For a familiar pancake, compare an original mix with a wholemeal or multigrain option by looking at the grains it contains and the flavour you’re after. The PLUS Complete mix reviewed here requires fewer separate ingredients, but already contains milk and egg. Whichever you choose, check the ingredients and preparation instructions on the current packaging.
If you want to keep pancakes familiar, start by looking at the types of flour used. Koopmans lists wholemeal oat flour, wholemeal wheat flour and buckwheat flour in its Wholemeal mix, which it describes as having a fuller flavour and a slight bite.
If you want to make batter quickly, consider a complete mix. PLUS says its Complete mix is prepared with water and cooking fat, although the dry mix contains wheat, milk and egg.
For a multigrain or organic option, it’s worth checking the recipe and claims on the specific pack. Koopmans describes its Organic Multigrain option as organic and bearing the EKO quality mark.
Start by deciding whether you want to keep your pancakes familiar or deliberately choose different grains. Then check what you need to add to the batter and whether the ingredients suit everyone at the table.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Grain profile and flavour | Check which flours appear first in the ingredients list and whether the mix is explicitly labelled wholemeal. | I want to serve familiar pancakes, but also find out whether the flavour and texture of a wholemeal option will suit everyone at the table. This is the main consideration for around 37% of consumers. |
| Additional ingredients needed | Check whether you need water, milk, eggs or cooking fat; a complete mix may already contain some of these ingredients. | If I don’t have many separate ingredients at home, I want to know in advance what I’ll need to add to the mix. For around 27% of consumers, convenience when preparing the mix is the most important factor. |
| Multigrain or organic | Check which grains the specific product contains and whether the packaging explicitly describes it as organic. | A multigrain recipe or a product explicitly labelled organic matters more to me than a plain base mix. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this product feature. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, even if the mix is prepared with water alone. | I need to know what’s in the dry mix before choosing what to add or making the batter. Checking the label is a priority for around 18% of consumers. |
The Koopmans and AH wholemeal mixes reviewed here contain wheat and/or oats. The word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether a mix is gluten-free either.
Check the types of grain, allergen information and any specific dietary claims on the current packaging.
The PLUS Complete mix reviewed here is prepared with water, but contains whey powder and egg powder.
Treat ‘complete’ as an indication of how to prepare the mix, not as information about allergens. Read the ingredients list for the product you choose.
A name such as ‘original’, ‘wholemeal’ or ‘complete’ doesn’t tell you on its own which flours make up most of the mix or what else you need to add.
Compare the ingredients with the preparation instructions. Check the packaging again before use, especially if allergens or a particular choice of grain matter to you.
Koopmans offers original, wholemeal and multigrain mixes, among others. The features that matter will depend on the option you choose.
Alongside a regular mix, Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes options such as wholemeal, multigrain and spelt.
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes plain, complete and wholemeal mixes, among others.
PLUS’s own-brand range includes both a wholemeal mix and a complete mix. The difference in preparation may help you decide.
Albona is ALDI’s own brand, with products including a multigrain pancake mix.
These mixes offer different options if you’re choosing between several grains, an original base or a mix that needs fewer separate ingredients. Compare the ingredients and preparation instructions on each pack before you decide.
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For anyone looking for a mix with several grains who wants to add the other ingredients themselves. Check which flours make up most of this option; the name alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains.
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For anyone who wants to make a smaller amount of batter in a shaker without using a wholemeal mix as the base. Allow for the milk you’ll need, and check the ingredients if you have dietary requirements.
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An original mix for anyone who isn’t looking for a wholemeal or multigrain option as a starting point. You add the other ingredients yourself; check the packaging to see what you’ll need and which allergens the mix contains.
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For anyone who wants to add very few separate ingredients to the batter. Even if you’re preparing it with water, check the ingredients: ‘complete’ doesn’t mean the mix is free from milk or egg.
No. According to Koopmans, its Wholemeal mix contains wholemeal oat flour and wholemeal wheat flour; AH lists wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten in its Wholemeal mix. If you’re looking for a gluten-free option, check that the current packaging explicitly says so rather than relying on the word ‘wholemeal’.
No. The PLUS Complete mix reviewed here is prepared with water, but PLUS says it contains whey powder and egg powder. Read the ingredients list, even if you don’t need to add milk or eggs yourself.
Some specific products include an alternative preparation method. For its Wholemeal mix, AH describes an option using a plant-based drink and apple sauce or an egg replacer. Also check the ingredients in the dry mix: preparing it differently won’t change them.
Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and preparation instructions on the pack you choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must be provided for 14 allergens; also check the current use-by or best-before information.
Not with the Koopmans Wholemeal mix reviewed here: PLUS says this product’s batter must not be eaten raw and needs to be cooked thoroughly. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging for the mix you’re using.
