Holidaymakers on a tight shopping budget
If you already have milk, eggs and cooking fat, you could consider a plain mix without taking those ingredients specially for the batter. Be sure to check the preparation instructions on the pack you choose.
Which mix is right for you?
Cooks with limited supplies on holiday
A complete mix can be handy if you don’t want to take milk and eggs with you. The complete mixes described here use water for the batter, but you’ll still need cooking fat for the pan.
Shoppers who need to check allergens
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, even if you’ve used a different mix from the same brand before. Also check what you’ll be adding to the batter yourself.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking what’s already in the kitchen at your holiday accommodation. Then compare the preparation method and packaging of the mixes that suit your plans.
| What to consider | Check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients for the batter | Which ingredients do you need to add yourself, and are they already available? | If I already have milk, eggs and cooking fat at my holiday accommodation, I don’t want to take more than I need. For around 50% of consumers, this is the main consideration when shopping. |
| Preparation and portions | Whether you need water or milk, how to mix the batter and how many pancakes the pack makes. | If I have limited space or kitchen equipment, I want a preparation method that suits my holiday accommodation. Around 30% of consumers say convenience is their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The current ingredients list, allergen information and any warning that the product may contain other allergens. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know exactly what’s in the mix I choose and in anything I add to it. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘complete’ means you can cook without adding anything
With the complete mixes described here, you use water for the batter, but you’ll also need butter or oil for the pan.
Read all the preparation instructions before you pack, and make sure you have suitable cooking fat too.
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Assuming you know the allergens from the brand or type of mix
Ingredients and warnings can vary between varieties. What you add yourself may also be relevant to your choice.
Check the current packaging of the exact variety every time you buy it, including information about the possible presence of allergens.
Brands to consider
ALDI / Albona
ALDI’s own-brand range includes Albona plain pancake mix in a 400 g pack.
- A plain mix to consider if you already have the ingredients needed to prepare it.
- Check the preparation method and allergen information on the packaging of the variety you choose.
PLUS
PLUS sells both a plain mix and a complete mix in 400 g packs.
- The complete variety uses water for the batter and cooking fat for the pan; the plain mix also needs milk and eggs.
- The PLUS Complete variety lists wheat, milk and egg. Always check the label on the pack you choose.
Albert Heijn / AH
AH’s own-brand range includes a 400 g pack of plain pancake mix.
- The product information says each pack makes around 12 pancakes and lists what you need to add for preparation.
- The preparation method described calls for three eggs, 800 ml semi-skimmed milk and cooking fat. The packaging may contain traces of egg and milk.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells a 400 g pack of plain pancake mix.
- The product information lists ingredients including wheat, buckwheat and oats.
- The mix may contain barley, egg and milk. Read the preparation instructions on the pack before planning your holiday shopping.
Koopmans
Koopmans sells regular, complete and shaker-bottle varieties for different ways of preparing pancakes.
- A complete mix may suit you if you don’t want to take milk and eggs for the batter; a shaker bottle can be handy for making a small batch.
- ‘Complete’ and ‘shaker bottle’ don’t mean the same thing: check whether each product needs water or milk, and what you need for cooking.
Lidl / Belbake
Lidl lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix in a 400 g pack, making around 12 pancakes.
- The stated yield can help you decide whether one pack will be enough for your group.
- Lidl lists this variety as ‘in-store only’. Check the packaging for preparation instructions and ingredients.
Pancake mixes for different holiday plans
This selection of Joybuy products includes shaker-bottle varieties and packs of pancake mix. Choose according to the preparation method you prefer, the pack size and the ingredients you’ll have available on holiday.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes, 175 g
A shaker bottle to consider if you want to make a small amount of batter on holiday. Before you set off, check how much milk this variety needs and read the current packaging for allergen information.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete, 210 g
A complete mix in a shaker bottle for anyone who wants to take fewer separate ingredients. Check the preparation instructions to see how much water you need and whether you’ll need cooking fat; read the current packaging for allergen information.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix, 400 g
A pack to consider if you have milk, eggs and cooking fat available for preparation. Compare the instructions and allergen information for this variety with what you can use at your holiday accommodation.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix, 400 g
A regular packet mix for anyone who can take the ingredients for the batter and cooking, or has them at their destination. Check the instructions on this pack before you pack milk, eggs and cooking fat.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu pancake mix with milk flavour, 100 g
A small pack to consider if you only want to make a limited amount of batter. Before buying, check the preparation instructions, yield and ingredients for this variety; the flavour name doesn’t tell you anything about its allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make plain pancake mix with water alone?
Not with the plain AH and PLUS mixes described here: they also need milk, eggs and cooking fat. Check the instructions on your pack before packing ingredients for your holiday.
Do I only need water for a complete pancake mix?
For the batter in the PLUS Complete and Koopmans Complete mixes described here, you use water. However, their preparation methods also call for butter or oil for cooking. Check the instructions for the exact variety you choose.
Can I tell which allergens a mix contains from the words ‘complete’ or ‘plain’?
No. Those descriptions don’t tell you which allergens a specific mix contains or may contain. Read the current packaging and check the ingredients you add yourself too. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly listed on the label.