Families who want to make pancakes together in a hurry
If you want to get baking with very little preparation, a complete mix or a shaker bottle is worth considering. Just compare what you need to add and how many pancakes the pack makes.
Which mix is right for you?
Home cooks who want to finish making the batter themselves
A basic or plain mix is a good choice if you want to add your own milk, eggs and cooking fat, then choose sweet or savoury toppings. Get those extra ingredients ready before you start.
Shoppers comparing grains and ingredients
When choosing between plain, multigrain and wholegrain, check the ingredients of the exact product. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, read the allergen information too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how much preparation you’re happy to do and how many pancakes you need for your snack break. Then compare the grains, and if you have a food allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should bear this in mind? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick and easy preparation | Check whether you need to add water, milk or eggs, and whether you’ll need a mixing bowl. | If I want to make pancakes with the children between other activities, I want to get as few ingredients ready as possible. Around 36% of consumers prioritise minimal preparation. |
| A bigger stack and your own toppings | Compare the stated yield and the ingredients you need to add yourself. | If I’m feeding several people, I want to make enough batter and choose the toppings myself. For around 29% of consumers, that flexibility is their main priority. |
| Grain content | Read the ingredients list to compare plain, multigrain and wholegrain products. | I want to know which grains are in the mix before choosing a pack. Grain content is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the current ingredients list and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the information on the exact pack matters more than convenience or pack size. Around 14% of consumers make this their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘complete’ means allergen-free too
‘Complete’ describes what you need to add to prepare the mix, not which ingredients are already in it. According to their product information, Koopmans Compleet and PLUS Complete contain milk and egg.
Check the allergen information for the exact product before making your choice.
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Confusing multigrain with gluten-free
Koopmans Meergranen contains wheat, rye, oats and barley, among other ingredients. So ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean you can avoid grains that contain gluten.
If you need a gluten-free product, check the label and allergen information on the current pack.
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Choosing a shaker bottle without checking how much it makes
A bottle can be handy for a small batch, but if you’re feeding several people, the quantity in each pack matters too.
Compare the stated yield and what you need to add with those of a boxed mix.
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Treating an online product photo as the definitive label
It’s the information on the pack you receive or see in store that should guide your choice, especially if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
Check the current ingredients list and allergen information on that pack.
Brands and own-label options compared
These brands offer different types of pancake mix. Compare the preparation instructions and label for each product: a brand name alone won’t tell you what you need to add.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers Original, Complete, Multigrain and shaker-bottle varieties, among others.
- According to Koopmans, Original requires milk, eggs and butter and makes 11 to 13 pancakes; Complete only requires water for the batter and makes 8 to 10 pancakes.
- The ingredients you need to add and the allergens present vary between products. So check the label of the mix you choose.
Albert Heijn
The range includes various own-label options, including plain and organic multigrain mixes.
- You can compare different types of mix and grains across the range.
- Check the information for each product for its ingredients and preparation method.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers plain and complete mixes, as well as varieties made with other grains.
- For Jumbo Mix voor Pannenkoeken Compleet 200 g, the product information lists 400 ml of water as the ingredient to add to the batter.
- A complete mix isn’t automatically suitable if you need to avoid certain allergens, so check the label of each product.
Lidl / Belbake
Belbake offers a 120 g multigrain pancake mix, among other products.
- The pack size is a practical factor to consider when planning a baking session.
- Check the pack of your chosen product for preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens.
ALDI / Albona
Albona offers a 400 g multigrain pancake baking mix, among other products.
- The stated grains and pack size give you useful points to compare with other mixes.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions on the pack.
PLUS
PLUS offers plain and complete mixes, as well as shaker-bottle mixes for different preparation methods.
- According to PLUS, you need to add milk to its shaker-bottle mix, while the batter for PLUS Complete is made with water.
- PLUS says the batter from its shaker-bottle mix should be used straight after mixing with milk. The Complete mix contains milk and egg.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
This selection includes shaker bottles for a small batch, mixes where you add your own ingredients, and a multigrain option. Before choosing, compare the instructions and yield on the exact pack.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete, 210 g
A complete shaker bottle is worth considering if you want to get a small batch going without preparing lots of separate ingredients. Check the preparation instructions and, if you have allergies, the current ingredients list. ‘Complete’ doesn’t mean allergen-free.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes, 175 g
This shaker bottle is a good fit if you want to mix the batter in the pack for a small batch. Bear in mind that you need to add milk to this variety, and check the label if you have allergies.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix, 400 g
An option if you want to consider the grains and add your own ingredients to the batter. Koopmans lists wheat, rye, oats and barley, among other ingredients, in its multigrain mix; multigrain doesn’t mean gluten-free. Check the preparation instructions and allergens on the pack.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix, 400 g
A classic basic mix for anyone who wants to add their own milk, eggs and cooking fat, then choose the toppings. Get those ingredients ready in advance, and check the instructions and allergens on the pack.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu pancake mix with milk flavour, 100 g
A smaller pack for comparing the preparation method and quantity you need. As well as water, you’ll need to add an egg to the batter. Check the pack to see how many portions it makes, and read the ingredients and allergen information. ‘Milk flavour’ on its own doesn’t tell you whether it contains milk.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a complete pancake mix and a basic mix?
With the complete mixes mentioned here, you add water to make the batter; a classic basic mix also needs ingredients such as milk and eggs. You may also need cooking fat for the pan. Check the preparation instructions on the pack you choose, as quantities vary between products.
Is a multigrain mix suitable if I need to avoid gluten?
Not based on the name ‘multigrain’ alone. According to Koopmans, its Meergranen mix contains wheat, rye, oats and barley, among other ingredients. If you need a gluten-free product, check the label, ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack.
Can I keep batter in a shaker bottle after mixing it?
Follow the instructions for the specific shaker-bottle mix. PLUS says that batter from its shaker-bottle mix should be used straight after mixing with milk and shouldn’t be kept; don’t assume the same applies to other varieties.