Breakfast with little time to prepare
If you want to make batter quickly and keep washing-up to a minimum on a weekday, compare complete mixes and shaker bottles. Check the packaging to see whether you need water, milk, oil or butter.
Which option is right for you?
Breakfast with a wholegrain base
If the type of grain matters more to you than keeping preparation to a minimum, check the ingredients, fibre content in the nutritional information and any additions required.
Anyone who needs to choose gluten-free
A standard wheat or wholegrain mix is not a suitable substitute for a pancake mix explicitly labelled gluten-free. Also check the current packaging for any other allergens you need to avoid.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which requirement matters most for your breakfast: less preparation, a wholegrain base or gluten-free suitability. Then compare the preparation instructions and serving sizes on the individual packs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal preparation | Check what you need to add and whether the prepared batter needs to be used straight away. | On a busy morning, I want to make batter without getting lots of ingredients ready or creating a pile of washing-up. Around 50% of consumers put convenience first when making this choice. |
| Wholegrain base and fibre | Check which grains are in the mix and compare fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g of prepared product. | If I’m specifically looking for a mix made with wholegrains, I’m happy to add extra ingredients during preparation. For around 38% of consumers, this preference for wholegrains and fibre is the most important factor. |
| Gluten-free suitability | Check for the ‘gluten-free’ label, the current ingredients and any other allergens you need to avoid. | If I need to eat gluten-free, I can’t use a standard wholegrain or complete mix as an alternative. This is the priority for around 12% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
‘Complete’ doesn’t mean you won’t need anything else
A mix that only needs water still has to be fried. PLUS also lists butter or oil for frying with its PLUS Complete mix.
Check the ingredients and equipment needed on the packaging, and see what you already have at home.
-
A shaker bottle isn’t automatically suitable for making batter in advance
According to PLUS product information, batter mixed with milk in the shaker bottle we looked at must be used straight away. That’s inconvenient if you only want to make a few pancakes.
Choose an amount you’ll use straight away and check the instructions on the bottle.
-
Wholegrain doesn’t mean gluten-free
According to Albert Heijn, the AH wholegrain mix contains wholemeal wheat flour and gluten. So a wholegrain label doesn’t mean the mix is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
If you need a gluten-free option, choose a mix explicitly labelled as gluten-free and check the current packaging for any other relevant allergens.
-
An ingredients list you checked earlier may have changed
Albert Heijn and PLUS state that product information, including ingredients and allergen information, may change.
Check the physical packaging before use, especially if you need to avoid an allergen.
A guide to the brands
Koopmans
Among the products we looked at, Koopmans offers a complete mix, an original mix and a gluten-free option.
- According to Albert Heijn, Koopmans Compleet only needs water for the batter; Koopmans says its original recipe requires milk and eggs.
- The varieties aren’t interchangeable if you have dietary requirements: the Complete mix we looked at contains wheat, milk, egg and rye, among other ingredients.
AH
The AH wholegrain mix we looked at is worth considering if you’re specifically looking for a pancake mix made with wholemeal wheat flour.
- Albert Heijn lists 2.9 g of fibre per 100 g of prepared product and also provides a plant-based preparation method.
- The standard preparation requires milk, eggs and oil or margarine. The mix contains wheat and gluten.
PLUS
The PLUS products we looked at show the difference between a complete mix in a box and a shaker bottle.
- You add water to the PLUS Complete mix; with the shaker bottle we looked at, you mix the batter in the bottle.
- The Complete mix also needs butter or oil for frying. The shaker bottle we looked at requires milk, and the mixed batter must be used straight away.
Jumbo
The Jumbo Complete shaker bottle we looked at is an option if you want to make a smaller amount of batter straight away.
- Jumbo describes a preparation method using approximately 400 ml of water, shaking for about a minute and leaving the batter to stand for 2–3 minutes.
- According to the label, the prepared batter must be used straight away; the mix contains wheat, milk and egg.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These products offer different ways to prepare breakfast on a weekday: shaker bottles for smaller batches, and mixes that need extra ingredients added. Compare the instructions and current packaging for each variety; where available, Joybuy product information lists the quantities needed and the number of pancakes you can make.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
A shaker bottle for making a smaller amount of batter straight away. According to the product description, add 350 ml of water and shake the bottle for one minute; it makes 4–6 pancakes.
The product description lists wheat, egg and milk as allergens. Check the current label if you have allergies.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A shaker bottle for making a smaller batch if you have milk at home. The product description lists 400 ml of milk, shaking for about one minute and a yield of 4–6 pancakes.
The description lists cereals containing gluten and egg; the product may contain milk. Check the current packaging if this is relevant to you.
Image unavailable
Xiaoyeqingzhu High-Calcium Pancake Mix with Milk Flavor 100 g
The preparation instructions for this pancake mix call for 60 ml of water and one egg before frying the batter in a pan. The mix contains wheat and gluten.
If the calcium content matters to you, check the nutritional information on the packaging; don’t assume a quantity based on the product name.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
A pack for making a larger batch: the product description says it makes 11–13 pancakes. You’ll need to add 900 ml of milk, two eggs and butter or oil.
If you prefer wholegrains, compare the full ingredients list rather than relying on the product name alone. The listed ingredients include wheat, oats, rye and barley.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
For anyone who wants to make 11–13 pancakes and has the extra ingredients at home. The product description lists 850 ml of milk, two eggs and butter or oil; the batter must be cooked through.
The product information lists cereals containing gluten and possible traces of milk and egg. Check the current label if you have allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Which pancake mix should I choose if I don’t want to add milk or eggs?
Look for a complete mix whose instructions only require water for the batter. For the Koopmans Compleet mix we looked at, Albert Heijn lists 700 ml of water for around 10 pancakes; also check which cooking fat you’ll need.
Can I make a wholegrain pancake mix using plant-based ingredients?
Albert Heijn also provides a preparation method for its wholegrain mix using a plant-based drink and, if you like, apple sauce or an egg replacer. Check the current packaging for the instructions and ingredients for that specific variety; the mix contains wheat and gluten.
Can I keep batter from a shaker bottle until tomorrow?
Not if the label says to use the mixed batter straight away. This is stated on the PLUS shaker bottle and Jumbo Complete shaker bottle we looked at; check the instructions on your own packaging before mixing.
How long can I keep cooked pancakes?
Voedingscentrum recommends keeping cooked pancakes in the fridge for two days or in the freezer for three months. Store leftovers in a well-sealed container; these times apply to cooked pancakes, not batter from a shaker bottle.