Choose a pancake mix explicitly labelled wholemeal if you want to bake together over the autumn half-term and wholemeal is a must; ‘multigrain’ does not mean the same thing on its own. If you mainly want to get a quick snack on the table, ready-made wholemeal pancakes are another type of product to consider, but you’ll miss out on making the batter and baking together. Before choosing, compare the current label, especially if ingredients, fibre or allergens are deciding factors.
For households that want to make pancakes from scratch and are looking specifically for a mix labelled wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholegrain products are made from the entire grain. If you want to compare fibre content, check the nutritional information for the exact products.
For families who want to make preparing the batter and baking part of their autumn half-term activities, and choose their own toppings. Check in advance which ingredients you’ll need in addition to the mix; Albert Heijn lists milk and eggs, among other things, for its wholemeal mix.
For anyone who wants wholemeal pancakes but doesn’t want to make the batter. Ready-made pancakes are an alternative to a dry mix; Koopmans says its frozen version takes around one minute to heat in the microwave.
First decide whether wholemeal is a must, then choose between making pancakes from scratch and heating them up. Only compare nutritional information on a like-for-like basis: figures for a dry mix are not directly comparable with those for prepared pancakes.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check that the product is explicitly labelled wholemeal and compare fibre per 100 g on the same preparation basis. | I want to choose a mix that meets my preference for wholemeal, without assuming that multigrain automatically means wholemeal. Around 42% of consumers put this need first. |
| Preparation time | Check which ingredients a mix requires and how a ready-made product should be heated. | If I need to put a snack on the table between other holiday plans, I want to spend as little time as possible making batter and cooking; speed is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Taste and family time | Choose between making pancakes from scratch with your preferred toppings and ready-made pancakes; also check how many are in each pack. | When we bake together, I want the pancakes to be a hit with the family and to be able to vary the toppings. For around 25% of consumers, this family time comes first. |
A multigrain mix isn’t necessarily wholemeal just because it is labelled multigrain. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal grain products are made from the entire grain.
If wholemeal is a must, look for an explicit wholemeal label and read the packaging for the product you choose.
A dry mix still needs to be prepared, while ready-made pancakes are a different type of product. So the pack weight alone doesn’t tell you how much work it takes to make your snack.
Check the preparation instructions, the ingredients you’ll need and how many pancakes you want to make.
According to the product information, Albert Heijn’s wholemeal mix needs milk, eggs and fat for cooking, among other ingredients.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. So if you have an allergy, a product page you looked at previously is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you’ve bought.
Check the packaging for the exact variant before use, and contact the manufacturer or retailer if you’re unsure.
Koopmans offers a Pannenkoeken Volkoren mix for making pancakes from scratch, as well as separate ready-made wholemeal pancakes.
AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren is a supermarket own-brand option in a 300 g pack.
Jumbo offers a 400 g Mix voor Pannenkoeken Volkoren, as well as ready-made wholemeal pancakes.
PLUS offers its own 400 g Pannenkoekmix volkoren, as well as a Koopmans wholemeal mix.
The Belbake mix mentioned by Lidl is a multigrain pancake mix.
ALDI’s Albona range includes a 400 g multigrain pancake mix and a plain version.
No. The ‘multigrain’ label alone doesn’t confirm that a mix is wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal grain products are made from the entire grain, so check the label and ingredients of the mix you choose.
It varies by product. Albert Heijn says to add 700 ml semi-skimmed milk, two eggs and fat for cooking to its wholemeal mix; follow the instructions on the pack for your variant.
Yes, if you mainly want to save time on preparation and don’t want to make the batter yourself. Koopmans says its ready-made frozen pancakes take around one minute to heat in the microwave; they are still a different type of product from a dry mix.
Check the label on the exact pack before use. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on the labels of prepacked foods, and PLUS notes that product information can change.
The Voedingscentrum also lists vegetables, fruit, potatoes, pulses and nuts as sources of fibre. Think of pancake mix as one part of what you eat throughout the day, not your only possible source of fibre.
