Choose a recipe that uses a sourdough starter if genuine sourdough is your priority and you have time to bake with separate ingredients; a standard pancake mix isn’t automatically a sourdough mix. If you want to make pancakes quickly, a complete mix that only needs water keeps preparation to a minimum. Compare the ingredients and allergens in wholemeal or gluten-free options, and check the label and the school or childcare arrangements before packing them.
If you already have a starter, you can choose a recipe using sourdough and separate ingredients for an afternoon with the kids. Meesterlijk by Robèrt’s recipe uses flour, milk and eggs, among other ingredients, as well as sourdough. This option therefore takes more preparation than a mix that only needs water.
If the pancakes need to be ready shortly after school or just before guests arrive, the key thing is what you still need to add to the batter. According to the product information at Albert Heijn, Koopmans Pannenkoeken Compleet only needs water; a PLUS shaker-bottle mix needs milk.
As well as choosing a mix, you’ll need to consider the current allergen label, how the pancakes are prepared and the arrangements with the school or childcare provider. The Dutch Coeliac Society emphasises that food intended to be gluten-free must remain gluten-free during preparation and serving.
First, decide whether genuine sourdough or a specific allergen restriction will guide your choice. Then compare how much preparation you’re happy to do and which grains you’re looking for.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Genuine sourdough | Check whether sourdough or starter is actually an ingredient in the product or recipe. Meesterlijk by Robèrt’s recipe uses 50–75 g of sourdough alongside separate ingredients. | If I want to use my own starter, I look for a recipe designed for it rather than simply buying a packet of mix. For around 31% of consumers making this choice, the sourdough option comes first. |
| Minimal preparation | Check which liquid and other ingredients you’ll need. According to the product information at Albert Heijn, Koopmans Pannenkoeken Compleet needs 700 ml of water; the PLUS shaker-bottle mix needs milk. | If I’m starting just before mealtime, I don’t want to have to get the milk and eggs ready for the batter first. Convenience is the deciding factor for around 31% of consumers. |
| Allergens and packing | Read the full allergen information for your chosen variant. If a strictly gluten-free option is needed, agree how to prevent cross-contact during preparation and serving. | If I’m packing pancakes for school, I need to know whether the ingredients and preparation meet the arrangements for the child. This is the most important consideration for around 23% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal ingredients | Check which grains the mix contains and what you need to add to make the batter. The wholemeal Koopmans variant at Albert Heijn contains wholemeal oat and wheat flour. | If I’m specifically looking for a mix with wholemeal grains, I compare the ingredients, even if it takes a few more steps to prepare. This is the first consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
A separate sourdough recipe uses starter and individual ingredients. The name or wholemeal ingredients of a standard mix don’t make it a sourdough recipe.
If you want to use genuine sourdough, choose a recipe with starter in advance. Don’t simply add starter to a ready-made mix unless you have instructions for preparing that combination.
The gluten-free Koopmans mix described by PLUS may contain egg and milk. So a gluten-free label doesn’t automatically answer questions about other allergens.
Read the full allergen information on the packet you choose, and make sure food for school or childcare meets the arrangements for the child. If preparing food that must be strictly gluten-free, prevent contact with batter, utensils and toppings containing gluten.
The product information for Koopmans Original on Joybuy states that the batter isn’t intended to be eaten raw and must be thoroughly cooked.
Keep the batter and any tasting spoons out of reach while you’re cooking, and only serve the pancakes once they’re fully cooked.
What you need to add varies by variant: the complete Koopmans mix at Albert Heijn needs water, while the PLUS plain mix in a packet needs milk, eggs and cooking fat, according to PLUS.
Before buying, read the preparation instructions for the exact variant you’ve chosen and check that you have the ingredients it needs.
The variants described range from complete to wholemeal and gluten-free, so compare the packet for the specific mix rather than relying on the brand name alone.
The plain variants described are a 200 g shaker bottle and a 400 g packet, each with different preparation steps.
A complete pancake mix is one option to compare if you’re looking for a standard mix.
These mixes are options for making pancakes with children. Compare each variant and its preparation instructions separately; for pancakes made with a genuine sourdough starter, you’ll need a suitable recipe.
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An option to consider if you’re looking for a mix with wholemeal grains for your baking session.
400 g packet. Check the current label for ingredients, allergens and what you need to make the batter, especially if the pancakes are going to school or childcare.
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A standard mix to compare if you’re making pancakes for a small group.
400 g packet. Check what you need to add to the batter and read the allergen information. The product information on Joybuy states that the batter shouldn’t be eaten raw and must be thoroughly cooked.
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A 100 g packet to compare if you’re looking for a mix with a milk flavour.
Check the preparation instructions and current allergen label before using it to make pancakes or packing them for school or childcare. The flavour name alone doesn’t tell you whether it contains milk as an allergen.
No. If you want to make sourdough pancakes, choose a recipe that actually includes a sourdough starter. Meesterlijk by Robèrt’s recipe uses 50–75 g of sourdough alongside ingredients such as flour, milk and eggs; a standard mix doesn’t automatically use the same method.
Only if the specific mix, preparation method and arrangements for the child are all suitable. Check the current label: the gluten-free Koopmans mix described by PLUS may contain egg and milk. The Dutch Coeliac Society also emphasises that food intended to be gluten-free must remain gluten-free during preparation and serving.
An allergen warning means you should check the specific packet and the arrangements for the child; don’t assume it applies to all children or all mixes. Read the other ingredients too, and check with the parents, school or childcare provider what’s been agreed for this mealtime before packing the food.
Not with the PLUS shaker-bottle mix described here: according to PLUS, the batter must be used immediately after mixing it with milk and shouldn’t be kept. For any other variant, follow the instructions on that specific packet.
