Parents making several pancakes
You make pancakes at home to pack for school and want to know how many a pack will make and what you need to add to the batter.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents short on preparation time
You’re looking for a recipe with fewer separate ingredients or mixing steps. A complete mix and a shaker bottle each require different checks of the preparation instructions.
Parents who need to check allergens
Before cooking, you check the information about allergens that are present or may be present, and take the school or class guidelines into account.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how many pancakes you want to make and which ingredients you can add at home. Then check that your chosen variety is suitable for the allergens relevant to your child and their school.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for lunch | Check the pack weight and, where stated, the number of pancakes each pack makes. | If I’m making pancakes for several lunchboxes, I want to know whether one pack will make enough batter. This is the main consideration for around 34% of consumers. |
| Making the batter | Check which ingredients your chosen variety needs; complete mixes, regular mixes and shaker bottles don’t always have the same instructions. | On a busy morning, I don’t want to find myself searching for extra ingredients to make the batter. Around 33% of consumers prioritise easy preparation. |
| Allergens and school guidelines | Check the current packaging for both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information, and ask about any school guidelines. | If allergens or class guidelines are a deciding factor, I need to be able to choose the right variety before packing anything. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Not checking what else you need to add
A regular mix may need milk and eggs, while a complete variety can be made with water. Instructions also differ between shaker bottle varieties.
Read the preparation instructions before deciding when to make the pancakes for lunch.
Have cooking fat and any toppings you plan to use for lunch ready too.
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Assuming own-brand or multigrain means suitable for someone with an allergy
AH Multigrain contains wheat, oats, barley and rye. Jumbo Naturel lists gluten and may contain egg and milk; Jumbo Complete contains egg, milk and gluten.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging for the specific variety you’re using.
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Relying on a product page you looked at earlier
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between varieties or change over time. Lidl provides ingredient information for food products on the packaging.
Read the label on the pack you’re actually buying, especially if you’re packing pancakes for a child with an allergy.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers regular, multigrain, wholemeal and complete pancake mixes, among others. The multigrain variety is available in a 400 g pack.
- Having several varieties to choose from helps you match the preparation instructions to what you want to add at home.
- AH Multigrain contains wheat, oats, barley and rye, and may contain egg and milk; check the label before use.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers Naturel and Complete pancake mixes in 400 g packs.
- You can make batter with water using Complete; with Naturel, check which ingredients you need to add.
- Jumbo Naturel contains gluten and may contain egg and milk. Jumbo Complete contains egg, milk, gluten and wheat.
ALDI / Albona
Albona offers a baking mix for plain pancakes in a 400 g pack.
- The plain variety is one option to compare with other regular mixes when checking the preparation instructions.
- Before choosing this mix for a school lunch, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack in store.
Lidl / Belbake
Lidl describes its 400 g Belbake Original Pancake Mix as making approximately 12 pancakes.
- The stated yield can help you plan how many pancakes to pack for lunch.
- For ingredients, allergens and nutritional information about food products, Lidl refers customers to the packaging; check it before buying.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers regular and complete pancake mixes, as well as shaker bottles with different preparation instructions.
- Koopmans says its Original mix needs milk, eggs and butter, while Pannenkoeken Compleet can be made with water.
- You need to add milk to the Original shaker bottle. Also check the allergen information on the packaging for your chosen variety.
PLUS
PLUS offers a wholemeal mix and a complete pancake mix, among others, both in 400 g packs.
- The preparation instructions for PLUS Complete say to use water for the batter.
- Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety you’re taking with you.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
This range includes a complete variety, regular and wholemeal mixes, and a milk-flavoured pack. For a school lunch, compare the preparation instructions, the quantity you need and the current label for each product.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete, 210 g
A smaller pack for anyone making a limited amount of batter; check how many pancakes the pack makes.
Complete pancake mix, 210 g. Before cooking, check what else this variety needs and read the allergen information for your school lunch.
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Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix, 400 g
For anyone looking for a wholemeal variety to make pancakes at home for a school lunch.
400 g pack. Check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack before planning lunch.
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Koopmans Original pancake mix, 400 g
For anyone who wants to prepare a regular mix and can add the ingredients for the batter at home.
400 g pack. Koopmans says its Original recipe needs milk, eggs and butter; check the instructions and allergen information on the pack you choose.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu milk-flavoured pancake mix, 100 g
A 100 g pack for anyone looking for a smaller amount of mix; check how many pancakes it makes before deciding how many lunch portions you need.
Also check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack before packing pancakes for school.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use regular pancake mix if a child needs to avoid gluten?
Don’t choose a mix without checking the current packaging. The Jumbo Naturel, Jumbo Complete and AH Multigrain varieties described here list gluten-containing cereals; also check for any other allergens that are present or may be present for the child in question.
What school guidelines should I check before packing pancakes?
Ask the school or class what guidelines apply to food brought in or shared with others. Also read the label: according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the packaging.
What’s the difference between regular and complete pancake mix?
For the complete mixes from Jumbo, Koopmans and PLUS described here, you can use water for the basic batter; with regular varieties, check the pack to see what else you need to add. Koopmans says its Original mix needs milk, eggs and butter.
When is a shaker bottle handy for a school lunch?
A shaker bottle is a good option if you want to make a smaller batch with fewer mixing steps. Koopmans says its Original shaker bottle makes enough for five pancakes, but you’ll still need to add milk. Check the instructions for the variety you choose.
How should I store dry pancake mix?
Follow the storage instructions and date on the packaging. The Jumbo mixes and AH Multigrain described here say to store in a cool, dry place; always check the pack for the variety you choose.