Choose a complete pancake mix if you only want to add water, or a shaker bottle if you want to make a smaller batch without a mixing bowl; some shaker bottles still need milk. A classic mix is a good choice if you want to add the milk and eggs yourself, while a wholemeal or multigrain mix lets you choose a different grain base. Whichever option you choose, check the preparation instructions, stated yield and current packaging.
You want to cook something warm with minimal preparation. Check whether a complete mix can be made with water, or choose a shaker bottle if you’d rather not use a mixing bowl. If you opt for a shaker bottle, check which liquid you’ll need and how many pancakes the pack makes.
You compare grains, ingredients and allergens. A wholemeal or multigrain name doesn’t tell you whether a mix suits your dietary needs, so check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product you’re considering.
You want a pack that suits the number of people eating and what you already have at home. Compare the stated yield and check whether you’ll need to add milk, eggs or cooking fat.
Start with the ingredients you have at home and the number of pancakes you want to make. Then compare the ingredients and features of the options that suit the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Check whether you need to add water or milk, and whether you can mix the batter in a bottle. | When I get home late, I want to be able to cook with what’s already in the kitchen. Around 36% of consumers say minimal preparation is their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about possible traces, on the pack you’ve chosen. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, this particular option needs to suit my requirements. Around 29% of consumers put checking ingredients and allergens first. |
| Nutritional information | Compare grain types and nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g of prepared product. | I want to know what grains the mix contains and what the nutritional information says about the prepared product. This matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size and yield | Compare the stated number of pancakes and the ingredients you’ll need to add yourself. | For a single snack, I don’t want to automatically make a large batch of batter. Around 14% of consumers prioritise a suitable portion size. |
According to the product information, Koopmans Compleet only needs water added to the mix, but its listed ingredients also include whey powder and whole egg powder.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product you’re buying. The preparation instructions don’t tell you which ingredients are already in the mix.
The ingredients list for PLUS Wholemeal Pancake Mix includes wholemeal wheat flour and wholemeal oat flour. ‘Wholemeal’ describes the grain base here, not the absence of gluten.
If you have dietary restrictions, check the current allergen information rather than relying on the name of the mix alone.
A shaker bottle saves you from using a mixing bowl, but Koopmans Original Pancake Shaker still requires milk, according to Koopmans. The stated yield is around five pancakes.
Before buying, check both the liquid required and the yield.
According to the Voedingscentrum, food that spoils quickly should not be left out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Cool leftover pancakes quickly, cover them and put them in the fridge or freezer promptly.
These brands offer different types of pancake mix. The details below apply to the specific products mentioned, so always check the packaging of the option you’re considering.
The range includes a classic mix, a complete mix and a shaker bottle.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes complete, multigrain and wholemeal mixes.
The own-brand range includes a complete mix and a wholemeal mix.
ALDI lists a 400 g Albona pancake baking mix, including a multigrain version.
Lidl lists a 400 g Belbake Original Pancake Mix.
These mixes offer different ways to make a late-night snack: choose from a complete mix, a shaker bottle and larger packs with a different grain base or classic preparation method. Check what you’ll need to add and how many portions each product makes to see which suits your plans.
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A complete mix to consider if you want to keep preparation to a minimum. Check the packaging to see what liquid you need to add and how many pancakes this version makes.
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This shaker bottle is ideal if you want to mix the batter without using a separate mixing bowl. According to Koopmans, it requires milk and makes around five pancakes; check the packaging for preparation instructions and allergen information.
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Consider this option if the grain base of your mix matters to you. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging, and check what else you need to add during preparation.
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This classic mix is a good choice if you want to add the required ingredients yourself and make more pancakes. Koopmans says each pack of Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes and lists milk, eggs and butter as ingredients to add.
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The 100 g pack is worth comparing if you’re looking for a smaller quantity of mix. Check the preparation instructions, yield, ingredients and nutritional information before choosing this option.
A complete mix that only requires water means you’ll need fewer extra ingredients. Koopmans Compleet and PLUS Complete both list water in their preparation instructions; you’ll still need a pan and cooking fat to cook the pancakes. Check the instructions on the pack you choose.
Don’t eat Koopmans Compleet batter raw. The product information says it isn’t intended to be eaten uncooked and needs to be heated thoroughly.
Not necessarily: according to the ingredients list, PLUS Wholemeal Pancake Mix contains wholemeal wheat and oat flour. If you need to avoid gluten, check the allergen information for the specific product instead of relying on the word ‘wholemeal’.
Cool cooked pancakes quickly and store them covered in the fridge or freezer. The Voedingscentrum advises keeping pancakes in the fridge for two days or in the freezer for three months. It also recommends not leaving food that spoils quickly out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Check the packaging of the mix you actually buy as well. Albert Heijn warns that product information, including ingredients and allergens, can change. This is especially important if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
