Host catering for different tastes
If you don’t want to serve everyone the same kind of pancake on New Year's Eve, you can pair a classic mix with a wholemeal option. Check the ingredients and allergens on each pack separately.
Who are these options suited to?
Party planner short on time
If you’d rather not measure out lots of separate ingredients, look for a complete mix or shaker bottle that only needs water, according to the preparation instructions. Not all shaker bottles work in the same way.
Shopper planning quantities for a group
The stated yield varies from pack to pack. Compare the number of pancakes each pack makes with how many you want to serve, especially if you’re offering more than one option.
What should you look for when choosing?
Before planning your New Year's Eve table, decide whether variety, easy preparation or making enough batter is your main priority. Then check the preparation instructions and labels on the packs you’re thinking of combining.
| What to consider | What to check | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Variety at the table | Compare the ingredients in a classic and a wholemeal mix, and check the allergens on both packs. | If guests have different preferences, I don’t want to serve everyone the same pancake. Around 40% of consumers would choose this as their main priority. |
| Easy preparation | Check which liquid and other ingredients you need to add. The words ‘shaker bottle’ don’t automatically mean that water is all you need. | Just before everyone gets together, I want to prepare as few separate ingredients as possible. This would be the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Quantity for your group | Compare the stated yield per pack and allow for the size and thickness of your pancakes. | I want to make sure there’s enough, even if I prepare two types of batter. For around 30% of consumers, the quantity needed would be their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘wholemeal’ is suitable for every allergy
The wholemeal mixes discussed here contain ingredients including wheat and oats. A different blend of grains doesn’t automatically make a mix suitable for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy. If someone has an allergy, check with them which ingredients they need to avoid.
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Assuming one pack will be enough for everyone
According to Albert Heijn product information, Koopmans Origineel makes around 11–13 pancakes per pack, while Koopmans Volkoren makes around 13–15. Joybuy states that the Koopmans Compleet shaker bottle makes around 4–6 pancakes.
Decide how many pancakes you want to make, then add together the stated yields of the packs you’ve chosen. The actual yield also depends on how large and thick you make them.
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Leaving cooked pancakes out for too long
Any pancakes left on the table after cooking need to be put away promptly. The Voedingscentrum advises not leaving cooked pancakes out of the fridge for more than two hours.
If needed, cook in batches, cool any leftovers quickly and store them in an airtight container.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
Offers classic, wholemeal, complete and shaker-bottle mixes, among others. Preparation requirements vary by product.
- Albert Heijn lists the yield and required additions separately for Koopmans Origineel and Volkoren.
- With the basic mixes, you’ll need to add ingredients such as milk and eggs yourself. Check the allergen information for each product.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand range includes several types of pancake mix, including complete, multigrain and wholemeal options.
- The different options give you a choice of recipes and preparation methods.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions on the pack you choose.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes a wholemeal pancake mix alongside other varieties.
- Jumbo lists wholemeal wheat, oat and buckwheat flour in its 400 g wholemeal mix.
- These grains aren’t suitable for everyone. Check the label if guests need to avoid certain ingredients.
PLUS
Offers both a wholemeal mix and a complete mix, with different additional ingredients required.
- PLUS says to prepare its 400 g complete mix with 700 ml of water and cooking fat.
- The wholemeal mix needs different additions; the complete mix contains milk and egg ingredients.
ALBONA (ALDI)
ALBONA offers plain and multigrain baking mixes for pancakes.
- The options let you choose between a plain and a multigrain base.
- Check the pack for the exact ingredients, allergens and additional ingredients required for your chosen option.
Belbake (Lidl)
Lidl lists a 400 g Belbake Original Pancake Mix.
- The product listing states that it makes around 12 pancakes.
- Check the pack in store for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These products include a classic base mix and shaker-bottle options for your New Year's Eve table. Before choosing the Wholegrains mix as a wholemeal option, check its exact ingredients.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
A classic mix to serve as a base alongside another option.
Albert Heijn states that Koopmans Origineel makes around 11–13 pancakes per pack. To prepare it, add milk, eggs and butter or oil. Check the label if you have allergies.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete shaker bottle 210 g
This shaker bottle is a handy choice if you want to make a smaller quantity without adding milk or eggs separately.
According to the Joybuy product information, you need to add 350 ml of water, and the bottle makes around 4–6 pancakes. Check the allergens on the pack: needing only water for preparation doesn’t mean the mix is free from milk or egg.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A shaker-bottle option to consider alongside a larger pack.
This variety needs milk, so it isn’t a water-only option. Check the preparation instructions, yield and allergens on the pack.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
Consider this mix as a second option alongside a classic pancake.
Check the label for the exact grain ingredients before choosing it as a wholemeal option. You’ll need milk, eggs and cooking fat to prepare it; check the allergen information too.
Frequently asked questions
Should I check the allergens again if I’ve bought the same mix before?
Yes. Check the label on the pack you’re actually using. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly listed in the ingredients. A product’s ingredients can change.
Is regular or wholemeal pancake mix gluten-free?
Not necessarily: the mixes discussed here contain ingredients such as wheat or other grains. If someone needs to avoid gluten, choose a mix only if the specific pack clearly states that it is gluten-free and its current ingredients and allergen information confirm this.
Can I taste pancake batter raw?
Don’t taste Koopmans Origineel or Volkoren batter raw. The product information for these mixes says the batter must be cooked thoroughly.
How should I store opened mix and leftover pancakes?
Store opened dry pancake mix in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container, as advised by the Voedingscentrum. Cool leftover cooked pancakes quickly, store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer, and don’t leave them out of the fridge for more than two hours.