Fans of savoury toppings
If you serve pancakes as an evening meal and want the toppings to provide most of the flavour, a plain or original mix is a good place to start. Koopmans suggests cheese as a savoury topping for its original pancake recipe.
Who are the mixes suitable for?
Fans of grain flavours
If you’re looking for a wholemeal or multigrain base, compare the grains listed on each pack. Koopmans describes its multigrain pancakes as full-flavoured with a slight bite; that doesn’t necessarily tell you what other varieties taste like.
Home cooks who want less measuring
A complete mix or shaker bottle could suit you if you want to start your batter with fewer separate ingredients. Check which liquid you need to add: PLUS specifies water for its Complete mix and milk for its plain shaker bottle.
What should you look for in a pancake mix?
First, decide what role you want the pancake to play alongside your savoury toppings for your Italian evening. Then compare the grains, preparation instructions and, if relevant for your guests, the allergen information.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour base | Choose between a plain or original mix and one with a more pronounced grain flavour. | If tomato, vegetables or cheese are to provide the flavour, I want the base to stay in the background. For around 31% of consumers, a neutral flavour base is the top priority. |
| Grains | Check which grains are in the mix; wholemeal and multigrain are not the same product description. | I want to taste the grains, even if that makes the pancake less neutral. For around 31% of consumers, the grain base comes first. |
| Preparation | Check which liquid and other ingredients you need to add, and how many pancakes the pack says it makes. | If I’m short on time, I don’t want to measure out several ingredients for the batter. For around 23% of consumers, ease of preparation is the top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the mix, and check the toppings too. | If I need to take an allergy into account, I want to know whether the ingredients are suitable for my guests before I start cooking. For around 15% of consumers, this check takes priority. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Assuming wholemeal or multigrain means gluten-free
The wholemeal pancake mixes described by Koopmans and Jumbo contain ingredients including wheat and oats. So, a grain description on the front of the pack doesn’t mean a mix is gluten-free.
If gluten-free is essential, only choose a pack specifically labelled gluten-free and check the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Assuming ‘Complete’ means allergen-free
Jumbo lists wheat flour, whey powder and egg powder in its Complete pancake mix. Here, ‘Complete’ doesn’t tell you whether the mix is suitable for someone with an allergy.
Check the preparation instructions and allergen information separately, even for a mix that needs few additions.
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Forgetting the ingredients you need to add
A shaker bottle and a complete boxed mix aren’t necessarily prepared in the same way. According to the product information, the original Koopmans shaker bottle needs milk, while PLUS specifies water for its Complete mix.
Read the instructions before choosing so you know what you’ll need for the batter.
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Tasting the raw batter
Koopmans’ product information for its gluten-free pancake mix says the batter isn’t intended to be eaten raw and must be cooked thoroughly.
Follow the cooking instructions on the pack and only serve the pancakes once they’re fully cooked.
Brands to compare
Compare specific mixes within each brand: grains, additions and allergens can vary from one variety to another.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers original, wholemeal, multigrain and complete mixes, as well as shaker bottle mixes.
- According to Koopmans, its wholemeal mix contains 60% wholemeal oat flour, 35% wholemeal wheat flour and 3.6% buckwheat flour.
- Don’t use the ingredients in this wholemeal mix to describe other Koopmans varieties.
Albert Heijn
The AH own-label range includes plain, multigrain and wholemeal pancake mixes.
- The ingredients list for AH Wholemeal Pancake Mix includes wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten.
- Check the preparation instructions and allergens for your chosen AH variety; the wholemeal mix isn’t representative of the entire range.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-label range includes plain, wholemeal and complete pancake mixes.
- Jumbo states that its wholemeal mix contains 75% wholemeal wheat flour, 20% wholemeal oat flour and 4.2% wholemeal buckwheat flour.
- According to the ingredients list, Jumbo Complete mix contains wheat, milk ingredients and egg; check this variety separately if you have allergies.
PLUS
The PLUS own-label range includes plain, wholemeal and complete mixes, as well as a plain shaker bottle.
- PLUS specifies water for preparing its Complete mix; for its plain shaker bottle, PLUS specifies milk and shaking.
- The preparation instructions for one PLUS variety don’t necessarily apply to another.
Belbake
Lidl lists Belbake pancake mix in original and multigrain varieties.
- The Belbake multigrain variety listed comes in a 120 g pack.
- Check the label on your chosen variety for ingredients and allergens.
Albona
ALDI lists plain and multigrain pancake mixes under the Albona brand.
- The plain and multigrain varieties can be compared separately to find the flavour base you want.
- Check the pack for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions for your chosen variety.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These mixes offer different options for savoury pancakes: an original base, a grain variety or a mix labelled Complete or Shaker. Check each product’s packaging if the preparation instructions or allergens are important to your choice.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete, 210 g
An option if you’re looking for a mix labelled Complete for a small batch and want to add savoury toppings. Check the pack to see what you need to add and which allergens it contains.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix, 400 g
An original mix for anyone who wants savoury toppings to take centre stage. Check which ingredients you need to add before cooking; according to Koopmans’ product information, the batter must be cooked thoroughly.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes, 175 g
A shaker bottle for anyone who wants to make a small amount of batter without using a separate mixing bowl. Check the bottle to see which liquid you need, and check the allergen information if you’re cooking for guests.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix, 400 g
A grain-based option to consider alongside an original mix if you want the pancake itself to add flavour too. Check the pack to see which grains this variety contains and what you need for the batter.
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g'woon Pancake Mix Complete, 200 g
A mix labelled Complete to consider if you want to measure out fewer separate ingredients. Before buying, read the preparation instructions and, if you have allergies, check the ingredients and allergens on the current pack.
Frequently asked questions
Which mix goes well with savoury toppings for an Italian evening?
Choose a plain or original pancake mix if you want tomato, vegetables or cheese to provide the flavour. If you’d rather taste the grains, compare the ingredients in wholemeal and multigrain varieties. The toppings give the meal an Italian touch; they don’t make the pancake itself a traditional Italian dish.
Are wholemeal or multigrain mixes the same as gluten-free?
No. The wholemeal mixes described by Koopmans and Jumbo contain grains that contain gluten. If gluten-free is essential for you, look for the specific product description and check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
What do I need to add to pancake mix?
It depends on the variety. PLUS specifies water for its Complete mix and milk for its plain shaker bottle; according to Albert Heijn, the AH wholemeal mix needs milk and eggs, among other ingredients. Read the preparation instructions on the exact pack you’re buying.
How should I store an opened pack?
Follow the storage advice on your chosen pack and seal it tightly after use. Check the product’s use-by information before making another batch of batter.