Hosts setting out a topping bar
Ready-made Scotch pancakes provide a base guests can dress with different toppings. Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco each list standard six-packs; check the pack count against the number of portions you plan to serve.
Who is each format for?
Hosts cooking pancakes to order
A mix leaves room to make pancakes during the event, but it needs cooking time and equipment. Marks & Spencer says its American Style Pancake Mix makes 12 pancakes with water added and must be fully cooked.
Hosts serving a guest who needs gluten-free food
Look for a product explicitly labelled for that requirement. Waitrose lists Genius Gluten Free Pancakes as gluten free and milk free; check the current pack against the guest's full list of requirements before serving.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the number of servings and guests' ingredient requirements, then choose a format that fits the time and storage space available.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Servings | Check the pack count and work out how many pancakes you intend to serve per guest. Allow separately for toppings or fillings. | I'm setting out a topping bar and need enough pancakes for the guests I expect. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for both pancakes and toppings. Check that any free-from label matches the guest's actual requirement. | A guest has a dietary requirement, so I need to choose their food using the exact pack label rather than the pancake style alone. |
| Preparation | Check whether the product is ready to serve, needs heating or must be cooked from a raw mix. For chilled packs, follow the refrigeration, opening and date instructions. | Will someone be able to cook during the event, or do I need pancakes that are ready to put out? |
What can catch hosts out?
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Assuming every pancake suits every guest
A free-from label addresses particular ingredients, not every possible allergy; toppings need checking too.
Ask guests what they need, then read the current pancake and topping labels before deciding what to serve.
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Getting chilled pancakes too early
Waitrose says its chilled buttermilk pancakes must be refrigerated, used within two days of opening and not kept beyond the use-by date.
Plan the serving quantities and follow the storage and date instructions on the pack you buy.
Opening more chilled packs than you can use within their stated period can leave food uneaten.
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Choosing a mix without a cooking plan
Mix is not a ready-to-serve shortcut. Marks & Spencer states that its American Style Pancake Mix is raw and must be fully cooked.
Use a mix when someone can prepare and cook the pancakes; otherwise, plan the menu around a ready-made format.
Relevant brand and retailer ranges
Asda
Asda lists The BAKERY at ASDA Scotch pancakes in a six-pack for a ready-made topping-bar base.
- The standard Scotch pancake format suits a menu where guests choose their own toppings.
- Check the current pack's ingredients and storage instructions before serving guests.
Tesco
Tesco lists standard Scotch pancakes alongside other pancake styles and mixes.
- Its listed Scotch pancakes come in a six-pack, making portion planning straightforward.
- Choose by the exact product's ingredients and preparation instructions, not by the range name.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists its own-label Scotch pancakes in a six-pack.
- The ready-made format avoids cooking pancakes from a raw mix during the event.
- Read the current allergen and after-opening guidance on the pack.
M&S
M&S lists ready-made sweet and savoury pancakes as well as an American Style Pancake Mix.
- Different formats let you choose between a particular ready-made style and cooking pancakes to order.
- M&S says the mix makes 12 pancakes with water added, but it is raw and must be fully cooked.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists chilled buttermilk pancakes and Genius Gluten Free Pancakes.
- The Genius product is labelled gluten free and milk free for guests whose requirements match those labels.
- The buttermilk pancakes need refrigeration; follow their opening and use-by instructions.
Joybuy pancakes for the menu
These options include Korean pancake mixes for cooking to order and frozen pancakes for other parts of a world food night menu. Check each product's ingredients and preparation directions against your plans.
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Otoki Korean Pancake Mix Powder 1kg
A 1kg mix for a made-to-order Korean pancake station. Allow time and equipment for cooking, and check the ingredients against guests' requirements.
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BEKSUL Korean Pancake Mix Powder 500g
A 500g Korean pancake mix for a menu with time to cook. Check the pack for preparation directions and allergens before choosing fillings.
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San Quan Original Flavour Pancake 320g
An original-flavour pancake that could sit alongside a range of fillings. Plan for frozen storage and cooking, and follow the current pack instructions.
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Sanquan Spring Onion Flavor Pancake 320g
A spring onion pancake for a savoury part of the menu rather than a plain base for sweet toppings. Allow for frozen storage and pan-frying, and check the allergen label.
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Dee Frozen Royal Thai Coconut Pancake Assorted 140g
A frozen Thai coconut pancake for a sweet menu item, rather than a plain topping-bar base. Check the pack's heating instructions and allergen information before serving.
Pancake questions
Should I serve ready-made pancakes or cook from a mix?
Choose ready-made pancakes when you need to spend less time cooking during the event. A mix suits a made-to-order station if you have the equipment and time: Marks & Spencer says its American Style Pancake Mix makes 12 pancakes with water added and must be fully cooked.
Can I assume standard pancakes suit guests with allergies?
No. Ask each guest about their requirements and read the current ingredients and allergen information for both the pancakes and their toppings before serving.
Does gluten free mean suitable for every dietary requirement?
No. Waitrose labels Genius Gluten Free Pancakes as gluten free and milk free, but those labels do not address every ingredient a guest may need to avoid. Check the exact pack against their requirements.
How should I plan chilled pancakes for the event?
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. Waitrose says its chilled buttermilk six-pack must be refrigerated, consumed within two days of opening and not kept beyond its use-by date.