Brunch hosts choosing their own toppings
Plain buttermilk pancakes leave the flavour of the serving to your toppings. Tesco Finest and M&S Food list ready-made plain buttermilk options; check each pack’s warming instructions before serving.
Who is each style for?
Shoppers after a sweet treat
A flavoured pancake puts more of the flavour in the pancake itself. Tesco Finest’s maple-syrup and Millionaire versions list 12.0 g and 12.7 g sugars per pancake respectively, compared with 6.3 g for its plain buttermilk version.
Households planning brunch ahead
Choose by the storage instructions as well as the pack size. The listed Tesco Finest pancakes and M&S four-pack are freezable; the M&S six-pack must be kept refrigerated at 0°C to +5°C and is not suitable for freezing.
What should you check?
Decide how you want to serve the pancakes, then compare preparation, storage and pack information for the exact variety.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Check whether flavour comes from the pancake or your toppings. Tesco Finest lists 6.3 g sugars per plain pancake, 12.0 g for maple-syrup and 12.7 g for Millionaire; these are per-pancake figures for those three products. | I’d like to choose my own toppings, or buy a pancake with the sweet flavour built in. In YouGov’s February 2025 survey, 71% of GB adults who made or ate pancakes for Shrove Tuesday preferred sweet toppings; that is a seasonal serving preference, not a measure of premium-pancake purchases. |
| Preparation | Read the warming directions for the exact pack. Marks & Spencer lists microwave, toaster and pan-frying options for its four-pack buttermilk pancakes. | For a quick brunch, I want a preparation method that works in my kitchen. Among GB adults who made or ate pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, 8% opted for pre-made pancakes requiring heating in YouGov’s February 2025 survey; the figure does not describe year-round shopping. |
| Storage | Compare refrigeration and freezing instructions by pack. The M&S six-pack requires refrigeration at 0°C to +5°C and is not suitable for freezing; its four-pack is listed as freezable. | If I’m buying ahead, I need a pack whose storage instructions fit when I plan to serve it. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredient and allergen information for the exact product. Compare nutrition on the same basis, such as per pancake, when portion sizes matter. | I need to check ingredients for my household and understand what each serving contains, rather than rely on a similar-looking pack. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Assuming a flavoured pancake is a plain brunch base
Tesco Groceries lists 6.3 g sugars per Tesco Finest plain buttermilk pancake, against 12.0 g for its maple-syrup version and 12.7 g for Millionaire. The chosen variety changes what is already in the serving.
Choose plain when toppings will provide the flavour. If you want a flavoured pancake, compare the nutrition per pancake before deciding what to serve with it.
-
Assuming every pack can go in the freezer
Marks & Spencer lists its buttermilk four-pack as freezable, but its chilled six-pack is not suitable for freezing. Pack size and storage instructions need to be checked together.
For a planned-ahead shop, read the exact pack’s refrigeration, freezing and opened-pack directions.
-
Assuming similar pancakes have the same ingredients
Tesco Finest’s plain buttermilk pancake ingredients include wheat flour, buttermilk powder and egg. A different variety needs its own ingredient and allergen check.
Read the current label for the exact pack, particularly when an ingredient or allergen affects your choice.
Retailer ranges to compare
These retailer listings illustrate different ready-made pancake formats; a retailer name alone does not establish a pack’s flavour, ingredients or storage method.
Tesco Finest
Tesco Groceries lists plain, maple-syrup and Millionaire buttermilk four-packs.
- The three listed versions offer a choice between plain and built-in sweet flavours; Tesco lists each as suitable for freezing.
- Their listed sugars differ per pancake: 6.3 g for plain, 12.0 g for maple-syrup and 12.7 g for Millionaire.
M&S Food
M&S Food lists buttermilk pancakes alongside flavoured and savoury options in its pancake range.
- Marks & Spencer lists microwave, toaster and pan-frying directions for its freezable buttermilk four-pack.
- Its separately listed six-pack must be refrigerated at 0°C to +5°C and is not suitable for freezing.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists its own-label buttermilk, sweet and blueberry pancakes in several pack formats.
- The category also lists high-protein pancakes and a separate Genius gluten-free pancake product.
- Check the selected pack for its ingredients, nutrition, preparation and storage instructions rather than applying category descriptions to every product.
Pancake options on Joybuy
These Joybuy options are coconut pancakes and dorayaki, including filled, sweet varieties. They suit a different serving plan from plain supermarket buttermilk pancakes chosen as a base for toppings.
No image available
Dee Frozen Royal Thai Coconut Pancake Assorted 140g
A coconut-flavoured option for a sweet serving rather than a plain topping base. This is a frozen 140g product; check its pack for preparation and ingredient details.
No image available
Marukyo Tsubuan Dorayaki Original Flavour, 6 Pieces, 320g
A sweet adzuki bean-filled dorayaki for serving as it is, rather than adding brunch toppings. The pack contains six pieces and weighs 320g; check its storage instructions if buying ahead.
No image available
Marukyo Dorayaki Matcha Flavour, 6 pcs, 310g
A matcha-flavoured dorayaki for a sweet serving, not a plain base for toppings. This six-piece pack weighs 310g; check the pack’s storage and ingredient information.
No image available
Marukyo Pancake Dorayaki 150g
A 150g dorayaki option for a sweet serving rather than a plain buttermilk brunch base. Check the exact pack for its filling, ingredients and storage directions.
Pancake buying questions
Should I buy plain or flavoured pancakes for brunch?
Choose plain buttermilk pancakes if you want to decide the toppings yourself; choose a flavoured variety if you want more of the sweet flavour built in. Compare the exact pack’s ingredients, per-pancake nutrition and warming directions before buying.
Can I freeze ready-made pancakes?
Some listed packs are suitable for freezing, but it is not a rule for all ready-made pancakes. Tesco Groceries lists its Finest plain, maple-syrup and Millionaire four-packs as freezable, and Marks & Spencer lists its buttermilk four-pack as freezable; the M&S six-pack must be refrigerated at 0°C to +5°C and is not suitable for freezing. Follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
Do I need to check ingredients each time I buy pancakes?
Check the current label of the exact variety when ingredients or allergens matter to your choice. UK government food-labelling guidance says prepacked food must carry an ingredient list, including allergens; a similar product name does not establish that two packs have the same formulation.
Do ready-made pancakes have to be served with sweet toppings?
No. Marks & Spencer presents its buttermilk four-pack for sweet or savoury toppings. A plain pancake gives you that serving choice, while a sweet flavoured or filled variety calls for a different plan.