Bakers with an existing sourdough starter
You want to use your starter or leftover discard, and don’t mind following your own recipe and adding extra ingredients. A ready-made ordinary mix won’t necessarily meet that need.
Who is this choice for?
Parents and carers who want to bake quickly
You’re looking for a simple activity for the half-term holiday, with little measuring and fewer separate ingredients. A complete mix or a shaker bottle may suit your baking plans better than making a starter first.
Shoppers who need to check ingredients
You want to know what’s already in the mix and what you’ll need to add. If you’re making a plant-based version or need to meet allergen requirements, check both the label and the preparation instructions for the exact product.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, decide whether you actually want to bake with a sourdough starter. If you opt for a mix, compare what you need to add, how much you want to make and the ingredients in the product you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Using a sourdough starter | Check whether you already have a starter or discard. If you’re looking for a sourdough mix, check that starter or sourdough is explicitly listed as an ingredient. | I want to use my existing starter and would rather make my own batter than choose an ordinary mix; around 42% of consumers make using a starter their priority. |
| Baking quickly | Compare what you need to add, the number of pancakes stated on the pack and any instructions about using the batter straight away. | When the children or guests are ready to bake, I don’t want to gather lots of ingredients first; around 33% of consumers prioritise simple preparation. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen statements and any additions you need to make for the exact product. | I want to know which ingredients will end up in the finished pancakes before I start baking; around 25% of consumers give this control priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming multigrain or wholemeal means sourdough
These words don’t tell you whether a mix is made with a sourdough starter. An artisan-style appearance doesn’t tell you that either.
If you want to bake with sourdough, check that sourdough or starter is listed as an ingredient, or use your existing starter in a recipe of your own.
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Assuming a vegan dry mix will make vegan pancakes
For AH Mix for pannenkoeken naturel, Albert Heijn’s standard method calls for eggs and semi-skimmed milk, even though the dry mix is labelled vegan.
Read both the ingredients list and the preparation instructions. Albert Heijn also describes a method for this mix using a plant-based drink and, optionally, apple sauce or an egg substitute.
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Guessing allergens from the mix name
Ingredients and warnings can vary from one product to another. For example, a mix labelled gluten-free may still contain egg or milk.
Check the current packaging, including ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, and remember to consider toppings and kitchen utensils too.
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Mixing the batter well in advance without checking the instructions
Jumbo says that batter made in its Complete shaker bottle should be used straight away. Raw batter containing egg must also be cooked thoroughly.
Follow the instructions for your chosen mix, don’t taste raw batter, and cook the pancakes through.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
The range includes Original, Complete and a separate gluten-free option.
- Koopmans says its Pannenkoeken Compleet mix needs only water and makes 8 to 10 pancakes.
- According to Koopmans, you add milk, eggs and butter to Original yourself. Product information from PLUS says the gluten-free version may contain egg and milk.
Albert Heijn
AH’s plain mix is worth considering if you want to choose for yourself which ingredients to add to the batter.
- As well as the standard method, Albert Heijn describes a plant-based option.
- Albert Heijn’s standard method calls for three eggs and 800 ml of semi-skimmed milk. Check the allergen information on the packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes a plain pancake mix and a Complete shaker bottle.
- Jumbo says you need to add water to the Complete shaker bottle.
- Jumbo advises using the batter made in this bottle straight away. The Naturel mix includes wheat, buckwheat and oats.
PLUS
PLUS offers plain, complete and wholemeal mixes, with different ingredients and preparation methods.
- PLUS says its Complete mix needs water; the dry Naturel mix is labelled vegan.
- The stated method for Naturel calls for milk and eggs. According to PLUS, the Volkoren version contains 75% wholemeal wheat flour and 20% wholemeal oat flour.
Albona (ALDI-huismerk)
ALDI lists both a plain mix and a multigrain pancake mix under the Albona brand.
- ALDI describes the multigrain mix as a 400 g pack.
- Multigrain doesn’t mean a mix contains sourdough starter; check the ingredients on the pack you’ve chosen.
Belbake (Lidl-huismerk)
Belbake’s Original pancake mix is a standard supermarket mix.
- Lidl says the 400 g pack makes around twelve pancakes.
- According to Lidl, this product is available in store only. Check the label there if ingredients or allergens affect your choice.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
These mixes are options if you want to make ordinary pancakes over the half-term holiday. If you specifically want to use a sourdough starter, check the ingredients of any mix carefully or choose a recipe that uses your existing starter.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
For a small baking session, you could compare this 210 g Complete version with a larger pack of mix. Check the packaging to see what you need to add and which allergens are listed.
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Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g
This 400 g pack is worth comparing with other standard pancake mixes for a baking session. Before buying, check which ingredients you need to add yourself and read the current label.
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Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g
If you’re looking for a Wholegrains option for a baking session, this 400 g pack is worth comparing. Read the ingredients and preparation instructions for the exact product, especially if you need to avoid certain grains.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu High-Calcium milk-flavoured pancake mix 100 g
For a small baking session, this 100 g pack offers a different size to compare. Check the preparation instructions and the label; the name High-Calcium alone doesn’t tell you the nutritional value per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
Is ordinary pancake mix the same as sourdough mix?
No, the terms aren’t interchangeable. A sourdough pancake recipe uses starter as an ingredient; if it matters to you, check whether sourdough or starter is actually listed in the ingredients of a ready-made mix.
Can I make plant-based pancakes with a vegan dry mix?
Yes, as long as you also choose plant-based additions. Albert Heijn’s standard method for AH Mix for pannenkoeken naturel uses eggs and semi-skimmed milk, but it also describes a method using a plant-based drink and, optionally, apple sauce or an egg substitute.
Which allergens should I check in a pancake mix?
Check the exact packaging to see which allergens are present or may be present according to the warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods; for these mixes, allergens to look out for include cereals containing gluten, egg and milk.
Can I taste raw pancake batter?
Don’t taste raw batter, and make sure pancakes containing raw egg are cooked thoroughly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises thoroughly heating dishes that contain raw egg.
How should I store leftover cooked pancakes?
Let leftover pancakes cool quickly and store them in an airtight container. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, pancakes keep for two days in the fridge and three months in the freezer; don’t leave leftovers out of the fridge for more than two hours.