Households with basic ingredients at home
You want to cook several pancakes and already have milk, eggs and butter or oil. With a standard dry mix, you’ll still need to gather these ingredients and make the batter.
Who are the different product formats suited to?
Smaller households with little time to prepare
You want to do less measuring or make just a small portion. A shaker bottle still requires cooking, while with ready-made frozen pancakes you can check whether you can heat up individual ones.
Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens
Before buying, compare the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack. The ingredients can vary between standard mixes, complete mixes and ready-made pancakes.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to make batter, do less measuring or simply heat up a pancake. Then compare the additional ingredients required and portion size within the product format that suits your morning.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients required | Check what you’ll need in addition to the mix, such as milk, eggs and cooking fat, and how many pancakes the pack makes. | I’m cooking for several people and want to use what I already have in the kitchen; for around 38% of consumers, the ingredients required and making a larger batch are the main priorities. |
| Preparation time | Check whether you need to mix batter, shake a bottle or heat up individual pancakes; a mix still needs to be cooked. | On a busy morning, I want to do as little measuring as possible before breakfast is ready. Around 31% of consumers mainly prioritise less preparation. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement for the exact product you’ve chosen. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the pack must meet my requirements before I choose a product format; this is the first consideration for around 23% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Check how many pancakes the pack makes, whether you can use individual portions and the storage instructions on the pack. | When I’m cooking just for myself, I don’t want to make more than I’ll use. A suitable portion size matters most to around 8% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Planning your breakfast around the packet of mix alone
A standard dry mix may still require milk, eggs and cooking fat. For example, the instructions for PLUS Naturel call for milk, eggs and butter or oil as well as the mix.
Before cooking on a busy morning, check the ingredients listed on your chosen pack against what you already have at home.
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Assuming a shaker bottle means you don’t need to cook
A shaker bottle cuts down on measuring and mixing, but it doesn’t give you ready-made pancakes. For Koopmans Schudfles Origineel, Koopmans also says to add milk.
Choose a bottle if making the batter is the step you want to speed up, but remember to leave time to cook the pancakes.
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Assuming ‘complete’ means ‘nothing else required’
The instructions for PLUS Complete say to add water to make the batter, but also call for butter or oil for the pan. The name also tells you nothing about whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy.
Read the preparation instructions, ingredients and allergen information for the exact product.
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Treating frozen pancakes like dry mix
Ready-made frozen pancakes are heated rather than made from batter, so you’ll need to check their ingredients, portions and storage instructions separately.
For a frozen product, check how many pancakes you can use individually and follow the instructions on the pack.
Relevant brands to consider
Koopmans
Koopmans offers a range of options, including standard and complete mixes, a shaker bottle and ready-made frozen pancakes.
- The different product formats let you choose between making batter, doing less measuring and heating up pancakes.
- According to Koopmans’ preparation instructions, the standard mix requires additional ingredients, and batter from a shaker bottle still needs to be cooked.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists its own plain pancake mix in its range.
- A dry plain mix is an option if you want to make the batter yourself.
- Check the preparation instructions and ingredients on the pack you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers its own plain mix alongside other pancake product formats.
- You can compare a packet of dry mix with a format that requires less batter to be measured out.
- Don’t compare the packaging alone: check which ingredients and preparation steps are required for the product you choose.
PLUS
PLUS offers a plain mix and a complete pancake mix, each with different preparation instructions.
- The instructions for PLUS Naturel call for milk and eggs, while PLUS Complete calls for water to make the batter.
- The instructions for PLUS Complete also call for butter or oil for the pan. Check the allergen information for each product.
ALBONA / ALDI
ALBONA is ALDI’s own-brand name for its plain pancake mix.
- The dry mix is suitable if you want to make the batter yourself.
- According to ALDI’s product information, this plain mix also requires milk and eggs.
Belbake / Lidl
Lidl lists Belbake Pannenkoekenmix Origineel as a dry mix.
- Lidl says the 400 g pack makes around twelve pancakes.
- Check the preparation instructions and information on the current pack in store.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
These mixes are for cooking pancakes yourself: choose from packets for making batter and bottles that mean less measuring. If you’d rather heat up a pancake, choose a different product format.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A shaker bottle for anyone who wants to make a smaller amount of batter without measuring out dry mix.
The bottle contains 175 g of mix. Check how much milk to add; the pancakes will still need to be cooked afterwards.
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Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g
A packet of dry mix for making batter when you’re cooking for several people.
The packet contains 400 g of mix. Check the pack to see how much milk, how many eggs and how much cooking fat you’ll need.
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Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g
A packet of dry mix for anyone who wants to make their own batter and cook several pancakes.
The packet contains 400 g of mix. When planning breakfast, allow time for the milk, eggs, cooking fat and cooking; follow the instructions on the pack.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
A complete mix in a bottle for anyone who doesn’t want to measure milk or eggs for the batter.
The pack contains 210 g of mix. Check how much water to add and read the preparation instructions; the batter still needs to be cooked after shaking.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu milk-flavoured pancake mix 100 g
A small pack of mix for cooking pancakes yourself.
The pack contains 100 g of mix. Before deciding whether this portion is right for you, check the additional ingredients required, how many pancakes it makes and the ingredients on the label.
Frequently asked questions
Which pancake mix is right for a busy weekday morning?
A shaker bottle is a good choice if you mainly want to measure out less batter; a complete mix works if you’d rather add water to make the batter. Both still need to be cooked. If you just want to heat up a pancake, ready-made frozen pancakes are a different product format.
What does ‘complete’ mean on pancake mix?
‘Complete’ describes what you need to add to make the batter, not necessarily everything you need to cook the pancakes. Koopmans says to add water to Pancakes Complete; the instructions for PLUS Complete call for butter or oil for the pan as well as water. So check the instructions on your pack.
How do I check for allergens in pancake mix?
Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current pack for the exact product. Plain and complete mixes may differ. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list.
Can I heat frozen pancakes individually?
Yes, if the pancakes can be removed from the pack individually. Koopmans says this is possible with its ready-made frozen pancakes and gives a heating time of around one minute at 800 W. Follow the storage and heating instructions for the pack you choose.