For St Nicholas’ Eve, choose a standard or complete pancake mix if you mainly want to plan the preparation: in the examples below, a complete mix requires fewer ingredients to be added separately. If you specifically want to make sourdough pancakes, only choose a product once you’ve confirmed that sourdough or sourdough starter appears on its current ingredients list. Alternatively, plan time to make the batter with your own starter. Multigrain, rye and spelt are not, in themselves, proof that a mix contains sourdough.
If you have guests to see to and other plans to think about, a complete mix saves you having to measure out ingredients: Koopmans Complete requires water and cooking fat. Check the packaging too, to see which ingredients are already in the mix.
A particular grain or an artisanal look isn’t enough to identify a mix as a sourdough mix. Check whether sourdough or sourdough starter appears on the product’s ingredients list, or make the batter with your own starter.
With a basic mix, you can add the specified milk, eggs and cooking fat yourself. For example, PLUS Plain requires milk, eggs and butter or oil. If you have dietary restrictions, check the dry mix’s ingredients too.
First decide whether sourdough is essential. If it isn’t, compare how much you’ll need to add yourself, what’s already in the mix and how many pancakes you want to make.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough as an ingredient | Look for sourdough or sourdough starter on the current ingredients list; a grain type alone proves nothing. | If I really want to bake with sourdough, a clear mention of it matters more than convenience. For around 40% of consumers, sourdough is the top priority. |
| Preparation time | Compare what you need to add yourself and follow the instructions on the pack. | On a busy St Nicholas’ Eve, I don’t want to find myself having to get milk and eggs for a basic mix. Around 30% of consumers prioritise simple preparation. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list, allergen information and anything you need to add yourself. | If I’m considering what my guests can eat, I want to be able to check both the dry mix and the additions. For around 20% of consumers, checking the ingredients comes first. |
| Number of pancakes | Compare the stated yield per pack or bottle with the number of people eating. | If I’m cooking for a group, I want to know whether one pack will be enough. For around 10% of consumers, planning the portions is the main consideration. |
According to Koopmans, its Original mix contains wheat flour, buckwheat flour and rye flour. Those ingredients don’t automatically make a mix a sourdough product.
If sourdough is your main priority, check the current ingredients list for sourdough or sourdough starter before choosing a mix.
Only needing to add water tells you nothing about all the ingredients in the dry mix. According to PLUS, PLUS Complete contains whey powder from milk and egg powder.
If you have an allergy, check the current ingredients list and any statement about possible cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on food labels.
Koopmans says its Original mix makes 11 to 13 pancakes, while its Original Shaker Bottle makes five. That difference could matter when you’re cooking for a group.
Count how many people you’re serving, then compare the stated yield and the ingredients you still need to add.
As well as the mix, you’ll need milk, eggs and cooking fat for Koopmans Original.
Its range includes Original, Complete and a shaker bottle, catering for different preparation methods and quantities.
The AH range includes plain, multigrain, organic multigrain and spelt mixes, among others.
Its range includes plain and complete pancake mixes, with different ingredients to add during preparation.
No. The grain type doesn’t tell you whether sourdough has been used. Check the current ingredients list for sourdough or sourdough starter on the mix you want to buy.
Of the examples mentioned, Koopmans Complete and PLUS Complete require only water and cooking fat. With a basic mix such as PLUS Plain, you’ll also need milk and eggs; check the preparation instructions on each pack.
Don’t assume so based on what you need to add yourself. PLUS Complete contains whey powder from milk and egg powder. Check the current ingredients list and information about possible cross-contamination for the specific pack.
No. According to the product information for Koopmans Complete, the batter isn’t meant to be eaten raw and must be cooked thoroughly. Follow the cooking instructions on the pack you’re using.
