Home cooks who want to make their own batter
For brunch or a meal, you may want to choose your own milk, eggs and toppings. With a classic or multigrain mix, it’s important to check in advance what else you’ll need to add.
Which option is right for you?
Shoppers who compare ingredients carefully
You may be looking specifically for wholemeal grains or an organic label, and want to compare the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for the options you’re considering.
Convenience-seekers planning a spontaneous baking session
You want to make batter without having to go out for milk and eggs first. If you choose a complete mix, check separately which ingredients and allergens it already contains.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether grain content, organic credentials, ease of preparation or practical planning matters most to you. Then check the packaging for the specific mix, as different varieties don’t all require the same additions.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Grain types and fibre | Check which flours are actually wholemeal. Only compare fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g of prepared product. | If I want a mix with wholemeal grains for brunch, I want to know what’s in the batter. An estimated 31% of consumers say grain content is their main purchasing priority. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the batter needs water, milk or eggs, and whether you’ll need cooking fat. | For a spontaneous dinner, I want to be able to make batter without having to buy extra ingredients first. For around 31% of consumers, ease of preparation is the most important factor. |
| Organic credentials and ingredients | If you want an organic option, look for the relevant labels on the packaging. Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific variety. | If I want to bake with organic ingredients or need to take allergens into account, I want to know what the chosen mix contains. Around 23% of consumers prioritise checking ingredients and labels. |
| Quantity and availability | Check the pack size and stated yield, and see whether the mix is available through your preferred retailer. | If I’m baking for several people, I want to know whether one pack will be enough and where I can buy it. For around 15% of consumers, practical planning comes first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘premium’ is a product feature
Eye-catching packaging doesn’t tell you whether a mix is wholemeal or organic, or what you need to add to make the batter.
Choose your main priority, then check the ingredients, organic labels and preparation instructions for the variety you’re considering.
-
Assuming ‘just add water’ means allergen-free
The Koopmans and PLUS complete mixes we looked at need water for the batter, but contain ingredients including wheat, milk and egg.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging; don’t assume you know what’s in the mix from the preparation instructions.
-
Looking only at the amount of dry mix
A classic mix may also need milk, eggs and cooking fat. The stated yield can help you work out whether one pack will be enough for the number of people you’re serving.
Before you start cooking, check what you’ll need to add and the stated yield for the variety you’ve chosen.
If you need to add milk and eggs to the mix yourself, you’ll also need to have those ingredients to hand.
-
Relying on an ingredients list you read earlier
The ingredients on the pack you buy are what matter if you need to check for specific ingredients or allergens.
Check the current label when you buy it, including the allergen information and preparation instructions.
Brands to compare
Koopmans
Koopmans offers classic, wholemeal and complete pancake mixes, among other options. Compare each variety individually, as their ingredients and preparation methods differ.
- According to Koopmans, Koopmans Origineel combines wheat, oats and buckwheat, and needs milk, eggs and cooking fat. For the Complete variety we looked at, you only need to add water to the batter.
- The Complete variety we looked at contains ingredients including wheat, milk and egg. Check the label for other varieties too, rather than assuming they have the same features as another mix.
Jumbo
Jumbo Biologisch Pannenkoekenmix is worth considering if organic credentials are your priority.
- The mix we looked at lists organic wheat flour, certification code DE-ÖKO-001 and EU/non-EU agriculture.
- An organic label doesn’t mean a product is suitable for someone with an allergy. This variety contains wheat; check the packaging for information about other possible allergens too.
PLUS
PLUS offers a plain mix that needs milk and eggs, as well as a complete mix that only needs water for the batter.
- According to PLUS product information, the Naturel variety we looked at needs milk and eggs; the Complete variety we looked at calls for 700 ml of water.
- The Complete variety we looked at contains wheat, milk and egg. Check the ingredients on each pack and what else you’ll need for cooking.
Albona
Albona is an ALDI own brand that offers a multigrain pancake mix, among other products.
- The multigrain mix we looked at is described as a 400 g pack.
- If you want to compare grain types or allergens carefully, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack in store.
Belbake
Belbake is a Lidl own brand that offers an original pancake mix, among other products.
- Lidl describes the 400 g original pack we looked at as making around 12 pancakes.
- Lidl lists this variety as an in-store product. Check local availability and read the packaging for ingredient and allergen information.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These Koopmans mixes suit different ways of making pancakes: a complete shaker mix, an option for comparing grain types and two classic preparations. Choose a pack based on how much you want to make and which ingredients you’d like to add to the batter.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
A complete shaker mix for a small baking session when you want to use fewer extra ingredients in the batter. Check the pack for the amount of water needed, the yield and allergen information; ‘complete’ doesn’t mean allergen-free.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
An option to consider if you want to compare different grain types. Check which ingredients in this specific mix are wholegrain, and what you’ll need to add to the batter and for cooking; the name alone doesn’t tell you how much fibre it contains.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
A classic mix for anyone who wants to add the required ingredients and choose their own toppings. Joybuy product information says each pack makes 11 to 13 pancakes; check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A shaker pack for a smaller, classic baking session. Before you buy, check which liquid this variety needs for the batter: a shaker doesn’t automatically mean you only need to add water. Check the allergen information on the pack too.
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘premium’ mean for pancake mix?
The word ‘premium’ doesn’t tell you which ingredients a pancake mix contains or how to prepare it. Think about what would make your baking moment special, then check the chosen mix for details such as grain types, organic labels or ingredients you’ll need to add.
Which pancake mix needs the fewest extra ingredients for the batter?
For the Koopmans and PLUS complete mixes we looked at, you only need to add water to the batter; both 400 g packs specify 700 ml. You may still need butter or oil for cooking, while the classic and wholemeal Koopmans varieties we looked at also need milk and eggs.
Is an organic pancake mix also allergen-free?
No. An organic label doesn’t mean a mix is allergen-free. The Jumbo Biologisch Pannenkoekenmix we looked at contains wheat and may contain other allergens; check the organic label and allergen information separately.
Where can I check allergens before using a mix?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging before using the mix. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly stated on food labels; don’t rely solely on a product page you viewed earlier.
Can I taste pancake batter raw?
Don’t taste the batter from the Koopmans Complete and Wholemeal mixes we looked at while it’s raw. Product information for these varieties says the batter must be thoroughly cooked; follow the preparation instructions on your own pack.