When choosing a wholemeal pancake mix for back to school, compare the ingredients, fibre per 100 g of prepared product and allergens on the latest packaging; wholemeal does not mean gluten-free. If you want to replace the milk and egg in the batter, you can follow the preparation method described by Albert Heijn for AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren, but this mix contains wheat and gluten. Before sending pancakes in with your child, check the school’s guidelines too.
If you want to make pancakes during busy school weeks, check the label to see which wholemeal flours the mix contains and how much fibre the prepared product provides. The term ‘multigrain’ does not tell you this on its own.
If you want to send pancakes in with your child or have them served at school, take account of the allergen information on the latest packaging as well as the school or class guidelines.
If you want to replace the milk or egg in the recipe, the preparation instructions are important. Check which additional ingredients you’ll need before you start cooking, too.
For back to school, start by comparing the ingredients and fibre on the same prepared basis. Check allergens with the school, then see what the recipe calls for at home.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Check which wholemeal flours are listed in the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g of prepared product. | I want to see which wholemeal flour the mix contains and how much fibre the prepared pancakes provide. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Allergens and school guidelines | Check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the latest packaging, and ask about the school or class guidelines. | If I want to send pancakes in with my child, I want to know which allergens are listed and what has been agreed at school. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check which ingredients the standard recipe calls for and whether there are instructions for replacing milk or egg. | When planning batter for the school week, I want to know what else I’ll need besides the mix and whether I can adapt the recipe. Preparation is the main consideration for around 28% of consumers. |
The wholemeal mixes described by Koopmans, Albert Heijn and PLUS contain wheat and/or oats. Their product information also includes various warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Don’t assume a mix is gluten-free just because it says ‘wholemeal’. Check both the ingredients and allergen warnings on the latest packaging.
The standard recipes for the mixes described don’t all call for the same amounts of milk and eggs. An adapted recipe may need different ingredients.
Check the recipe on the packaging before you start cooking, and have any plant-based alternatives ready too.
Albona and Belbake have multigrain mixes, but the name doesn’t tell you which wholemeal flours they contain or how much fibre the prepared product provides.
Before comparing a multigrain mix with a wholemeal one, check the ingredients, nutrition information and allergens on the packaging.
According to VOO, schools can set their own guidelines for treats. Any classroom guidelines about allergens are also relevant if you’re sending pancakes in with your child.
Before packing them, check what’s been agreed at the school and in the class, especially if other children might eat them.
According to Koopmans, Koopmans Pannenkoeken Volkoren contains wholemeal oat flour, wholemeal wheat flour and buckwheat flour.
For AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren, Albert Heijn also describes a method using a plant-based drink and an egg alternative.
PLUS Pannenkoekmix volkoren is a 400 g mix which, according to PLUS, contains 75% wholemeal wheat flour and 20% wholemeal oat flour.
ALDI describes Albona as a 400 g multigrain baking mix for pancakes.
Lidl lists Belbake Mix voor pannenkoeken meergranen in a 120 g pack.
No, not automatically: the wholemeal mixes described by Koopmans, Albert Heijn and PLUS contain wheat and/or oats. If you need a gluten-free option, don’t rely on the word ‘wholemeal’. Choose a product specifically intended to be gluten-free and check its latest packaging separately.
Yes. Albert Heijn describes a version where you replace the milk with a plant-based drink and the egg with apple purée or an egg replacer. The dry mix still contains wheat and wheat gluten.
Check the school and class guidelines before sending pancakes in with your child or handing them out. According to VOO, schools can set their own guidelines for treats; also ask about any individual allergen arrangements that may be relevant.
The packaging on the product you have is the practical source to check for its ingredients, nutrition information and allergens. Read this information again before cooking or sending the pancakes in, especially if you need to follow an allergen arrangement.
