If you want the pancakes themselves to taste of sourdough, choose a recipe with an active starter rather than relying on a regular mix labelled ‘wholemeal’ or ‘multigrain’. For a range of sweet and savoury toppings, an original mix makes a good base; if you want fewer ingredients to get ready, look for a complete mix that only needs water. Always check the label on the exact pack if you’re catering for guests with allergies.
Want the pancakes themselves to have a sourdough flavour, and have an active starter or some discard to hand? A separate recipe is the way to go. My Food Blog and Meesterlijk van Robèrt both share recipes for sourdough pancakes; a regular grain-based mix is not the same thing.
An original mix can make a good base for a table of both savoury and sweet toppings. Koopmans recommends its original pancake mix for both; just remember to have milk, eggs and cooking fat ready too.
A complete mix that only needs water, or a shaker bottle, means fewer ingredients to add separately to the batter. Still, compare the stated yield with the number of guests and read the ingredients list: a mix that you prepare with water can still contain milk or egg.
First decide whether you want the pancakes themselves to have a sourdough flavour, or whether the toppings are the main event. Then compare the preparation method, yield and ingredients of the specific mix.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough flavour | Look for an explicit reference to sourdough; otherwise, choose a separate recipe with starter if that’s the flavour you’re after. | If you want the pancakes themselves to bring a sourdough flavour to dinner, a grain-based name isn’t enough. For around 27% of consumers, this flavour is their main priority. |
| Room for toppings | Check whether the mix is suitable for both sweet and savoury pancakes, and how many pancakes a pack makes. | When serving a range of toppings, I want to use one base rather than making a different batter for every combination. This flexibility is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Compare what you need to add yourself and whether the stated yield is enough for your group. | When there are other dishes on the table, I want to keep the number of separate batter ingredients to a minimum. Around 20% of consumers prioritise simple preparation. |
| Grains and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the mix before I start cooking. For around 26% of consumers, checking the label is their top priority. |
These words describe the grains used, not whether the batter has been fermented with sourdough. So the mix may give you a different base from the one you had in mind for your menu.
Look for an explicit sourdough reference on the pack, or use a recipe with an active starter.
Koopmans Pannenkoeken Origineel calls for milk, eggs and cooking fat, while a complete mix can be made with water. You’ll notice the difference when you start cooking for dinner.
Read the instructions in advance and make sure the stated yield is enough for your guests.
Depending on the mix you choose, you may also need to have milk, eggs or cooking fat at home.
Water being the only ingredient you need to add says nothing about what’s already in the dry mix. PLUS Complete mix lists wheat, milk and egg.
If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current pack.
Lidl lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix as an in-store product. It’s also worth checking availability at your local ALDI for Albona varieties.
Check your shop’s range before planning the rest of your menu around a particular mix.
Koopmans offers several pancake mixes, including an original version. Compare the preparation instructions for each product rather than choosing based on the brand name alone.
PLUS offers, among other things, a complete mix that only needs water and a wholemeal mix. The difference lies in how they’re prepared and the grains used.
Albona is ALDI’s own brand, offering plain and multigrain pancake baking mixes.
Belbake is worth considering if you’re looking for an original pancake mix in a Lidl shop.
These mixes suit different ways of serving pancakes: a small batch with minimal preparation, an original base for toppings, or a mix with a different grain profile. If you specifically want a sourdough flavour, choose a product explicitly labelled as sourdough or use a recipe with starter.
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For a small batch when you want to keep the number of separate batter ingredients to a minimum. Joybuy states that this complete shaker bottle needs 350 ml of water and makes 4 to 6 pancakes; check the current pack if you have allergies.
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An original base for serving both sweet and savoury toppings. According to the product information from Koopmans and Joybuy, one pack makes 11 to 13 pancakes; you’ll need to add milk, eggs and cooking fat. Don’t assume ‘original’ means it will have a sourdough flavour.
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An option if you’re looking for a different grain profile to go with your toppings. The pack contains 400 g; check the preparation instructions and allergens on the exact product. A reference to grains doesn’t confirm sourdough fermentation.
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A shaker bottle to consider if you want to make a smaller amount of batter for a selection of toppings. The pack contains 175 g; before buying, check which ingredients you need to add and how many pancakes the bottle makes.
No, those grain descriptions don’t confirm sourdough fermentation. For a sourdough flavour, look for an explicit reference on the exact pack, or use a pancake recipe with an active starter.
A complete mix that only needs water, or a complete shaker bottle, means fewer ingredients to add to the batter. PLUS states that its Complete mix needs 700 ml of water; Joybuy says its Koopmans complete shaker bottle needs 350 ml of water and makes 4 to 6 pancakes. Also check whether you need cooking fat.
Yes, because the dry mix may still contain allergens. For example, PLUS lists wheat, milk and egg in its Complete mix. Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current pack; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
No, the product name alone isn’t enough to tell you that. Check the ingredients and allergen information and, if it’s essential for your choice, look for an explicit gluten-free statement on the exact pack.
