People looking for a practical stock-cupboard gift
You’re looking for a pack the recipient can use later for a meal together or for more than one baking session. As well as checking the quantity, see what else needs to be added to make the batter.
Who is this gift for?
People giving a small baking gift
You want a compact addition to a gift hamper. A shaker bottle could be a good fit if a smaller yield is enough and the recipient has the required liquid at home.
People with questions about ingredients or allergens
You’re buying for someone who avoids certain ingredients. Always check the current packaging: the product name and preparation method alone don’t provide enough information about allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the gift should provide supplies for later or be suited to a small baking session. Then compare the ingredients required and the label for each option. A compact pack and a complete mix don’t meet the same practical need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and yield | Compare the net weight, number of packs and stated yield for the option you’re considering. | If I’m buying for a household, I want the pack to be enough for the planned baking session. For around 33% of consumers, this value for money as a store-cupboard staple matters most. |
| Preparation | Check which ingredients you need to add, and whether you’ll need a bowl or just the bottle to make the batter. | I don’t want the recipient to have to go out and buy several ingredients before baking. For around 25% of consumers, easy preparation is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warnings on the physical packaging. | If I’m buying for someone who avoids certain ingredients, the specific mix needs to suit their needs. Checking the label is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Storage | Choose an intact pack with a legible best-before date and check the storage instructions. | If the gift won’t be used straight away, I want the date and instructions to remain visible. For around 17% of consumers, this is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a shaker bottle as a generous supply for the family
A shaker bottle takes up little space, but its yield may be smaller than that of a standard pack. Koopmans says its Original shaker bottle makes five pancakes, compared with 11 to 13 from a pack of Original.
Choose a size to suit the number of people and baking sessions. Consider giving several packs if the gift is mainly intended as a stock-cupboard staple.
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Assuming every mix only needs water
According to Koopmans, its Complete mix only needs water for the batter, while Original also requires milk and eggs. PLUS says its plain shaker bottle needs around 400 ml of semi-skimmed milk.
Read the preparation instructions for the exact option you’re giving, and consider which ingredients the recipient will need to have at home.
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Relying on the product name to check for allergens
A name such as multigrain, wholemeal or complete doesn’t tell you whether a mix is suitable for someone with a specific food allergy. Cross-contamination warnings may also be important when choosing.
Just before giving the gift, check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warnings on the physical packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on labels.
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Decanting the mix and throwing away the packaging
The original packaging shows the date, ingredients and preparation instructions. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the printed best-before date applies to an unopened pack; different storage instructions may apply once it’s opened.
Where possible, give an intact pack with a legible date, and keep the packaging with the mix so the recipient can refer to the information later.
Brands and own-label options to consider
These brands and own-label ranges come in different types of packaging. Always compare the specific option: the same brand name doesn’t necessarily mean the same yield, preparation method or ingredients list.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers, among other options, an Original mix, a Complete mix and a shaker bottle.
- Koopmans says Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes, while Complete makes 8 to 10.
- Preparation instructions vary: check which ingredients you need to add for each option, and what the label says about allergens.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers own-label mixes in several varieties and also sells a Koopmans Original 3-pack.
- A single pack and a 3-pack give you different ways to put together a stock-cupboard gift.
- For a multipack, check the quantity and details of the individual packs. The type of packaging alone won’t tell you which ingredients are needed.
Jumbo
Here, Jumbo is a retailer selling Koopmans mixes in packs and shaker bottles, among other products; it isn’t the producer of these options.
- The range includes different types of packaging that you can compare by quantity and preparation method.
- Assess your chosen Koopmans option on its own: a difference in size doesn’t tell you which ingredients are needed for the batter.
PLUS
PLUS offers, among other options, a 400 g plain mix, a 200 g plain shaker bottle and a 400 g complete mix.
- The pack and bottle come in different sizes, making them suitable for a stock-cupboard gift and a compact addition respectively.
- According to PLUS, the plain shaker bottle needs around 400 ml of semi-skimmed milk. PLUS says the complete mix needs water for the batter, while cooking fat is also needed for frying.
Albona (ALDI)
ALDI offers plain and multigrain pancake mixes under the Albona brand, in packs of 395 to 400 g.
- A standard pack is an option if you’re looking to give a single mix for the stock cupboard.
- ALDI lists milk and eggs as ingredients needed for the plain mix. For the option you choose, also check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
Pancake mixes for this gift
These Koopmans packs include two standard 400 g options and two smaller mixes for a compact gift. Choose a standard pack or smaller option to suit the planned baking session. Before giving it, check the preparation instructions, date and condition of the packaging.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
A standard pack to consider for a baking session together. Check which ingredients you need to add for this option, and if you have questions about allergies, read the pack label.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
This standard pack is a good fit for a gift for a baking session together. Koopmans says Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes; you’ll need ingredients including milk and eggs to prepare it.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
A smaller pack for a short baking session or as an addition to a gift hamper. Check how much liquid this option needs, and read the allergen information on the physical packaging.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A more compact option for a gift intended for a small baking session, rather than a generous supply. Check the packaging to see which liquid needs to be added, and read the allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a standard pack or a shaker bottle better as a stock-cupboard gift?
Choose a standard pack or multipack if the gift is for several people or baking sessions; choose a shaker bottle if a compact size matters more. Koopmans says a pack of Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes and its Original shaker bottle makes five, but check the yield of the option you’re buying.
Which ingredients will the recipient need to add?
It depends on the mix: according to Koopmans, Original needs milk and eggs for the batter, while Complete only needs water. PLUS says its plain shaker bottle needs around 400 ml of semi-skimmed milk. Also check what’s needed for frying.
How should you store pancake mix you receive as a gift?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and keep the date and product information with the mix. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends putting products that need using first at the front of the cupboard; different storage instructions may apply once a pack is opened.
Should you give someone a pack that’s past its best-before date?
For a stock-cupboard gift, it’s better to choose an intact pack with a clearly legible date that hasn’t passed. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a best-before date relates to the quality of an unopened product; it isn’t automatically a guide to storage after opening.
How can you check whether a mix is suitable for someone with a food allergy?
Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warnings on the current physical packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on labels, so don’t rely on the product name or a description you read previously.