For New Year’s Eve, pancake mix is a good choice when the preparation, yield and ingredients suit your table. A complete mix can save you measuring out milk and eggs; with a classic or wholegrain mix, you add these ingredients yourself. If anyone has dietary requirements, always check the label on the packet you’re using.
If you want to make pancakes while welcoming guests, check what you’ll need to add to the batter. Albert Heijn says that Koopmans Compleet only requires water; a shaker bottle can be handy when you want to make a smaller amount at a time. Compare the yield per packet, too.
For a table with sweet and savoury toppings, choose a plain base and let everyone decide on their own combinations. If you’re using a classic or wholegrain mix, check in advance how much milk, how many eggs and how much cooking fat you’ll need, and how many pancakes one packet makes.
If a guest needs to avoid gluten, milk, eggs or other allergens, a name such as spelt or wholegrain isn’t enough to tell you whether a mix is suitable. Read the ingredients, allergen information and preparation instructions on the current packaging, including those for any ingredients you add yourself.
First, decide how much preparation suits the evening and how many people will be eating. Then choose a flavour and check the ingredients and allergens for each packet.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of preparation | Check which ingredients you need to add to the batter and how many pancakes a shaker bottle or packet makes. | If I want to make pancakes throughout the evening, I don’t want to have to measure out milk and eggs as well. For around 31% of consumers, keeping preparation to a minimum is the top priority. |
| Flavour and toppings | Choose a plain base to go with different toppings; if you’re considering a flavoured mix, check that it suits the combinations you have in mind. | For a table with both sweet and savoury options, I want guests to be able to choose their own combinations. Around 25% of consumers give that freedom of choice the highest priority. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Read the current label and check the ingredients you plan to add yourself, too. | If a guest needs to avoid an allergen, I want to be able to assess whether the whole dish is suitable. This is the main concern for around 19% of consumers. |
| Yield per packet | Compare the stated number of pancakes per packet or bottle with the number of people eating. | When catering for a larger group, I don’t want to run out of batter halfway through cooking. Getting enough portions is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
The type of grain in a product name doesn’t tell you whether a mix is suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten. Other allergens and any ingredients you add yourself may also be relevant to your guests.
If needed, choose a product clearly labelled as gluten-free. Before buying and preparing it, read the current label, including the allergen information and any warnings about cross-contamination.
A shaker bottle and a packet of mix don’t make the same number of pancakes. According to the relevant product pages, Koopmans Compleet makes around 10 pancakes, while the complete shaker bottle makes 4 to 6.
Work out how many packets you’ll need based on the stated yield, the number of people eating and the other snacks you’ll be serving.
If you’re cooking well ahead of the celebration, you’ll need to plan how to store them, too. The Voedingscentrum says cooked pancakes can be kept for 2 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
Cook the pancakes thoroughly, then follow the storage advice and refrigerate or freeze any you plan to serve later.
Koopmans offers a range of pancake mixes, including Original, Complete, wholegrain and explicitly gluten-free options.
Albert Heijn stocks both Koopmans mixes and its own AH brand, including a spelt variety.
Jumbo stocks Koopmans pancake mixes and its own Jumbo Naturel mix.
PLUS offers its own plain, wholemeal and complete varieties, as well as Koopmans mixes.
ALDI sells pancake baking mixes under the Albona brand, including a wholegrain variety.
These Joybuy products offer different ways to make pancakes on New Year’s Eve: a complete shaker bottle, mixes to which you add milk and eggs yourself, and a smaller shaker bottle that requires milk. Choose the right yield per packet for your group.
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For anyone who wants to make a smaller amount of batter during the evening. According to the Joybuy product information, add 350 ml of water; one bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes. Check the current label if you have dietary requirements.
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For a table where you’d like to serve a wholegrain variety. According to Albert Heijn, this Koopmans variety requires 900 ml of milk, 2 eggs and butter or oil, and one packet makes 11 to 13 pancakes. Wholegrain doesn’t mean gluten-free, so check the label if you have dietary requirements.
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A classic base if you want to choose your own sweet and savoury toppings. The product information says to add 850 ml of milk, 2 eggs and butter or oil to one packet, which makes 11 to 13 pancakes. Check the label if you need to take allergens into account.
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A shaker bottle for a smaller portion, but not a water-only variety. According to the product information, add 400 ml of milk and the bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes. If you’re feeding more people, bear the yield in mind and check the label if you have dietary requirements.
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A complete pancake mix to consider for your celebration. Check the packet to see which ingredients you need to add and how many pancakes it makes. If anyone has an allergy, carefully read the physical label before serving the mix to guests.
It depends on what you want to make that evening: a small batch to cook as you go, a stack for several guests or pancakes with a range of toppings. Compare the ingredients you need to add, the yield and the ingredients in the specific variety, rather than choosing based only on the word ‘premium’.
It varies by packet. According to Albert Heijn, Koopmans Compleet requires 700 ml of water and makes around 10 pancakes, while Koopmans Meergranen requires 900 ml of milk, 2 eggs and butter or oil. Check the preparation instructions for other varieties before you go shopping, too.
No. You can’t tell whether a mix is gluten-free from the words wholegrain or spelt. If a guest needs to avoid gluten, choose a product clearly labelled as gluten-free and check the current packaging and any ingredients you plan to add yourself.
Check the allergen information on the label of the packet you plan to use. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of pre-packed foods. Also look for any warnings and check the allergens in any ingredients you add yourself.
Yes, as long as you include storage in your plans. The Voedingscentrum says cooked pancakes can be kept for 2 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. If you plan to serve them later, store them after cooking according to this advice.
