant before buying the other ingredients. A plain mix with your own choice of toppings is a useful alternative if you need to change the menu.
Changing your plans may mean an extra trip to the shops.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises that leftovers should not be left out of the fridge for more than 2 hours.
Cook in batches where possible. Cool any leftover pancakes quickly and store them covered in the fridge.
Koopmans offers a range that includes original, complete, multigrain, gluten-free and speculoos mixes. Within the brand, you can choose between a plain base, fewer added ingredients or a distinctive flavour.
Albert Heijn lists its own mixes in varieties including plain, complete, multigrain and spelt. The range offers several options to compare in terms of preparation and ingredients.
PLUS offers a plain mix and a complete mix, each with different preparation instructions.
Albona is the ALDI own brand behind a 400 g multigrain pancake mix. It gives you a base to finish with your own toppings.
Lidl lists a 400 g Belbake Original pancake mix that makes around 12 pancakes. You can choose your own toppings for a dessert-style presentation.
These products include pancake mixes that you can finish as a dessert, as well as a Kaiserschmarrn mix for a different way to serve pieces of pancake. Choose based on the dish you want to serve, not just the sweet toppings.
Image unavailable
A plain base for choosing your own sweet toppings and finishing touches.
According to Koopmans, the Original mix makes 11 to 13 pancakes per pack, and you add milk, eggs and butter. Check the current packaging if ingredients or allergens are important for your guests.
Image unavailable
A multigrain option if you’d rather finish the pancakes with your own toppings than choose a strongly flavoured mix.
Compare the preparation instructions and ingredients on the current packaging with those of other varieties, especially if you’re cooking for guests with dietary requirements.
Image unavailable
Choose this Kaiserschmarrn mix only if pieces of pancake with raisins fit your dessert plans; it isn’t a mix for standard whole pancakes.
Check the packaging to see which ingredients you need to add and how many portions the mix makes.
Image unavailable
A 100 g pack to consider if you don’t need a large bag of mix; use the yield stated on the packaging to work out how many packs you need.
Read the preparation instructions and ingredients list before choosing this variety for your guests. The milk-flavoured description is no substitute for allergen information.
A flavoured mix is a good choice if you want the pancake itself to have a sweet note; an original mix is better if you want to vary the toppings and presentation. A complete mix mainly changes how you prepare the batter; you’ll still need to cook and finish the pancakes.
It depends on the exact mix. Koopmans specifies milk, eggs and butter for its Original mix, while PLUS says its Complete mix requires water and baking butter or oil. Follow the instructions on the packaging you’re using.
Not necessarily: Albert Heijn states that Koopmans Gluten Free may contain egg and milk. Check the current allergen information for the mix and all the ingredients you add yourself.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, cool leftover pancakes quickly and don’t leave them out of the fridge for more than 2 hours. It also advises keeping them covered in the fridge for 2 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
