Organising a traditional birth celebration
You want to serve rusks with aniseed sprinkles. According to Albert Heijn’s product description, rusks are the base; pancake mix is only relevant if you also want to make a separate hot dish.
Who should consider which purchase?
Making pancakes with little time to prepare
You want to make pancakes for visitors without adding lots of separate basic ingredients. A complete mix that only needs water could suit your plans; remember to allow for cooking fat and the time it takes to cook the pancakes too.
Checking the ingredients
You’re paying attention to the type of grain or looking for a mix explicitly labelled gluten-free. For the version you choose, also check the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to serve rusks with aniseed sprinkles or make pancakes as well. Then choose a mix based on its ingredients and how much preparation it requires.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| The right treat | Decide whether you want to serve rusks with aniseed sprinkles, make pancakes or offer both as separate dishes. | If I want to serve rusks with aniseed sprinkles, I don’t want to accidentally buy a baking mix instead of what I need for the treat. For around 45% of consumers, choosing the right product comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the version you’ve chosen; check separately whether it is labelled wholemeal or gluten-free. | When making pancakes, I want to choose which type of grain to serve and check that the ingredients suit the people eating them. Around 33% of consumers give checking the ingredients their highest priority. |
| Preparation | Compare how many ingredients you still need to add and how many pancakes the pack says you can make. | If I’m also making pancakes for visitors, I don’t want to have to gather lots of separate ingredients first. For around 22% of consumers, minimal preparation is the most important factor. |
Common mistakes
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Buying pancake mix for rusks with aniseed sprinkles
Rusks with aniseed sprinkles and pancakes are different dishes. With pancake mix, you first need to make the batter and cook the pancakes; it isn’t a substitute for the rusks used in the traditional treat.
Decide in advance what you want to serve. Buy rusks and aniseed sprinkles for the traditional treat, and only add pancakes as a separate dish.
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Confusing ‘wholemeal’ with ‘gluten-free’
A wholemeal mix isn’t automatically gluten-free. According to the product information, the PLUS Wholemeal Mix reviewed contains wheat and oats.
If gluten-free is essential, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and also read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current pack.
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Tasting raw batter
The product information for the Koopmans mixes reviewed warns against eating raw batter and says that the pancakes must be cooked thoroughly.
Follow the preparation instructions on the pack of the mix you’re using, and don’t serve raw batter.
Brands to consider
These brands offer different types of pancake mix. Compare the specific version and its packaging, not just the brand name.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers, among other options, complete, original and gluten-free-labelled pancake mixes.
- For Koopmans Complete, Albert Heijn specifies 700 ml of water for around 10 pancakes.
- For the version labelled gluten-free, Albert Heijn says it may contain egg and milk. Check the current packaging.
PLUS
PLUS offers, among other options, complete, plain and wholemeal pancake mixes.
- According to PLUS, the complete mix requires 700 ml of water; PLUS specifies 800 ml of semi-skimmed milk for the plain mix.
- The wholemeal version is a different option from a gluten-free mix. Check the types of grain and allergen information on the pack you choose.
Albona
ALDI describes the Albona version reviewed as a multigrain baking mix for pancakes.
- The multigrain version is a recognisable alternative if you’re looking at the type of grain.
- Before use, check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions on the pack.
Belbake
Lidl lists a 400 g pack of original Belbake pancake mix, making around 12 pancakes.
- The stated yield helps you plan how many portions you’ll need.
- For the pack you choose, also check the ingredients, allergens and any additional ingredients required.
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Frequently asked questions
Can pancake mix replace rusks with aniseed sprinkles?
No, not if you want to serve the traditional treat: according to Albert Heijn, aniseed sprinkles are eaten on rusks to celebrate a birth. You can use pancake mix to make pancakes as a separate dish.
Which pancake mix needs few additional ingredients?
According to the product information, the complete mixes from Koopmans and PLUS that were reviewed only require you to add water; you’ll also need cooking fat to cook the pancakes. Plain, original and shaker-bottle versions may require different ingredients, so read the preparation instructions on the exact pack.
Where can I check the allergens in pancake mix?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging for the version you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the requirement to list allergens on the label; also check for any ‘may contain’ warnings.