Home baker with basic ingredients to hand
If you already have milk, eggs and cooking fat at home, you can choose a plain mix without having to buy those ingredients. Be sure to check the preparation instructions for the exact variant.
Which mix is right for you?
Planning to bake on a whim for visitors
If you want to make pancakes for visitors without needing many extra ingredients, take a look at a complete mix. For the complete mixes we looked at, you add water and cooking fat. ‘Complete’ doesn’t mean it’s suitable for anyone with an allergy.
Checking ingredients carefully
If particular ingredients or allergens matter to you, check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging of the exact variant you’re buying.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, check which ingredients you have at home and how many pancakes you want to make. Then look at the preparation instructions and, where necessary, the label of the variant you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients at home | Check whether you need to add milk and eggs, or whether water and cooking fat are enough. | If I already have milk and eggs at home, I want to choose a mix that works with what I have. Around 34% of consumers say that matching a mix to the ingredients they have takes priority. |
| How much you’re making | Compare the pack size and stated yield of the exact variant. | For a small extra treat, I want to know how many pancakes I can make from one pack. For around 33% of consumers, portion size comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging. | If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, I need to check the exact ingredients before use. For around 33% of consumers, checking the label is their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a shaker bottle and a large bag make the same number of portions
Pack sizes vary, and the stated yield depends on the variant. A small bottle may suit one modest baking occasion, but that alone doesn’t tell you how many pancakes you’ll get from a different mix.
Check the amount of mix and the preparation instructions for both products before choosing a portion size.
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Assuming ‘complete’ also means allergen-free
A complete mix needs fewer ingredients added, but it may contain egg and milk itself. The preparation instructions we looked at also call for cooking fat.
Read the ingredients list, allergen information and preparation instructions on the exact pack.
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Relying only on online product information
A product’s ingredients can change, so an ingredients list you viewed earlier may not match the pack you have.
Check the variant when you buy it, and read the label before use.
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Seeing pancake mix as a replacement for rusks with aniseed sprinkles
Pancake mix makes pancakes; rusks with aniseed sprinkles are a different product, served on a different occasion.
Choose the mix if you’d also like to serve pancakes. Buy rusks and aniseed sprinkles separately if you want to follow that tradition.
Brands worth comparing
ALBONA / ALDI
ALBONA sells a dry plain mix at ALDI in a 400 g pack.
- An option if you’re looking for a plain mix and want to add the required ingredients yourself.
- Read the preparation instructions and the pack label before you start cooking.
PLUS
PLUS sells both a plain mix and a complete mix in 400 g packs.
- The PLUS plain mix instructions call for milk and eggs; for PLUS Complete, you add water and cooking fat.
- The ingredients and what you need to add vary by variant, so check the label of the mix you’ve chosen.
Jumbo
Jumbo Mix voor Pannenkoeken Naturel is a dry 400 g mix.
- For this variant, Jumbo lists wheat, buckwheat and wholegrain oats.
- Jumbo also says the product may contain egg and milk. If allergens matter to you, check the current packaging.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers, among other options, an original mix, a complete mix and shaker-bottle variants.
- According to Koopmans, you add milk and eggs to Origineel, while Compleet calls for water. The manufacturer says each pack makes 11 to 13 and 8 to 10 pancakes respectively.
- Preparation instructions and allergen information vary by variant, so use the details on the pack you’ve chosen.
Belbake / Lidl
Belbake Pannenkoekenmix origineel is a 400 g Lidl variant.
- Lidl says this pack makes around 12 pancakes.
- Check the preparation instructions and ingredients for this variant on the packaging.
Pancake mix for a small baking occasion
These Koopmans shaker bottles are designed for a small batch of pancakes as an extra treat. Note the difference in what you need to add: the Complete variant calls for water, while the Shaker variant calls for milk.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
A good choice for a small baking occasion when you’d like to make pancakes as an extra treat.
According to the product information, add 350 ml water to make 4 to 6 pancakes in the bottle. The product information lists wheat, egg and milk; if you have allergies, check the current label.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A shaker bottle for anyone who wants to make a small batch of pancakes as an extra treat and has milk at home.
Before use, check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the packaging of this variant.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose a plain mix rather than a complete mix?
A plain mix is a good choice if you want to add the ingredients listed in the preparation instructions yourself, such as milk and eggs. If you want to make the batter by adding water, look for a complete mix and check whether you’ll also need cooking fat.
Can I use pancake mix instead of rusks with aniseed sprinkles?
Pancakes aren’t a direct replacement for rusks with aniseed sprinkles. You can serve them as a separate treat for visitors; buy rusks and aniseed sprinkles separately if you want to follow that tradition.
Do I need to check pancake mix for allergens?
Yes. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the mandatory labelling of 14 specified allergens. For these mixes, look out in particular for wheat, egg and milk, as well as any ‘may contain’ warnings.
How should I store and prepare pancake mix?
Follow the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging of your mix. Store the dry mix as directed and cook the batter according to the instructions; don’t eat it raw.