Home bakers cooking for two or more
Want to make a bigger batch for Valentine’s Day and choose what to serve with it? A box of plain mix is an option if you want to add milk, eggs and cooking fat. Check how many pancakes the pack says it makes.
Which mix is right for you?
Home cooks short on preparation time
Would you rather not use separate milk and eggs to make the batter? With the complete mixes we looked at, you only need water. A shaker bottle can be handy for a smaller portion, but not every shaker bottle uses water: check the instructions for the one you choose.
Shoppers who need to check ingredients and allergens
The word ‘complete’ does not mean a mix is free from milk or eggs. Check the ingredients, allergen information and ingredients required for preparation on the pack of each product. Other allergens may also be relevant, even for a mix marketed as gluten-free.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how many pancakes you want to make and what you want to add to the batter yourself. Then check the pack for the yield, preparation instructions and allergen information.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Additional ingredients | Check the pack size and whether you need milk, eggs and cooking fat. | If I’m cooking for several people, I want to know what else I need to buy besides the mix. This is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check which liquid you need and how to mix the batter. | For a quick pancake-making session, I want to measure out as few ingredients as possible and use as little mixing equipment as I can. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list, allergen warnings and what you need to add yourself. | If you need to limit certain ingredients, the specific product must suit your needs, including once prepared. This is the most important consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
| Yield and toppings | Compare the stated yield with the number of people eating and your plans for sweet or savoury toppings. | I want to make enough pancakes to enjoy Valentine’s Day just the way I like it. This matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Only checking the box of mix
You’ll usually also need milk, eggs and cooking fat for a plain mix. With the complete mixes we looked at, you only need to add water to make the batter.
Check what you’ll need before you go shopping, so you have everything ready for Valentine’s Day.
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Assuming complete means allergen-free
Only needing to add water does not mean the mix is free from milk or eggs. PLUS Complete lists both ingredients; the ingredients also vary between other products.
Check both the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying.
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Assuming every shaker bottle uses water
The 210 g Koopmans Pancakes Complete shaker bottle requires water, while the 175 g Koopmans Shaker Pancakes requires milk.
Only choose a bottle after checking which liquid it needs and how many pancakes it says it makes.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
Koopmans offers a range of pancake mixes, including Original, Complete, multigrain and gluten-free options.
- According to Koopmans’ product information, you add milk and eggs to Original; Complete only requires water.
- Ingredients and allergens vary between products, so choose based on the specific pack.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand range includes plain, complete, multigrain and gluten-free options.
- Albert Heijn’s category page shows different types of mix that you can compare by preparation method.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack of the product you choose.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes plain, complete and wholemeal pancake mixes.
- Jumbo’s product information for its Plain mix lists ingredients including wheat, buckwheat and oats.
- Check the ingredients required for preparation and any warnings about possible traces of allergens for the product you choose.
PLUS
PLUS offers plain, complete and wholemeal options.
- The preparation instructions for PLUS Plain specify milk and eggs; those for PLUS Complete specify water.
- PLUS Complete contains milk and eggs. Even with a dry mix labelled vegan, check what the standard preparation method requires.
Albona
Albona is ALDI’s own brand, with pancake baking mixes including plain and multigrain options.
- According to ALDI, you prepare the plain mix with milk and eggs.
- Check the pack of the product you choose for ingredients and allergens.
Pancake mix comparisons
The rankings below come from two compiled comparisons, not a quality league table. The first group features standard 400 g plain mixes; the second groups products by the ingredients you need to add and the occasion they suit.
| Rank | Product | Features | Things to consider | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albona Plain pancake baking mix 400 g | Plain mix; add milk and eggs. | Standard plain option in the first compiled comparison; check what else you need to prepare it. Product information: ALDI Netherlands. | ALDI |
| 2 | PLUS Plain pancake mix 400 g | Plain mix; add milk and eggs. | Standard plain option in the same comparison; PLUS’s preparation instructions also specify cooking fat. | PLUS |
| 3 | Jumbo Plain Pancake Mix 400 g | Plain mix containing ingredients including wheat, buckwheat and oats. | Standard plain option in the same comparison; check the pack for information about possible allergens. Product information: Jumbo. | Jumbo |
| 1 | Koopmans Complete Pancake Shaker Bottle 210 g | Add 350 ml water; according to the product information, makes 4 to 6 pancakes. | Shaker bottle for a smaller batch in the second compiled comparison. Product information: Joybuy. | Joybuy |
| 2 | PLUS Complete Pancake Mix 400 g | Add 700 ml water. | Complete mix in a box; check the ingredients if milk or eggs are important to your choice. Product information: PLUS. | PLUS |
| 3 | Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g | Add milk, eggs and butter or oil. | An option where you add more ingredients yourself. Preparation information: Koopmans. | Koopmans |
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These mixes are designed for making pancakes at home, from a small portion in a shaker bottle to a larger batch from a box. Above all, compare the liquid required, the stated yield and the ingredients in the product you choose.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete shaker bottle 210 g
For a small batch when you only want to add water to the mix. According to the product description, the bottle requires 350 ml water and makes 4 to 6 pancakes; the ingredients information lists wheat, egg and milk.
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Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g
For anyone who wants to make a larger batch and add the batter ingredients themselves. The product description specifies 850 ml milk, 2 eggs and butter or oil, and says it makes 11 to 13 pancakes.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes shaker bottle 175 g
A shaker bottle for a smaller portion, but not one where you only need to add water. According to the product description, it requires 400 ml milk and makes 4 to 6 pancakes; the ingredients information also lists egg.
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Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g
A multigrain option for anyone who wants to make a larger batch and add their own toppings. The product description specifies 900 ml milk, 2 eggs and butter or oil, and says it makes 11 to 13 pancakes. The grains listed are wheat, oats, rye and barley.
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g'woon Complete pancake mix 200 g
A complete mix for making pancakes at home. Before use, check the pack for what you need to add and how many pancakes you can make. Pay particular attention to the allergen information: the product description lists wheat, milk and egg, but also includes a conflicting statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is a complete pancake mix free from milk and eggs?
No: for the products we looked at, ‘complete’ means you only need to add water to make the batter. PLUS Complete and Koopmans Complete list milk and eggs; check the pack of the mix you choose.
Can I choose any plain mix if I need to avoid gluten?
No. The standard mixes we looked at contain gluten-containing grains. Choose a product explicitly marketed as gluten-free and check the other allergen information too; for the Koopmans gluten-free mix we looked at, PLUS warns that it may contain egg and milk.
What information should I check on a pack of pancake mix?
Check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and preparation instructions for the product you choose. For the Netherlands, Ondernemersplein states that legally required label information must also be available online when products are sold online; use the information on the pack to prepare the mix.
What can I do if the pancakes start sticking or burning quickly?
Turn the heat down if the pancakes start sticking or burning quickly. Jumbo recommends this in its cooking advice; also follow the preparation instructions for your mix and use the cooking fat specified.