BBQ hosts cooking for a group
If several guests will be eating, the yield per pack helps you work out how many packs to buy. Albert Heijn states that Koopmans Original 400 g makes 11 to 13 pancakes, while Koopmans Compleet 400 g makes around 10.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Outdoor cooks who want to pack light
If you don’t want to measure out milk and eggs for the batter at the BBQ, consider a complete mix. Just check what else you’ll need to cook the pancakes. A shaker bottle takes up less space, but its yield differs from that of a 400 g pack.
Hosts catering for their guests
If ingredients or allergens are a concern for a guest, choose based on the specific pack. Wheat, milk and egg can play different roles depending on the mix and how it’s prepared. And a plant-based preparation doesn’t mean every topping will be suitable.
What should you look for when choosing?
For a shared BBQ, first decide how many pancakes you want to make. Then check what you’ll need to add to the batter on site, and make sure the ingredients suit your guests.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Making enough pancakes | Check the stated yield per pack and work out how many packs you’ll need for your group. | If lots of guests want a pancake, I want to know whether one pack will be enough or if I need to make extra batter. For around 29% of consumers, getting a sufficient yield would be the main consideration. |
| Preparing them on site | Check whether you need to add water, or milk and eggs as well, and what you’ll need for cooking. | When I’m cooking outdoors, I want to bring as few separate ingredients as possible. That’s why around 29% of consumers would prioritise ease of preparation. |
| Shopping for the group | Compare not just the packs, but also their yield and the ingredients you’ll need to add yourself. | For a shared meal, I want to see the full shopping list, not just the box of mix. For around 21% of consumers, this overall consideration would matter most. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label for each variety, including its ingredients and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to choose a mix that meets their needs and take care when cooking, too. For around 21% of consumers, choosing according to the ingredients would be their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Planning to use a shaker bottle as the only pack for a group
According to Joybuy, the 210 g Koopmans Schudfles Compleet makes 4 to 6 pancakes. That’s quite different from a pack with a stated yield of around 10 or more pancakes.
Use the yield on the pack to work out how many bottles or packs you need. For a larger batch, you could use a shaker bottle alongside a bigger pack.
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Assuming a complete mix is automatically suitable for people with allergies
‘Complete’ describes what you need to add to the batter, not who the mix is suitable for. The Koopmans and PLUS complete mixes reviewed contain milk and egg ingredients.
Read the label for your chosen variety before buying, then check it again when you’re ready to cook, especially if a guest needs to avoid an ingredient.
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Only adding the box of mix to your shopping list
For Koopmans Original, Albert Heijn lists 850 ml of milk, 2 eggs and butter or oil in addition to the mix. A complete mix only needs water for the batter, but you’ll still need cooking fat.
Make a note of the extra ingredients and toppings you’ll need, too. That way, you can choose a method that suits what you’ll have to hand at the BBQ.
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Relying on a product page instead of checking the label
The information on the pack you’ll actually use is particularly important if any guests need to avoid certain ingredients.
When you buy the product and before you prepare it, check the ingredients, allergens, preparation instructions and use-by date on the pack.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
Koopmans offers standard and complete 400 g mixes, as well as smaller shaker bottles. Preparation methods and yields vary by variety.
- Albert Heijn states that Original 400 g makes 11 to 13 pancakes and Compleet 400 g makes around 10; the complete variety only needs water for the batter.
- If you need to avoid gluten, milk or egg, don’t rely on the brand name alone. Check the label for the specific mix.
AH
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes 400 g plain, complete and wholemeal pancake mixes.
- Albert Heijn states that AH Naturel 400 g makes around 12 pancakes.
- The standard preparation for AH Naturel also needs milk, eggs and cooking fat, so bring these along if you’re cooking outdoors.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers 400 g own-brand mixes in varieties including plain, complete, wholemeal and organic.
- If you want to choose a preparation method or type of grain from this range, you can compare the varieties individually.
- An organic variety isn’t automatically suitable for someone with an allergy, so check its ingredient information as well.
PLUS
PLUS offers 400 g plain, complete and wholemeal mixes, as well as a smaller bottle mix.
- According to PLUS’s preparation instructions, its 400 g complete mix needs water for the batter, plus butter or oil for cooking.
- For complete mixes and bottle varieties, check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose. The bottle also contains less than a 400 g box.
Albona
Albona is ALDI’s own brand, with options including a 400 g plain pancake mix and a multigrain baking mix.
- The two varieties mentioned give you a choice of mix while keeping to the same pack weight.
- For a group, compare the yield and preparation instructions on the pack, and check its ingredients and allergens too.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These products include a standard mix, a Wholegrains variety and two smaller shaker bottles for a BBQ pancake session. Choose between the packs and bottles according to how much you want to make and what you can bring for the preparation.
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Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g
A good choice if you’re looking for a Wholegrains variety to share. Check the pack to see what you need to add to the batter, and check the allergens if they’re relevant to your guests.
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Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g
For a shared batch when you can bring milk and eggs. Joybuy states that each pack makes 11 to 13 pancakes. According to Albert Heijn’s preparation information, you’ll need to add 850 ml of milk and 2 eggs, and use butter or oil for cooking. If anyone has an allergy, check the current label.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete shaker bottle 210 g
For a small batch or as an addition to larger packs. Joybuy states that this shaker bottle needs 350 ml of water and makes 4 to 6 pancakes. Check the ingredients on the pack if a guest needs to avoid milk, egg or wheat.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A smaller shaker bottle to consider if you don’t want to make batter for the whole group straight away. Before you set off, check the pack to see what you need to add to this variety and how many pancakes it makes.
Frequently asked questions
How much pancake mix do I need for a BBQ group?
Use the stated yield per pack to work out how many packs you need. Albert Heijn states that Koopmans Original 400 g makes 11 to 13 pancakes, AH Naturel 400 g makes around 12, and Koopmans Compleet 400 g makes around 10. Then decide how many pancakes you want to be able to make for each guest.
What’s the difference between standard and complete pancake mix?
For the standard mixes mentioned, you add milk and eggs; for the complete varieties reviewed, you use water for the batter. Albert Heijn states that Koopmans Original needs 850 ml of milk and 2 eggs, while AH Naturel needs 800 ml of milk and 3 eggs. You may also need butter or oil for cooking.
Is one shaker bottle enough for lots of guests?
That depends on how many pancakes you want to serve. Joybuy states that the 210 g Koopmans Schudfles Compleet makes 4 to 6 pancakes, so for a larger batch you’ll need several packs or can use the bottle as an extra. Follow the preparation and storage instructions for the specific variety on each bottle.
Where can I check allergens if guests are eating?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack of the variety you’re going to use. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods. Check any other ingredients you’re adding too, and avoid contact with ingredients that the guest needs to avoid.