If you want to keep the number of ingredients to a minimum before a car journey, choose a mix that only needs water for the batter. A classic mix also needs milk and eggs, but may be suitable if you want to make a larger batch. Make the pancakes at home and plan how you’ll keep them cool during the journey. If you have an allergy, check the label on the pack you’ve chosen, even if it says ‘complete’.
You want to make pancakes at home without having to gather lots of separate ingredients first. A complete mix can make preparing the batter easier; a shaker bottle can reduce the mixing involved, although depending on the variety, you may still need milk.
You’ll make them before the journey, then need to think about cooling them, storing them in a sealed container and how long they’ll be out of the fridge. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises not leaving highly perishable food out of the fridge for more than two hours.
A product name doesn’t tell you everything about gluten, milk or egg. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually using, including for a mix labelled gluten-free.
First decide whether you want to make the batter with water or use milk and eggs as well. Then think about how you’ll store the cooked pancakes during the journey and what information on the label matters to the people travelling with you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Check what you need to add to the mix and how many pancakes the manufacturer says the pack makes. | If I’m making pancakes just before setting off, I want to prepare as few ingredients as possible; around 40% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Keeping them fresh during the journey | Plan how you’ll cool and store the pancakes in a sealed container. Bear in mind the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice not to leave highly perishable food out of the fridge for more than two hours. | For a longer journey, I want to know in advance how I’ll keep my pancakes cool; for around 30% of consumers, safe transportation is the main concern. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check the current ingredients and allergen information, including ‘may contain’ warnings, for the exact variety you’ve chosen. | If someone travelling with me needs to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the front of the pack; around 20% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Quantity and where to buy | Compare the pack size with the number of pancakes you want to make and check where you can buy the variety you’ve chosen. | For a small group, I don’t want to take an unnecessarily large pack or make a wasted stop at a shop; around 10% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
Pancake mix needs to be made into batter and cooked first. According to Koopmans’ product information, Origineel needs milk and eggs, while you add water to Compleet to make the batter.
Before buying, check which ingredients you’ll need to add and allow time to make the pancakes before setting off.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says covered pancakes can be kept in the fridge for two days and advises not leaving highly perishable food out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Let the pancakes cool, store them in a sealed container and keep them chilled if you can’t eat them within that time.
The regular and complete mixes reviewed have different ingredients; ‘complete’ refers to how you prepare the mix, not to whether it is free from gluten, milk or egg.
If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, check the current ingredients and allergen information. If you need a gluten-free option, choose a mix explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the other ingredients too.
Koopmans offers several preparation options, including Origineel, Compleet, a mix labelled gluten-free and a shaker bottle.
PLUS Complete mix is a supermarket own-brand option for batter that, according to the product information, needs water added.
Albona is ALDI’s own brand, which includes a multigrain pancake baking mix.
Belbake is Lidl’s own brand, with an original pancake mix.
These mixes are intended for making pancakes before setting off. Pack sizes vary, as do the ingredients you need to add to the batter. First choose a preparation method that suits you, then plan how to store the pancakes during the journey.
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An option if you want to make batter with water before setting off and cook a small batch of pancakes.
Pack size: 210 g. Make the batter and cook the pancakes before your journey, and check the allergen information on the pack.
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The shaker bottle is ideal if you want to make a small batch and mix the batter in the pack.
Pack size: 175 g. You’ll need milk for the batter; check the allergen information on the bottle.
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This pack is a good option if you want to make a larger batch at home and have milk, eggs and cooking fat ready.
Pack size: 400 g. Check the preparation instructions and the information on cereals containing gluten on the pack.
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An original mix for making pancakes at home before setting off, if you can provide the extra ingredients needed for the batter.
Pack size: 400 g. You’ll need milk, eggs and cooking fat for preparation. If you have allergies, check the label.
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A smaller pack for making batter with water and an egg before setting off, then cooking the pancakes at home.
Pack size: 100 g. Milk flavour alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the mix; check the label, especially if you need to avoid allergens.
No. The mixes described need to be made into batter and cooked first. Choose a variety based on the ingredients you can add at home, then take the cooked pancakes with you.
Let them cool, store them in a sealed container and plan to keep them chilled during the journey. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says covered pancakes can be kept in the fridge for two days and advises not leaving highly perishable food out of the fridge for more than two hours.
According to Koopmans, you only need to add water to make the batter for the Koopmans Compleet mix reviewed here. You’ll still need to cook the pancakes. For other varieties, always check their own preparation instructions and what you’ll need for cooking.
Not necessarily: the PLUS Complete mix reviewed lists wheat, milk and egg, and you should check the ingredients of other complete mixes on each pack too. Before use, read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
Choose a mix explicitly labelled gluten-free, then check the other ingredients and allergens. For example, the Koopmans gluten-free mix listed by Albert Heijn still needs milk and eggs for preparation.
