9 best pancake mixes for a flipping good Shrove Tuesday

This mixture served up 12 classic pancakes with minimal effort required – all you need is one egg and some water – and we can confirm that McDougalls does deliver on its promise of delicious classic pancakes. And we should mention that these have a little more of a savoury taste, which we liked. Owing to their consistency, they were easy to roll or fold, even when we packed them full of our favourite toppings like Nutella (£2.90, Waitrose.com) and banana. The only downside was the need for additional ingredients, but it’s a small price to pay for great crêpes.

There’s no denying that we were a little sceptical when we read the instructions – add 300ml cold water to the container, turn it upside down and wait two minutes. We were expecting lumps galore but were pleasantly surprised when we were met with a smooth batter for our crêpes. Pancake shakers we’ve tried in the past have produced quite a sweet mix, but luckily we didn’t have the same issue here. You’ll only be able to make six, but at £1 a pop and just having to add water, it’s very good value.

If your Shrove Tuesday preference is fluffy American-style pancakes, this mix from Dr. Oetker is where it’s at. The dry ingredients turn into a batter by simply mixing with 300ml milk and the result is thick, delicious hotcakes. We found them easy to flip and they weren’t too doughy in the middle. One of our testers said they tasted just like the ones they’d had stateside – you can’t argue with that. In some of the batches, we added blueberries, others mashed banana – both of which tasted delicious. For the price and taste, you really can’t go wrong.

Restaurant chain Crêpeaffaire specialises in, you guessed it, all things pancake. Its extensive menu includes sweet, savoury and vegan options in-store. But you can also get its delicious recipes at home thanks to its pancakes in the post scheme. You can choose between a vegan (£13.50, Crepeaffaire.com) mix and this normal kit. All of them contain a range of fillings, we received Nutella, maple syrup and chocolate sauce, as well as sprinkles, white chocolate and Oreo pieces. A total dream.

The pancake mix was easy to whip up; all we needed to do was add water and stir to make 10 fresh crêpes. The finished result was perfectly thin pancakes that tasted as good as the ones you get from the restaurant. The addition of toppings was a game-changer and we think these are a great pick for something a little more indulgent this Pancake Day.

If you’re coeliac or have a gluten intolerance, and are yet to be acquainted with Manna Dew, now is the time.

We had high hopes for its pancake mix and it did not disappoint – we followed the instructions to a tee, mixing in vegetable oil, maple syrup (any sweetener will do), milk, and egg to create the batter. The slight sweetness to the pancakes was lovely and not something we’d previously thought to add. The consistency was light and great for gluten-free crêpes.

The downside here is that you do need to use lots of your own ingredients, which might defeat the point for some. And while it’s a pricier option in comparison, you do get 950g worth of pancakes.

Another great pick if you’re after American style because Aunt Bessie has nailed the recipe for creating quick and easy, perfectly fluffy pancakes. The downside here is that you do have to use eggs, which for some may belie the purpose of a pre-mixed kit, but we did find that it created 12 perfect hotcakes that weren’t too sweet and had a good rise to them. It’s also a great choice if you have a waffle maker, as the mixture can also make these doughy delicacies too.

If you’re looking for a vegan and allergen-friendly pick, Creative Nature has delivered. The mixture is free from soy, dairy, gluten and nuts, so it’s a real crowd-pleaser. Much like the others, it’s super easy to use – add 100ml plant-based milk and two tablespoons of cider vinegar to the dry ingredients before pouring a small amount of batter into a hot frying pan. When cooking, you’ll see bubbles coming to the surface, which means they’re ready to be flipped. What you’re left with are light and fluffy hotcakes ready to be devoured with your favourite topping.

A rather niche one here, but if you’re looking to supercharge your collagen intake this Pancake Day, you’re in luck because MyVitamins has developed a recipe. For the uninitiated, collagen is the protein in your body that helps with hair thickness, skin elasticity and nail growth, so it’s a popular health supplement.

As for these pancakes, they come in two flavours – plain or chocolate – and they’re convenient and easy to make as they just require milk. They’re even simpler to whip up if you have a protein shaker at home as they can be mixed in this and poured directly into the pan. Two large scoops make two pancakes, so this should keep you going for a while.

For the fitness-focused among us, these protein pancakes are a sure-fire way to make sure you’re recovering while you indulge. We mixed 2 scoops with 125ml water in our shaker and had a thick batter consistency. As for flavour, these are some of the sweeter pancakes we tried.

Owing to the quantities, this mix will see you way beyond Pancake Day and is a delicious, filling breakfast; perfect for weekdays and weekends alike. Plus, if the maple syrup flavour isn’t quite to your taste, you can choose between golden syrup, chocolate and cookies and cream.