Who are these options for?

Busy mornings with little time to prepare

If you don’t want to mix and cook before you leave, look for pre-cooked pancakes that you can reheat. Check whether the packaging says to keep them chilled or frozen.

Breakfast fans looking for wholemeal or multigrain options

A dry mix made with wholemeal flour or several grains could suit you if you have time to cook the pancakes yourself. If it’s seeds you want for added texture, check the ingredients list rather than relying on the word ‘multigrain’.

Home cooks who want to measure out fewer ingredients

If you don’t mind cooking but want to avoid setting out lots of separate ingredients, the complete mixes from Koopmans and PLUS are made with water, according to their product information. You’ll still need a pan and cooking fat.

What should you look for when choosing?

Ready-made pancakes

Best for: when you only want to reheat them in the morning.

Trade-off: these aren’t a pancake mix; follow the storage and reheating instructions for the product you choose.

Complete pancake mix

Best for: when you want to cook the pancakes yourself but add fewer ingredients to the batter.

Trade-off: according to their instructions, the complete mixes from Koopmans and PLUS still need to be mixed and cooked.

Wholemeal or multigrain mix

Best for: when the types of flour listed matter more to you than keeping preparation to a minimum.

Trade-off: a wholemeal or multigrain label doesn’t confirm that seeds have been added.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Preparation time Are the pancakes already cooked, or do you still need to make batter and use a pan? Check the storage instructions too. If I’m having breakfast just before I leave, I don’t want to make batter. Around 36% of consumers prioritise minimal preparation in the morning.
Grains and seeds Check which types of flour and any seeds are explicitly listed in the ingredients. Compare fibre per 100 g only when the products are prepared on the same basis. I want to cook the pancakes myself and care most about the grains listed or the texture from seeds. This composition matters most to around 29% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current packaging for the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, even if you’re choosing a plant-based way to prepare the mix. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label determines whether a mix is suitable for me. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers.
Portions and leftovers Check how much you’ll make and whether prepared batter needs to be used straight away. I don’t want to make more batter than I’ll use. For around 14% of consumers, minimising leftovers is the main consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain means the mix contains seeds

    Albert Heijn’s ingredient information for Koopmans Meergranen lists several types of flour, but no seeds. So the product name alone isn’t enough if seeds are a must-have for you.

    Before buying, check that the current ingredients list includes the seeds you’re looking for.

  • Reading ‘complete’ as ‘ready to eat’

    With the complete mixes from Koopmans and PLUS, you only need to add water, but you’ll still need to make the batter and cook the pancakes. That means more steps in the morning than simply reheating them.

    Choose pre-cooked pancakes if you don’t want to cook just before you leave.

  • Assuming plant-based preparation means the mix is allergen-free

    Albert Heijn describes a plant-based preparation option for its wholemeal mix, but the ingredients list includes wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten. Using a different ingredient to prepare it doesn’t change what’s in the dry mix.

    If you have an allergy, check both the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.

  • Judging by the packaging alone

    A boxed mix and a bottled mix don’t always call for the same additions. PLUS says batter made with its bottled mix should be used straight away after mixing with milk.

    Before you start, check which ingredients you need to add and whether you can use all the prepared batter straight away.

Brands to consider

These examples show how preparation and product formats vary across ranges. Choose a specific product based on its own label and instructions.

Koopmans

Koopmans offers dry mixes such as Meergranen and Compleet, as well as ready-made wholemeal pancakes.

  • According to the product information at Albert Heijn, you add 700 ml of water to Koopmans Compleet.
  • You still need to cook this mix. Koopmans’ ready-made wholemeal pancakes should be kept in the freezer.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists dry wholemeal and multigrain mixes, as well as chilled wholemeal pancakes from Hamsterchef.

  • The ingredients list for the AH wholemeal mix includes wholemeal wheat flour; the Hamsterchef pancakes are already cooked.
  • You still need to cook the dry mix. For the chilled pancakes, check the storage instructions and use-by date.

ALDI / Albona

ALDI describes Albona as a 400 g multigrain pancake mix and also lists ready-made pancakes.

  • The different formats let you choose between cooking your own pancakes and pancakes that only need reheating.
  • Check the Albona packaging for the ingredients and allergen information relevant to your choice.

PLUS

PLUS offers a complete mix in a box and a bottled mix; both are designed for cooking pancakes yourself.

  • PLUS says to add 700 ml of water to the complete boxed mix.
  • The bottled mix requires milk; once mixed, PLUS says the batter should be used straight away.

Lidl / Belbake

Lidl lists Belbake Pannenkoekenmix Origineel as a 400 g pack that makes around 12 pancakes.

  • The stated yield can help you choose the right amount.
  • If seeds or certain allergens affect your choice, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.

Pancake products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a complete pancake mix a good choice for breakfast just before you leave?

Only if you cook the pancakes in advance or have time to do so that morning. The complete mixes from Koopmans and PLUS mean you need to add fewer ingredients to the batter, but you’ll still need to mix and cook it.

Does a multigrain pancake mix contain seeds?

The word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that a product contains seeds. Albert Heijn’s ingredient information for Koopmans Meergranen lists several types of flour; if you want seeds, look for them explicitly on the current ingredients list.

Can I prepare the AH wholemeal mix as a plant-based option?

Albert Heijn describes a method for preparing its wholemeal mix with a plant-based drink and apple sauce or an egg replacement. The dry mix does contain wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten, so check the current packaging if you need to avoid any ingredients.

Can I prepare the batter from the PLUS bottled mix in advance?

PLUS says to use the batter straight after mixing it with milk and not to store it. If you want to keep things simple just before you leave, choose a product that’s already cooked and only needs reheating.

Can I eat Dr. Oetker American Pancakes Origineel batter raw?

No. The product information at Jumbo says the batter isn’t intended to be eaten raw and must be thoroughly cooked. For other mixes, follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.