If you want to make sourdough-style pancakes for Christmas dinner, choose a batter made with a well-maintained starter and a pancake recipe you’ve tested in advance. A standard mix is another option if you want to keep preparation to a minimum. Check what you need to add to each variety, how many pancakes it makes and whether the ingredients suit your guests.
If the sourdough method is essential to your Christmas dinner, you’ll need time to prepare a starter and test a pancake recipe. Albert Heijn Allerhande explains that a starter kept outside the fridge needs feeding regularly, including after you’ve taken some out.
If you mainly want to save time for cooking and adding toppings, check how many steps a mix involves. For Koopmans Schudfles Pannenkoeken Compleet, Joybuy’s product information says you only need to add water. That method of preparation doesn’t mean it’s made using sourdough.
If your Christmas dinner guests have different dietary requirements, the specific variety will determine what you can serve. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information lists wheat and wheat gluten in AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren, and says it may contain egg and other grains. Check the current packaging before choosing a mix.
First decide whether the sourdough method needs to be part of the dish. Then compare the preparation, ingredients required and your guests’ preferences.
Choose this if: using sourdough matters more to you than making the batter quickly, and you can test the pancake recipe in advance.
Bear in mind: a starter needs looking after, and you’ll need a separate recipe rather than just a packet of mix.
Choose this if: you want a base for sweet or savoury pancakes and the preparation instructions on the packet fit your dinner plans.
Bear in mind: what you need to add varies between varieties; a standard mix doesn’t confirm that it uses a sourdough method.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough method | If you’re buying a ready-made mix, look for an explicit mention of sourdough starter or sourdough fermentation. If you’re using your own starter, choose a pancake recipe you can test in advance. | I want the sourdough method to be a genuine part of the pancakes and can start preparing earlier. Around 42% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Preparation and quantity | Compare what you need to add, the preparation steps and the stated yield per packet. | If I have little time during Christmas dinner, I want to know how much batter I can make without having to hunt around for extra ingredients. For around 33% of consumers, convenience is the deciding factor. |
| Ingredients and dietary requirements | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, including any warning about possible allergen presence. If you have a preference for a particular grain, check the ingredients for each variety. | My guests need to know exactly what ingredients will be in the pancakes. Around 25% of consumers are expected to put suitability first. |
A classic, wholemeal or multigrain mix doesn’t tell you by itself whether sourdough is involved. As a result, the finished dish may not be what you had in mind for Christmas dinner.
Check whether the packet specifically mentions sourdough starter or sourdough fermentation. If using sourdough is essential, consider making batter with your own starter and a recipe you’ve tested in advance.
A grain type or dietary claim is no substitute for allergen information. For example, according to Albert Heijn, AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren contains wheat and wheat gluten, and may also contain egg.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the specific packet against your guests’ needs. Don’t judge suitability by the variety name alone.
According to Joybuy’s product information, Koopmans Original Pannenkoekenmix requires milk, eggs and cooking fat, and one packet makes 11 to 13 pancakes. Koopmans Schudfles Pannenkoeken Compleet requires 350 ml water and, according to that information, makes 4 to 6 pancakes.
Work out in advance how many pancakes you want to serve and get the required ingredients ready. Test-frying can help if the pancakes are a planned part of your dinner.
Joybuy’s product information for Koopmans Original Pannenkoekenmix says the batter isn’t intended to be eaten raw and must be cooked thoroughly.
Don’t taste the batter raw, and follow the preparation instructions on the current packaging.
Koopmans offers several standard pancake mixes, including Original, a complete shaker bottle and Multigrain.
The pancake mix range includes varieties such as plain, multigrain and wholemeal.
Jumbo lists a plain pancake mix and a complete pancake mix, each weighing 400 g.
PLUS offers, among other options, a plain shaker bottle and a wholemeal pancake mix.
Albona is the ALDI brand listed for plain and multigrain pancake baking mixes.
Lidl lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix as a standard mix.
These Joybuy products are pancake mixes to compare if you’re considering a standard mix for Christmas dinner. If you specifically want to use sourdough, check that the chosen packet explicitly mentions it, or use your own starter with a recipe you’ve tested.
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A shaker bottle to consider if you want to mix the batter in its packaging for Christmas dinner. Check the label to see which liquid you need to add, how many pancakes the bottle makes and which allergens are listed.
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This complete shaker bottle is a good fit for a dinner where you want to avoid getting lots of separate ingredients ready. According to Joybuy’s product information, add 350 ml water and one bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes. Check the current ingredients and allergen information if you’re cooking for guests with dietary requirements.
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Compare this variety if the grain composition is important when choosing what to serve. Check the specific packaging to see which grains the mix contains, what you need to add and which allergens are listed; the name alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for a particular diet.
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This standard mix is a base for pancakes you can serve sweet or savoury. According to Joybuy’s product information, add 850 ml milk, 2 eggs and butter or oil; one packet makes 11 to 13 pancakes. Don’t eat the batter raw, and cook it thoroughly according to the preparation instructions.
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This mix is an option if you’re considering a milk-flavoured pancake base for Christmas dinner. Check the preparation instructions, ingredients, allergens and stated yield on the packaging before planning the number of portions.
No, the terms aren’t interchangeable. If the sourdough method matters for your Christmas dinner, check whether the packet specifically mentions sourdough starter or sourdough fermentation. Don’t assume it from terms such as original or multigrain.
Yes. The product information for Koopmans Schudfles Pannenkoeken Compleet says to add 350 ml water and that one bottle makes 4 to 6 pancakes. Before choosing it for guests, also check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging for the specific mix. Voedingscentrum explains that major allergens must be clearly stated on the label; also check for any warnings about possible allergen presence, and don’t rely on the name of a grain variety alone.
Start before Christmas dinner so you have time to maintain the starter and test-fry the pancake recipe you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn Allerhande recommends feeding a starter kept outside the fridge regularly, and at the very least after you’ve taken some out.
