Choose a complete pancake mix if you want to make the batter with water, but check what cooking fat you’ll need for the pan too. If you have milk and eggs at home, a classic mix is another option. If you prefer wholemeal flour or need a gluten-free option, let the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack guide your choice. Finally, compare the stated yield with the number of people you’re serving.
If you want to make a small or medium-sized stack with just a few extra ingredients, compare complete mixes and shaker bottles. According to Koopmans’ product information, one shaker bottle needs water and the other milk; both make 4 to 6 pancakes.
If you’re looking for a base that works with both sweet and savoury toppings, check how many pancakes the manufacturer says a pack makes. Koopmans states that its Original mix makes 11 to 13 pancakes, while its organic Multigrain variety makes 13 to 15.
If the type of grain or a dietary requirement is important to you, read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety. ‘Multigrain’, ‘complete’ and ‘gluten-free’ don’t mean the same thing.
Start with what you have at home to make the batter, then decide how many pancakes you want to make. If you have specific grain preferences or dietary requirements, check the pack’s label.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Check what you need to add to the batter and whether you’ll need cooking fat. | If I want to start cooking straight away, I don’t want to have to go out for milk or eggs first. Around 36% of consumers prioritise keeping preparation to a minimum. |
| Type of grain | Look for the grains you want or wholemeal flour in the ingredients list. | I want to choose a mix with the grains I’m looking for, even if it takes more preparation. For around 29% of consumers, the choice of grains matters most. |
| Quantity and yield | Compare the pack weight, stated yield and any ingredients you need to add. | When I’m feeding several people, I want to know whether one pack will be enough so I can plan my shopping accordingly. The yield is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about cross-contamination. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know exactly what’s in this mix. For around 14% of consumers, dietary requirements or allergens come first. |
A complete mix can make preparing the batter easier without meaning that water is all you need for the whole process. PLUS says to use water for the batter in its Complete mix, but also butter or oil for the pan.
Read both the batter and cooking instructions before you finish your shopping list.
According to the product information, Koopmans’ organic Multigrain mix contains wheat and oats, among other ingredients. So, choosing a mix with several grains is different from needing to avoid gluten.
If you need a gluten-free mix, choose a product labelled as such and check the current label, including any warnings about cross-contamination.
The ingredients you need to add, grains and allergens can differ between pancake mixes from the same brand. So compare varieties, not just brand names.
Offers Original, Complete, Multigrain and a separate Gluten Free variety, among others.
Its pancake mix range includes plain, complete and multigrain varieties, as well as mixes from other brands.
Offers a 400 g own-brand Complete mix.
Offers own-brand Plain and Complete varieties, with different preparation instructions.
ALDI lists a 400 g Albona multigrain baking mix for pancakes.
Lidl lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix, 400 g.
These mixes offer options for a takeaway night, with different preparation methods, grain preferences and pack sizes. For each variety, compare what you need to add and how many pancakes you want to make. The product name is no substitute for the information on the label.
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A shaker bottle for making batter with water when you’re cooking for a small group. According to Joybuy’s product information, this variety needs 350 ml of water and one bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes, so bear that yield in mind when cooking for more people. Check the current label if you have dietary requirements or need to check allergens.
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A mix to consider if the type of grain is your main priority. Check the pack to see which grains are used, what you need for the batter and how many pancakes you can make. The word Wholegrains doesn’t mean that a mix is gluten-free.
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A classic mix for when you have milk and eggs at home and are cooking for several people. Koopmans says its Original mix makes 11 to 13 pancakes; you’ll also need milk, eggs and cooking fat. Check the allergens on the pack and cook the batter thoroughly, following the preparation instructions.
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A shaker bottle for a small batch if you have milk to hand. According to Joybuy’s product information, add 400 ml of milk and the bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes. When shopping, don’t confuse this variety with the shaker bottle that uses water.
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A 100 g pack to compare if you’re looking for a smaller quantity of mix. Before buying, check the preparation instructions, ingredients and yield on the pack to work out how many you’ll need for the number of people you’re serving. The words milk-flavoured don’t, on their own, tell you anything about allergens.
Water may be all you need for the batter, but check the cooking instructions too. Koopmans says to use water for its Complete mix; PLUS also recommends butter or oil for the pan with its Complete mix.
No, those descriptions don’t mean that a mix is gluten-free. Koopmans’ organic Multigrain mix lists wheat and oats, among other ingredients. If you need a gluten-free option, choose a product labelled as such and read the current label.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods. Check the packaging even if you’ve looked at the product information online.
Don’t do this with Koopmans Original: its product information says the batter isn’t meant to be eaten raw and must be heated all the way through. For other mixes, follow the preparation instructions on the pack.
