Which pancake mix is right for you?

Quick Sunday bakers

You want to make batter without measuring out lots of separate ingredients. Check whether a complete mix only needs water and whether the stated yield is enough for the number of people eating.

Label checkers looking for wholemeal

You want to know which types of flour are in the mix. Compare fibre and salt per 100 g too, using the same basis each time: dry mix or prepared product.

Shoppers looking for sourdough or managing allergens

A specific composition is essential for you. Check whether the exact product mentions sourdough, and read the current ingredients list and allergen information.

What should you look for when choosing?

For Sunday breakfast, decide which matters most to you: minimal preparation, the grain composition, or checking for sourdough and allergens.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Preparation Check whether you only need to add water or whether you’ll also need milk and eggs. Look at the stated yield. If I want to make batter quickly on Sunday morning, I want to measure out as few separate ingredients as possible. For around 40% of consumers, minimal preparation comes first.
Wholemeal and nutritional value Check the types of flour and the percentages listed. Compare fibre and salt per 100 g using the same preparation basis. When choosing a wholemeal mix, I want to understand which grains I’m buying rather than relying on the front of the pack. Around 30% of consumers give composition their highest priority.
Sourdough and allergens Look for sourdough to be explicitly mentioned in the ingredients or preparation information. Also read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement. If sourdough or an allergen requirement is a deciding factor, I want to know what’s in the specific mix before buying. For around 30% of consumers, checking this is the top priority.

Common mistakes when choosing pancake mix

  • Assuming an ‘artisanal’ look means it contains sourdough

    The look of the packaging doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in the mix. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends looking beyond the words on the front of the pack.

    If you want sourdough, check whether it’s actually mentioned in the ingredients list or preparation information for the specific product.

  • Assuming a dry or wholemeal mix is allergen-free

    The mixes mentioned here have different ingredients: according to the product information, Koopmans Complete Shaker Bottle contains wheat, milk and egg. A wholemeal label doesn’t mean it’s free from gluten-containing grains.

    Before choosing a mix, check both the allergens listed on the packaging and any ‘may contain’ information.

  • Making batter in advance without reading the instructions

    PLUS states that its plain shaker bottle mix should be used straight after mixing with milk.

    Follow the storage and usage instructions for the bottle or mix you actually buy.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Koopmans

Koopmans offers both a classic packet mix and a complete shaker bottle for pancakes.

  • For Pannenkoeken Origineel, you add milk, eggs and butter or oil yourself; according to the product information, Complete Shaker Bottle needs 350 ml of water.
  • Koopmans states that Complete Shaker Bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes. Check whether that’s enough for your breakfast.

Albert Heijn

The AH wholemeal mix is worth considering if you want to check which types of flour it contains.

  • Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour as the first ingredient in this mix.
  • The standard preparation calls for milk and eggs. Check the allergens on the packaging you buy too.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers, among other options, plain and organic pancake mixes with different grain compositions.

  • The ingredients list for the plain mix mentioned here includes wheat flour, buckwheat flour and wholemeal oat flour.
  • Compare the ingredients for each variety; according to the product information, the organic mix made with wheat flour needs milk and eggs.

Lidl / Belbake

Belbake Origineel is a pancake mix sold in a 400 g pack.

  • Lidl states that this pack makes around 12 pancakes.
  • If the ingredients or allergens matter to you, read the information on the packaging.

ALDI / Albona

Albona offers, among other options, a multigrain pancake mix at ALDI.

  • The multigrain mix mentioned here is sold in a 400 g pack.
  • Check the ingredients and what you need to add for the variety you choose on the packaging.

PLUS

PLUS offers plain, complete and wholemeal varieties, and preparation can differ from one mix to another.

  • PLUS states that its wholemeal mix contains 75% wholemeal wheat flour and 20% wholemeal oat flour.
  • Check what you need to add for each variety: the complete mix is made with water, while the plain shaker bottle mentioned here needs milk.

A Joybuy product for a quick Sunday breakfast

This complete mix is a good choice if you want to minimise measuring. If you specifically want sourdough, check separately whether it’s mentioned on the product packaging.

Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g

Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g

For a Sunday breakfast when you want to measure out as few separate ingredients as possible: according to the product information, you add 350 ml of water. Koopmans states that it makes 4 to 6 pancakes.

Check that this is enough for you, and read the current packaging for ingredients and allergens, including wheat, milk and egg.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is ordinary pancake mix also a sourdough mix?

No, you can’t tell from the product category. Check whether sourdough is explicitly mentioned in the ingredients list or preparation information for the mix you’ve chosen; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a word such as ‘artisanal’ is no substitute for reading the label.

What else do I need to add to pancake mix?

It depends on the product. According to the preparation information, the AH wholemeal mix needs milk and eggs, while you add 350 ml of water to the Koopmans Complete Shaker Bottle. Read the baking instructions on the packaging you choose too.

Is wholemeal pancake mix automatically gluten-free?

No. The wholemeal mixes mentioned from Albert Heijn and PLUS contain wheat. If you need a gluten-free product, check the label and allergen information for the specific product on the current packaging.

What if the online information differs from the packaging?

Use the information on the packaging you actually buy for the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation. Check it again before use, especially if allergens or a specific composition are important to your choice.