Sourdough comes first
You’re looking specifically for a pancake mix with starter, not just one with an artisanal look. Check the product description and ingredients before choosing a standard grain-based mix as an alternative.
Who is this for?
Breakfast needs to be quick
You want to make pancakes with toppings such as fruit, syrup or cinnamon, and keeping extra steps to a minimum matters more to you than sourdough. Check whether you need to add water, milk or eggs.
You want to choose the grain base
You’re comparing ingredients such as wholegrain oats, wheat or buckwheat for a sweet breakfast. The type of grain doesn’t tell you whether a mix contains sourdough; if you need to avoid certain ingredients, check the latest allergen information too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether sourdough is essential. If a standard mix would also work, the ingredients you need to add, the grain content and the allergen information will help you choose between the options.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough | Look for an explicit mention of starter or sourdough on the packaging or product page. Don’t assume that wholemeal or multigrain means it contains sourdough. | If I specifically want sourdough pancakes, a standard mix won’t meet my main requirement. Around 37% of consumers prioritise verifiable sourdough. |
| Ease of preparation | Check which ingredients you need to add and how many steps are involved in making the pancakes. | On a busy morning, I want to make the batter without having to get extra ingredients ready first. For around 27% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
| Grain base | Check which flours the mix contains; the grain name in the product title doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients. | When choosing sweet toppings, I want to decide for myself which grains go into my pancakes. The choice of grain is a key consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the latest ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what the mix contains before I start cooking. Around 18% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking multigrain or wholemeal for sourdough
These words describe the grain base, not whether the mix contains starter. You could end up choosing a standard pancake mix when sourdough was actually your main requirement.
Look for an explicit mention of starter or sourdough on the product page. If the description is unclear, ask the retailer or manufacturer for more information about the product.
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Assuming you know the allergens from the front of the pack
Even a mix that only needs water added may already contain ingredients such as milk or egg in the powder. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of checking allergen information in the ingredients list.
Check the latest ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warning, rather than relying only on the product name or preparation instructions.
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Not cooking batter containing raw egg thoroughly
If you’re adding egg to the mix yourself, it’s important to prepare it safely. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises cooking dishes containing raw egg thoroughly.
Follow the preparation instructions and cook pancakes containing raw egg thoroughly.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
Koopmans offers several pancake mixes, including original, complete and wholemeal varieties. Preparation instructions vary between products.
- Koopmans says you only need to add water to Pannenkoeken Compleet; for Pannenkoeken Origineel, the brand lists milk, eggs and butter.
- The Koopmans wholemeal mix listed by Albert Heijn contains wholemeal oat flour, wholemeal wheat flour and buckwheat flour. This grain content doesn’t confirm that it contains sourdough.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s pancake mix range includes own-brand products and mixes from other brands, including plain, complete and multigrain varieties.
- The range lets you compare different types of product side by side.
- Always check the description and information for each individual product for sourdough and allergens, ideally on the latest packaging too.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers various pancake mixes, including plain, complete and wholemeal varieties, as well as a recipe for making sourdough starter.
- You can compare standard mixes by their grain base and the ingredients you need to add.
- The starter recipe is for bread and requires 3 to 6 days of preparation; it isn’t a ready-made sourdough pancake mix.
Albona
ALDI sells a multigrain pancake baking mix under the Albona brand.
- The multigrain variety offers a different choice of grains from a plain mix.
- Don’t assume that ‘multigrain’ means sourdough; check the label on your chosen variety for ingredients and allergens.
Belbake
Lidl lists a 400 g Belbake Pannenkoekenmix Origineel.
- The product listing says it makes around 12 pancakes.
- ‘Original’ doesn’t confirm that it contains sourdough. Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These mixes suit different ways of making a sweet breakfast: with a complete mix, a shaker bottle or a mix with a wholemeal grain base. Don’t choose them simply because you want a sourdough flavour; if sourdough is essential, check for an explicit mention of starter.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete, 210 g
A complete pancake mix to consider if you want to use fewer separate ingredients for a sweet breakfast.
Size: 210 g. Check the preparation instructions and ingredients on the packaging, especially if you avoid milk or eggs.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes, 175 g
A shaker bottle mix for anyone who wants to make batter without using a separate mixing bowl.
Size: 175 g. Check which liquid you need to add before use and read the latest allergen information.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix, 400 g
A wholemeal mix to compare if the grain base of your pancakes matters more to you than a quick preparation.
Size: 400 g. Check the ingredients list to see which flours are used, and check what you need to add during preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a multigrain or wholemeal pancake mix also a sourdough mix?
No. These terms describe the grain base and don’t confirm that the mix contains starter. If sourdough is your main requirement, look for an explicit mention of starter or sourdough on the product page.
Which pancake mix only needs water?
Koopmans says you only need to add water to Pannenkoeken Compleet; the brand says it makes 8 to 10 pancakes. Do check the ingredients, though: needing only water during preparation doesn’t mean the powder contains no milk or egg.
How do I check allergens in pancake mix?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the latest packaging, and check for a ‘may contain’ warning if relevant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared should be clearly listed in the ingredients.
Can I taste batter containing raw egg before cooking it?
If you’ve added raw egg, cook the batter thoroughly before tasting it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises cooking dishes containing raw egg thoroughly.
Should I choose a plain mix or one with cinnamon in the batter?
A plain mix lets you decide what to add each time, such as fruit, syrup or cinnamon. If you want cinnamon already in the batter, check the ingredients of a cinnamon variety: Koopmans lists sugar, cinnamon and flavourings, among other ingredients, in Oma’s Pannenkoeken met Kaneel.