Choose a wholemeal mix if the grain base is your priority, an original mix if you want a classic base for a range of toppings, or a complete mix or shaker bottle if you’d rather measure out fewer separate ingredients. Then compare the number of pancakes per pack, what else you need to add and the allergen information on the exact variant.
If you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal mix, check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients and compare the nutritional information for the variants you’re considering. Remember to take into account any ingredients you’ll add to the batter yourself.
For a shared breakfast, it’s worth checking how many pancakes the manufacturer says each pack makes. An original mix can provide a base for both sweet and savoury toppings.
A shaker bottle or complete mix can mean measuring out fewer separate ingredients. Check what you need to add and whether the stated yield is enough for the number of people you’re serving.
First decide what matters most for your weekend breakfast: the grain base, ease of preparation or how many pancakes you’ll get. Then compare the ingredients and preparation instructions on the exact packs.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Grain base and ingredients | Check which types of flour the mix contains. Compare fibre only on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g of mix, and consider what you’ll add yourself. | If I want a wholemeal base, I want to be able to see which grains I’m using in the ingredients. Around 40% of consumers are said to choose the grain base and ingredients as their main deciding factor. |
| Preparation | Check whether you need water, milk, eggs or cooking fat, and whether you’ll need a bowl or can simply shake the pack. | On a busy morning, I want to make batter without measuring out lots of separate ingredients. For around 30% of consumers, less preparation is said to be the main priority. |
| Yield and use | Compare the stated number of pancakes per pack with the number of people you’re serving and the toppings you plan to use. | If everyone’s having breakfast, I want to be able to make enough pancakes with a base that works with our toppings. That combination is said to be the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
Koopmans and Albert Heijn wholemeal mixes list wheat or other grains containing gluten. So the name of the mix doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with a food allergy.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before using the mix.
PLUS Complete batter needs water; PLUS also recommends butter or oil for cooking. Fewer ingredients for the batter doesn’t mean you can skip the cooking fat.
Check the preparation instructions before you shop, and have the right pan and any additional ingredients ready.
Koopmans says its Schudfles Origineel makes around five pancakes, compared with 11 to 13 for a pack of Origineel. That means the packs aren’t necessarily interchangeable for a family breakfast.
Count how many people you’re serving and compare the stated yield before choosing a pack size or format.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is particularly important when the ingredients determine which mix you can use.
Check the pack label before use and make sure you’re comparing the exact variant when you buy.
Koopmans offers original, wholemeal and complete pancake mixes, as well as a shaker bottle. Preparation methods and yields vary by variant.
AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren is an option if you want to compare the grain base shown on the label.
Jumbo offers several types of pancake mix to compare, including its own-brand wholemeal mix.
PLUS offers both a complete mix and a wholemeal mix, giving you two different preparation options to compare.
Belbake Origineel is a pancake mix to consider if you shop in store at Lidl.
Albona is the brand listed by ALDI for a multigrain pancake mix.
These products offer options to compare for a small breakfast, a larger stack or less work making the batter. Check the grain base, preparation instructions and yield for each product individually.
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A shaker bottle to consider if you want to use fewer batter-making utensils for a small breakfast.
175 g pack. Check the ingredients you need to add, the yield and the allergen information on the exact pack.
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An original mix to compare if you’re looking for a classic base for several people.
400 g pack. Check the pack to see how many pancakes it makes and which ingredients you need to add.
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A mix to compare by grain composition if choosing between an original and a wholemeal base matters to you.
400 g pack. Don’t rely on the name alone: read the ingredients list to see which types of flour and proportions the exact variant contains.
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A complete mix to consider if you want to measure out fewer separate ingredients for the batter.
210 g pack. Check this variant’s instructions for the ingredients you need to add and how many pancakes it makes; don’t assume it has the same yield as another complete mix.
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A small pack to consider if you want to decide for yourself how much to add and what portion size to make.
100 g pack. Before buying, check the preparation instructions, yield and allergen information; the words ‘milk flavour’ alone don’t tell you which allergens are present.
No. The wholemeal mixes mentioned from Koopmans and Albert Heijn contain wheat or other grains containing gluten. If you have a food allergy, read the allergen information on the exact pack; the word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable.
For the batter of Koopmans Compleet, Koopmans lists water as the only addition, but you’ll still need a pan and cooking fat. PLUS also lists water and butter or oil for its complete mix; follow the instructions for the variant you buy.
Albert Heijn describes a preparation option using a plant-based drink, with apple sauce or an egg replacer if you like. That doesn’t automatically make the mix suitable for every diet, so check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
Check the physical packaging of the exact variant before using the mix too, as product information can change. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be labelled on prepacked foods in the Netherlands.
