Making a big batch
Are you cooking for several people and already have milk, eggs and cooking fat at home? Compare standard packets by pack size and the extra ingredients they call for.
Which mixes are right for different people?
Organising with little time to prepare
If you want to measure out fewer ingredients around St Nicholas’ Eve, a complete mix that only needs water or a shaker bottle is worth considering. Just check how many pancakes the pack makes.
Anyone who needs to check the label
Do you need to avoid gluten, milk or eggs? Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, even if it says ‘complete’ or ‘gluten-free’.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with what you already have at home and how many pancakes you want to make. Then choose between a standard packet, a mix that only needs water and a smaller shaker bottle.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Extra shopping | How much milk, how many eggs and how much cooking fat does the packet call for, and what do you already have at home? | If I’m cooking for several people, I want to know which ingredients I still need to buy. For around 46% of consumers, avoiding extra shopping is the main priority. |
| Minimal preparation | Do you need to add water or milk, and roughly how many pancakes does the pack make? | Just before St Nicholas’ Eve, I want to measure out as little as possible and still make enough batter. Around 27% of consumers prioritise easy preparation. |
| Allergens | Check both the ingredients and the statements about allergens present or that may be present on the exact packaging. | If someone eating with us has an allergy or needs to avoid gluten, the packaging must suit their needs. For around 9% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
| Speculoos flavour | Check availability at your shop and the estimated yield before finalising your menu. | I’d love to serve speculoos pancakes for a recognisable St Nicholas’ Eve touch, as long as I can get hold of the mix. Around 18% of consumers put this flavour preference first. |
Common mistakes
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Checking what you need to add only once you get home
A standard dry mix isn’t ready-made batter: according to PLUS, PLUS Natural requires milk, eggs and cooking fat.
Check the instructions on your chosen packet before you go shopping, and make a note of anything you don’t have at home.
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Assuming ‘complete’ means ‘allergen-free’
According to PLUS, its complete pancake mix contains wheat, milk and egg. So the preparation instructions don’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging.
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Planning your menu around a single speculoos mix
PLUS listed the Koopmans Speculoos mix as unavailable locally. This means your planned option could fall through at the last minute.
Check the range at your chosen shop in good time, and consider keeping a standard plain mix in mind as a back-up.
Brands to compare
ALBONA
ALBONA is ALDI’s own brand, with options including a 400 g plain pancake mix.
- A standard packet for anyone who wants to add their own milk and eggs to the batter.
- Check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack you buy.
PLUS
PLUS sells both a plain mix and a 400 g complete mix.
- According to PLUS, the plain mix needs milk, eggs and cooking fat; the complete mix needs water and cooking fat.
- According to PLUS, the complete mix contains wheat, milk and egg.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers a 400 g plain mix and a smaller 200 g complete mix.
- Jumbo lists water as the only addition for the complete version.
- Ingredients and allergens vary between versions, so check the packet you choose.
Koopmans
Koopmans offers a standard mix, a gluten-free version and a Speculoos mix for a St Nicholas’ Eve touch.
- The Speculoos pack states that it makes around 8 pancakes.
- PLUS listed Speculoos as unavailable locally. The gluten-free version states that it may contain egg and milk.
Belbake
Belbake is Lidl’s own brand, with an original pancake mix in a 400 g pack.
- Lidl states that the mix makes around 12 pancakes.
- According to Lidl, this version is only available in store.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
Here you’ll find standard packets of mix, shaker bottle versions and a smaller milk-flavoured mix. Choose a pack to suit the way you plan to make your pancakes, and check what needs to be added for each version.
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Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g
A standard packet to consider if you’re cooking for several people and have milk, eggs and cooking fat at home.
Pack size: 400 g. Check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the packaging.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete shaker bottle 210 g
For a smaller batch when you don’t want to add milk or eggs to the batter.
Pack size: 210 g. According to Koopmans, add 350 ml of water. Check the allergen information on the packaging.
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Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g
A packet to consider if you’re cooking for several people and specifically want the Wholegrains version.
Pack size: 400 g. Check the packet to see which ingredients you need to add and which allergens are listed.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A smaller shaker bottle option to consider if you’re not cooking for a large group.
Pack size: 175 g. Check which liquid this version needs; don’t assume every shaker bottle only needs water.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu milk-flavoured pancake mix 100 g
A small pack with a milk flavour to consider if you want to make a limited amount of batter.
Pack size: 100 g. Check the preparation instructions, yield and allergen information on the packaging before deciding how many packs you need.
Frequently asked questions
Which mix needs fewer extra ingredients?
A complete mix that only needs water may mean fewer extra purchases than a standard dry mix. According to PLUS, PLUS Natural needs milk, eggs and cooking fat, while PLUS Complete needs water and cooking fat. Check the instructions for the exact version you choose.
What do you need to add to a standard pancake mix?
It varies from one packet to another. For its Original pancake mix, Koopmans lists milk, eggs and butter or oil; a complete mix may need water instead. Check the quantities on your own pack.
Is a complete mix suitable for someone with a milk or egg allergy?
You can’t tell from the word ‘complete’ alone. According to PLUS, its complete mix contains milk and egg. If you have an allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging.
Is a gluten-free mix also free from milk and egg?
No. ‘Gluten-free’ on its own says nothing about milk or egg. PLUS states that the Koopmans gluten-free pancake mix may contain egg and milk. So check for all allergens that are relevant to the person eating it.
How do you plan speculoos pancakes for St Nicholas’ Eve?
Check whether your chosen shop has the mix in stock before you plan your menu around it. PLUS listed the Koopmans Speculoos mix as unavailable locally, so you could add a standard plain mix to your shopping list as an alternative.