Cook with a well-stocked kitchen
If you already have milk, eggs and cooking fat, you can start with a regular mix. Check the preparation instructions on the pack you choose, though: the quantities needed vary between products.
Who are the different mixes suitable for?
Quick-breakfast baker
If you want to add as few ingredients as possible to the batter, a complete mix is worth considering. For the complete mixes from PLUS, Jumbo and Koopmans described here, you add water; check separately which cooking fat you’ll need.
Shopper with a specific product or allergen requirement
If you’re looking for wholegrain or need to avoid gluten or other allergens, start by checking the product description, then read the label. Wholegrain and gluten-free don’t mean the same thing, and a gluten-free mix may still contain other allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which ingredients you want to add to the batter. Then choose a product that goes well with your savoury toppings, and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients you have at home | Check how much milk, how many eggs and how much cooking fat the pack calls for, and what you already have. | If I already have milk and eggs in the kitchen, I can make a regular mix without choosing based on adding as few ingredients as possible. Around 33% of consumers prioritise using ingredients they already have. |
| A base for savoury toppings | Check whether you’re choosing a plain, original or other suitable variety; check the ingredients if you choose a flavoured variety. | When I’m adding cheese or vegetables, I want to decide on the savoury flavour myself, without a flavoured mix getting in the way. For around 27% of consumers, this flexibility is the main consideration. |
| Fewer added ingredients | Compare the preparation instructions for regular and complete mixes, and check whether you’ll still need cooking fat. | When I want to make batter quickly, I’d rather add water than measure out milk and eggs separately. Simple preparation is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Wholegrain or allergens | Check the product description, ingredients list, allergens and any statement about possible traces. | If I’m specifically looking for wholegrain or need to avoid an allergen, the information on the pack determines whether the mix meets my needs. For around 20% of consumers, this product feature matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the mix on the pack
A regular mix and a complete mix don’t call for the same additions. A regular mix may need milk and eggs, while you add water to the complete mixes described here.
Read all the preparation instructions before you choose, and check whether you’ll also need cooking fat.
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Confusing wholegrain with gluten-free
A wholegrain mix may contain wheat. For example, the AH wholegrain mix lists wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten. A mix labelled gluten-free may, in turn, contain other allergens.
If you need to avoid gluten, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, then check the other allergens listed on the packaging.
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Letting the topping decide which mix to buy
Cheese, bacon or vegetables give a pancake a savoury flavour, but they don’t change the ingredients or allergens in the batter.
First choose a mix whose ingredients and preparation method suit your needs; then decide on the toppings.
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Relying on an ingredients list you read before
Ingredients and allergen information can change. PLUS notes this in its product information; Lidl directs shoppers to the packaging for these details rather than providing an online ingredients list for food products.
If you have an allergy or specific dietary requirement, always check the label on the pack you’re actually using.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn (AH)
AH sells pancake mixes in varieties including plain, multigrain and wholegrain. The wholegrain variety is a straightforward choice if you’re specifically looking for a wholegrain base.
- The AH wholegrain mix reviewed comes in a 300 g pack and makes around 10 pancakes.
- This variety contains wheat and wheat gluten. If you have allergies, check the other allergen information on the pack too.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells 400 g plain and complete pancake mixes. For this choice, the main difference is which ingredients you need to add to the batter.
- For the complete variety described, you add water instead of adding milk and eggs separately.
- According to Jumbo, the complete variety contains wheat, milk products and egg, among other ingredients. Check the packaging if you need to avoid allergens.
PLUS
PLUS offers plain, wholegrain and complete mixes. This gives you the choice of a regular preparation method, a wholegrain variety or a batter mix to which you add water.
- For the complete mix described, PLUS says to add water to the batter; you’ll still need cooking butter or oil for frying.
- PLUS says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change. Check the label on the pack you choose.
Albona (ALDI)
Albona is ALDI’s own brand of baking products, including plain and multigrain pancake mixes.
- The plain variety is an option if you’re looking for a regular pancake base.
- Before choosing this variety for a specific dietary requirement, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging in store.
Koopmans
Koopmans sells original and complete pancake mixes, as well as a variety labelled gluten-free. Choose between them based on the preparation method and the product feature you need.
- According to Koopmans, the original mix calls for milk, eggs and butter; you add water to the complete variety.
- The gluten-free variety described by Albert Heijn may contain egg and milk. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from all allergens.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
These mixes offer different starting points for a savoury breakfast: a complete variety, a shaker, a Wholegrains variety and an original mix. Above all, compare the ingredients the packaging tells you to add and the product features that matter to you.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete, 210 g
A complete variety for anyone who wants to add as few ingredients as possible to the batter. Check the preparation instructions and allergens on the packaging before choosing savoury toppings.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes, 175 g
The shaker variety is a good fit if you want to prepare the batter without a separate mixing bowl. Check the pack to see which liquid you need; a shaker doesn’t necessarily mean you only have to add water.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix, 400 g
For anyone specifically looking to use this Wholegrains variety as a base for savoury toppings. Read the ingredients and preparation instructions on the pack; don’t assume the variety is suitable if you have an allergy.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix, 400 g
An original mix to pair with savoury toppings of your choice. Bear in mind that this preparation method calls for additional ingredients, and check the instructions and allergens on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Which mix should I choose if I already have milk and eggs at home?
A regular plain or original mix is a good starting point for a savoury breakfast. Be sure to read the instructions on the specific pack: the quantities of milk and eggs, as well as the cooking fat required, all affect how you prepare it.
When is a complete pancake mix useful?
A complete mix is useful if you don’t want to add milk and eggs separately to the batter. For the complete mixes from PLUS, Jumbo and Koopmans described here, you add water; check the packaging to see which cooking fat you’ll also need, and check the allergens in the mix itself.
Is wholegrain pancake mix gluten-free too?
No, wholegrain and gluten-free are different product features. According to Albert Heijn, the AH wholegrain mix contains wheat and wheat gluten. If you need to avoid gluten, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the other allergen information too.
Do I need to check allergens on the pack if I’ve already checked them online?
Yes. If you have an allergy, check the information on the pack you’re using. PLUS warns that product information can change; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on food labels.