Who is this choice relevant to?

The fibre-conscious party host

You want to serve small savoury pancakes, so you look beyond the wording on the front of the pack: which wholemeal flours does the mix contain, and how much fibre is listed in the nutrition table?

The practical batch baker

You want to work out in advance how much batter you’ll need and what else you should have at home. Koopmans says one pack makes 13 to 15 pancakes; Albert Heijn says its wholemeal mix makes around 10. The yield may differ when making smaller party pancakes.

The shopper checking ingredients for guests

You want to know whether wheat, oats, milk, eggs or potential allergens are involved in the mix and its preparation. Using a plant-based preparation option doesn’t change the fact that the dry mix may contain gluten.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the wholemeal label and ingredients list. Then check the yield, preparation instructions and what your guests can eat.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is it important for?
Wholemeal and fibre Check which wholemeal flours are listed in the ingredients. Compare fibre per 100 g only when the nutritional values are given on the same preparation basis. Anyone looking for a wholemeal mix for a drinks party will want to assess the grain composition rather than relying on the front of the pack alone. This is said to be the main purchasing concern for around 40% of consumers.
Yield and preparation Check the stated yield per pack and whether the instructions say to add milk, eggs or cooking fat. The yield for standard pancakes isn’t a reliable guide to how many small party bites you’ll get. If you’re hosting several guests, you’ll want to make enough batter and plan the preparation. This is expected to be a priority for around 30% of consumers.
Allergens and preparation method Check the packaging for both the allergens present and those that may be present. If preparing the mix plant-based, also check your chosen substitutes and toppings. If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, checking these comes before choosing a recipe. This is said to be the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.
Savoury serving ideas Check whether the manufacturer suggests savoury recipes, and choose your toppings separately. You can’t judge taste preferences from a fibre value. For a party platter, you’ll want the pancakes to go well with the toppings and serving size. This combination is said to be the first consideration for around 10% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain means wholemeal

    Multigrain on its own doesn’t tell you whether a mix is wholemeal. You could end up taking home a different kind of grain mix from the one you had in mind for your drinks party.

    Check the exact product name, then look at the flours listed in the ingredients.

  • Comparing only the claim on the front of the pack

    A fibre claim tells you little about the difference between two mixes if one nutrition table refers to the dry mix and the other to the prepared product.

    Compare nutritional values per 100 g on the same basis, and check the ingredients list too.

  • Forgetting the extra ingredients

    The stated preparation methods for these mixes may require milk, eggs and cooking fat. Toppings also form part of what you’ll ultimately serve.

    Read the recipe before buying. If adapting the preparation, check every added ingredient, including the toppings.

  • Relying solely on allergen information online

    The packaging of the mix you actually use is what matters when checking its ingredients and allergens.

    Read the current packaging before preparing the mix, especially if a guest has an allergy.

Brands to consider

Koopmans

Koopmans sells a 400 g pack of Pannenkoeken Volkoren (wholemeal pancakes). According to Koopmans, one pack makes 13 to 15 pancakes, and the brand also suggests savoury serving ideas.

  • The stated yield helps you plan for a drinks party.
  • You’ll need milk, eggs and butter or oil to prepare it. The mix contains wheat and oats; check the packaging for potential allergens too.

Albert Heijn

AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren (AH wholemeal pancake mix) contains 300 g of mix and, according to Albert Heijn, makes around 10 pancakes. The product information also gives an alternative preparation method using a plant-based drink and apple purée or an egg substitute.

  • The alternative preparation method is useful if you want to replace the milk and egg in the recipe.
  • The dry mix contains wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the ingredients in your chosen substitutes and toppings too.

PLUS

PLUS states that its 400 g Pannenkoekmix volkoren (wholemeal pancake mix) contains 75% wholemeal wheat flour and 20% wholemeal oat flour.

  • The stated flour proportions give you a clear picture of the grain composition.
  • The mix contains wheat and oats; according to the product information, it may also contain barley, eggs and milk.

Jumbo

For its 400 g Mix voor Pannenkoeken Volkoren (wholemeal pancake mix), Jumbo lists wholemeal wheat flour, wholemeal oat flour and wholemeal buckwheat flour.

  • The product information specifies the flours and includes nutritional and allergen information.
  • The mix contains wheat and oats; check the packaging for possible traces of barley, eggs and milk.

Albona (ALDI)

ALDI describes Albona pancake mixes in plain and multigrain varieties.

  • The product pages distinguish between the plain and multigrain mixes.
  • Don’t treat the word multigrain as confirmation that a mix is wholemeal. Check the product name and the ingredients on the packaging to be sure.

Products at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain pancake mix automatically wholemeal?

No, the terms don’t mean the same thing. Check whether the mix is explicitly labelled wholemeal and see which flours are listed in the ingredients.

Can I prepare wholemeal pancake mix without animal products?

Yes, if the preparation instructions and all the ingredients you add are suitable. Albert Heijn gives an option for its wholemeal mix using a plant-based drink and apple purée or an egg substitute; check the cooking fat and toppings too.

What should I check if a guest at my drinks party has an allergy?

Read the allergen information on the current packaging of the mix and check every ingredient you add yourself. Look at both what the product contains and what may be present in it.

How do I compare the nutritional values of two mixes?

Compare values per 100 g on the same basis: dry mix with dry mix, or prepared pancakes with prepared pancakes. For values given for the prepared product, it’s also important to check which ingredients were used according to the stated preparation method.

Can I taste the pancake batter raw?

Don’t taste Koopmans Pannenkoeken Volkoren as raw batter. According to the product information, the batter must be thoroughly cooked.