If by ‘thick cut’ you mean thick slices of bread that you can cut, choose a bread mix or bread recipe, and follow the instructions for preparing the dough and proving it, if required. If you’re after a substantial snack cooked in a frying pan, pancake mix is the right choice for that method. Check the instructions for each mix to see what ingredients you need to add, and check the allergens listed on the packaging.
You’re after a substantial pancake as a snack and don’t want to make bread dough. A complete pancake mix can be handy if you want to add as few ingredients as possible. Just check the instructions and allergen information for the variety you choose.
You want to bake bread to fill or toast in thick slices later. In that case, choose a bread mix or bread recipe rather than assuming pancake batter will give you the same result. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread contains ingredients such as water, salt and yeast or another raising agent.
You want to make pancakes and are choosing between options such as plain, multigrain, wholemeal, spelt or organic. Compare the ingredients, allergens and additional ingredients required for the exact varieties you’re considering; the description on the front doesn’t tell you everything about what’s in them.
First decide whether you want to make a slice of bread you can cut, or a pancake cooked in a pan. Then compare the preparation and ingredients within the relevant product category.
Choose this when: You want to make a pancake or a substantial snack in a frying pan.
Consider: The mixes reviewed are intended for making batter; they’re not confirmed as a substitute for bread dough when you want sliceable bread.
Choose this when: You want to bake bread that you can cut into thick slices later.
Consider: Follow the dough preparation and any proving instructions for the product or recipe you choose; this is different from making pancakes.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sliceable bread | Choose a product or recipe specifically intended for bread, and read the instructions for making and proving the dough. | I want to cut thick slices to fill or toast, not serve a pancake. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this kind of bread texture. |
| A substantial snack cooked in a pan | Check that the mix is intended for pancakes, and follow the specified amount of liquid and cooking instructions. | If I want to cook something straight away in a pan, a pancake is the intended result. For around 30% of consumers, this method of cooking is the main priority. |
| Adding few ingredients | Compare what you need to add yourself, and read the ingredients and allergen list for the exact variety. | I want to make batter without having to buy several additional ingredients first. This convenience is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
A mix intended for pancake batter isn’t necessarily suitable as a bread mix. You could end up using a different method from the one you need to make thick slices of bread.
Before buying, decide whether you want to cook a pancake in a pan or bake bread. For sliceable bread, look for a mix specifically intended for bread or choose a bread recipe, and follow the relevant instructions.
‘Complete’ means you need to add fewer ingredients during preparation. On its own, the word says nothing about whether a product is suitable if you have an allergy or follow a vegan diet.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you want to use.
You may need to add milk, eggs or other ingredients to one mix, while water may be all you need for a complete variety. So the pack weight doesn’t tell you everything about the preparation.
Before choosing a variety, compare the additional ingredients required and the stated number of pancakes it makes.
Koopmans offers original and complete pancake mixes, as well as varieties such as multigrain and wholemeal. According to Koopmans, you only need to add water to Pannenkoeken Compleet.
Albert Heijn’s range overview lists plain, complete, multigrain, wholemeal and spelt varieties among its pancake mixes.
Jumbo offers a plain mix and an organic pancake mix, among other products; both varieties mentioned come in 400 g packs.
Dr. Oetker’s Kaiserschmarrn mix is intended for making sweet pieces of pancake, including with raisins.
For sliceable bread, it’s best to choose a product or recipe specifically intended for bread; the pancake mixes reviewed are intended for making batter. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread contains ingredients such as water, salt and yeast or another raising agent. To get the result you want, follow the dough and preparation instructions for your bread mix or recipe.
According to Koopmans, you only need to add water to Pannenkoeken Compleet. That doesn’t mean the mix is allergen-free or suitable for a vegan diet; check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety you want to use, even if its name includes ‘complete’ or ‘organic’. The mixes mentioned have different ingredients, so don’t assume a product is suitable for an allergy based on its name.
No. The instructions for Dr. Oetker Kaiserschmarrn state that the batter must not be eaten raw and must be cooked all the way through. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
