Organisers catering for fussy eaters
You want to offer a familiar pancake without making preparation more complicated than necessary. An original or plain mix is a sensible starting point; check what you need to add to the batter for each product.
Who is this choice important for?
Organisers looking for a wholemeal option
You want to offer a wholemeal or multigrain option alongside the classic choice. Compare the grains and nutritional information on the packaging, and check the allergens separately.
Organisers who need to follow school rules
Before buying, you need to know what the school allows and which allergies or dietary requirements are relevant. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that school policy can determine what children are allowed to bring in as a treat.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking the school’s rules. Then decide whether familiarity, ease of mixing or an additional grain option matters most, and work out how much batter you’ll need.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Familiar flavour | Check whether it’s an original or plain variety, and how many pancakes the manufacturer says the pack will make. | If children are fussy, you may want to offer a familiar base and let them choose their own toppings. Around 36% of consumers put familiarity first. |
| School rules and allergens | Ask what the school allows, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy. | You want to avoid offering a pancake that doesn’t meet the school’s rules or known allergy requirements. For around 29% of consumers, suitability is the top priority. |
| Preparation | Compare which ingredients you need to add and how much batter each pack makes. | If you’re baking as a team, you’ll want to keep mixing simple and avoid running short of ingredients during preparation. Around 21% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Wholemeal or multigrain | Compare the grains and nutritional information listed, and check the allergens too. | You may want to offer a clearly labelled wholemeal or multigrain option alongside a regular pancake. Around 14% of consumers give this extra choice top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming wholemeal means gluten-free
A wholemeal or multigrain name doesn’t mean a mix is gluten-free. For example, the product information for PLUS Wholemeal lists cereals containing gluten.
Read the allergen information on the exact pack. If you need a gluten-free option, make sure the preparation and packaging also meet the school’s rules.
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Buying before checking the school’s rules
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a school’s policy can determine what children are allowed to bring in as a treat. Your chosen mix and how you package it need to comply.
Before buying, ask the school about its rules on ingredients, allergens, labelling and packaging.
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Assuming ‘just add water’ means allergen-free
Adding water describes how to prepare the mix, not which allergens it contains. The product information for PLUS Complete lists wheat, milk and egg, among other ingredients.
Choose a complete mix if it suits the way you want to prepare the batter, but always check allergens separately on the packaging.
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Relying only on online ingredient information
Albert Heijn warns that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
Use the packaging of the product you actually buy for your final check, and keep the information available when you package the pancakes.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
Koopmans offers original, wholemeal, multigrain and complete pancake mixes, among other varieties.
- The manufacturer says its Original mix makes 11–13 pancakes per pack, while Complete makes 8–10.
- The ingredients you need to add vary by variety. Check the allergen information even for complete or wholemeal mixes.
Albert Heijn
The AH range includes plain, multigrain and wholemeal mixes, among other varieties.
- The different labels give you a starting point for choosing the type of mix you want.
- Albert Heijn recommends checking the packaging, as product and allergy information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand mixes include plain, complete and wholemeal varieties.
- The 400 g varieties shown make it possible to compare the preparation method for each type of mix.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the variety you choose.
PLUS
PLUS offers a wholemeal mix and a complete pancake mix, among other products.
- According to the product information, PLUS Complete is made with water, while PLUS Wholemeal requires milk and eggs.
- The product information for both varieties lists cereals containing gluten. PLUS Complete also lists milk and egg.
Albona (ALDI)
ALDI describes a 400 g Albona multigrain pancake mix.
- The multigrain label can help you find an alternative to an original mix.
- Before using it at the school fair, read the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
Belbake (Lidl)
Lidl lists a 400 g Belbake Original Pancake Mix.
- Lidl says this variety makes approximately 12 pancakes.
- Before buying it for the school fair, check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These mixes offer options for an original pancake, a grain-based variety or preparation with fewer separate ingredients. Compare the amount in each pack with your baking plans, and make sure every variety you choose meets the school’s rules.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix, 400 g
An original mix to consider if you want to offer a familiar pancake. Before baking for the school fair, check the packaging for the ingredients you need to add and the allergen information.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix, 400 g
A grain-based variety to consider alongside an original mix. Check the label for the exact grains, nutritional information and allergens; the name alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone avoiding gluten.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes, 175 g
The shaker format could work well if you want to start with smaller quantities. Check how many pancakes the pack says it makes and how many packs you’ll need for the school fair.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete, 210 g
A complete mix to consider if you want to reduce the number of separate ingredients needed for mixing. Follow the instructions on this pack and check the allergens separately: ‘complete’ doesn’t mean allergen-free.
Frequently asked questions
Does pancake mix for a school fair always have to be gluten-free?
Not necessarily: ask what the school’s rules are and which allergy requirements are relevant to this fair. Regular varieties containing gluten-bearing grains aren’t gluten-free; even with a separate gluten-free mix, check the packaging and preparation method.
Is one wholemeal mix a good compromise for all children?
Not necessarily: if fussy eaters value familiarity most, you could choose an original mix and offer a wholemeal or multigrain variety separately. If you offer two options, make it clear which batter you’re using and check the allergens for both; wholemeal doesn’t mean gluten-free.
Which ingredients should I have ready besides the mix?
That depends on the exact variety. According to Koopmans, Original requires milk, eggs and butter, while Koopmans Complete is mixed with water and needs butter or oil for frying. Read the instructions on the pack you buy, especially if you’re using different sizes or varieties.
How long can I keep cooked pancakes?
Follow the storage instructions for the mix you’re using and the school’s food safety rules. For Koopmans Gluten-Free Pancake Mix specifically, PLUS states that cooked pancakes can be covered and kept in the fridge for up to two days once cooled, or frozen for up to three weeks; don’t assume these time limits apply to other varieties without checking.