Who this suits

Late-night cooks who want wholemeal pancakes

A plain wholemeal flour and simple batter are the direct route when a genuinely wholemeal base matters. M&S Food publishes a 15-minute wholemeal pancake recipe using 100g of plain wholemeal flour.

Busy shoppers who need a heat-and-eat supper

Ready-made pancakes can reduce preparation, but the Waitrose and M&S examples list wheat flour rather than being labelled wholemeal. They suit a speed-first choice rather than a strict wholemeal preference.

People checking fibre or allergens

Wholemeal flour is wheat-based and is not a gluten-free substitute. Follow the current product label and any dietary advice relevant to you, especially where wheat, gluten, egg or milk is unsuitable.

What to check before buying

Plain wholemeal flour

Choose it when: a verifiable wholemeal ingredient matters and you can allow about 15 minutes for mixing and pan-cooking.

Trade-off: it needs preparation and washing up, and wholemeal wheat flour must be thoroughly cooked.

Lighter wholegrain flour

Choose it when: you want a wholegrain flour but prefer a less pronounced traditional wholemeal flavour or texture.

Trade-off: it is still wheat flour and needs cooking; lighter and milder descriptions are supplier claims rather than independent taste testing.

Ready-made pancakes

Choose it when: immediate heating matters more than meeting a wholemeal requirement.

Trade-off: the checked Waitrose and M&S products are not labelled wholemeal, and their storage rules differ.

Priority What to check Your needs
Genuine wholemeal flour Look for “wholemeal wheat flour” in the product name or ingredients. Compare declared fibre values per 100g only on the stated product basis; toppings can change the finished meal. I want the flour route to be explicitly wholemeal, not a standard wheat-flour pancake that merely looks brown.
Time and storage Check whether you will toast, heat or pan-cook the product. Read freezing, refrigeration and post-opening instructions for the exact pack. I need a supper that fits the time I have tonight, without assuming every ready-made pack can be frozen for later.
Allergens and gluten Read the current ingredients and allergen declaration. Treat a gluten-free claim as distinct from a wholemeal or wheat-free sounding description. I need to avoid ingredients that are unsuitable for me, rather than treating wholemeal flour as automatically gluten-free or allergen-free.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming ready-made means wholemeal

    The checked Waitrose and M&S ready-made pancakes list wheat flour, while the wholemeal flour products explicitly state wholemeal wheat flour. A convenience purchase may therefore miss the main requirement.

    Read the product name and ingredients for “wholemeal wheat flour”; do not rely on pancake format, colour or general packaging cues.

  • Using strong bread flour for a plain-flour recipe

    Very strong wholemeal flour is positioned for bread structure, whereas M&S Food’s wholemeal pancake recipe uses plain wholemeal flour with baking powder.

    For a standard pancake batter, begin with plain wholemeal flour. Use bread flour only where the recipe calls for it or you are comfortable adapting the result.

  • Overlooking storage differences between ready-made packs

    Waitrose 4 Buttermilk Pancakes are suitable for freezing, while M&S 6 Sweet Pancakes are refrigerated, not suitable for freezing and should be eaten within two days after opening.

    Choose a pack size you can use and check freezing and post-opening instructions before relying on it for late-night suppers.

  • Treating wholemeal as gluten-free or allergen-free

    Wholemeal wheat flour contains wheat and gluten. The checked M&S ready-made pancakes also contain egg and milk.

    For an allergy, coeliac disease or a medically advised diet, read the current label every time and choose a product specifically suitable for your needs.

Relevant brand references

M&S

A reference point for from-scratch pancakes using M&S Plain Wholemeal Flour, as well as a separate ready-made pancake route through M&S Food and Ocado.

  • M&S Food lists its 1kg Plain Wholemeal Flour as high in fibre, and its wholemeal pancake recipe uses plain wholemeal flour.
  • M&S 6 Sweet Pancakes use wheat flour rather than being presented as wholemeal, and contain egg and milk.

Waitrose

Useful for comparing ready-made buttermilk pancakes with a wholemeal flour route for cooking at home.

  • Waitrose 4 Buttermilk Pancakes can be toasted from chilled in 1 to 2 minutes and are suitable for freezing.
  • Their ingredients list wheat flour rather than wholemeal flour. Duchy Organic Stoneground Wholemeal Plain Flour is a separate wholemeal option.

Allinson's

Relevant when looking for wholemeal flour listings, while keeping plain pancake flour distinct from bread flour.

  • Tesco Groceries lists Allinson's Plain Wholemeal Baking Flour and Self Raising Wholemeal Flour in its wholemeal-flour range.
  • The Joybuy-listed Allinson's Very Strong Wholemeal Bread Flour is described for bread structure, not as the same product type as plain wholemeal pancake flour.

Marriage's

A wholegrain flour option for shoppers looking for a milder alternative to conventional wholemeal.

  • Marriage's Golden Wholegrain Plain Flour declares 9.3g fibre per 100g.
  • Its lighter and milder texture and flavour positioning is the manufacturer’s description, not independent comparative testing.

Duchy Organic

A reference for organic stoneground plain wholemeal wheat flour when making pancakes from scratch.

  • Waitrose lists Duchy Organic Stoneground Wholemeal Plain Flour as wholemeal wheat flour with 12.9g fibre per 100g.
  • It contains wheat and gluten and must be cooked; organic status does not make it gluten-free.

Joybuy product options

Joybuy options for a from-scratch wholemeal flour route; check the recipe you plan to use, as these listings are not ready-made pancakes.

Doves Farm Organic Wholemeal Spelt Flour 1kg

Doves Farm Organic Wholemeal Spelt Flour 1kg

For a homemade wholemeal option, check that your pancake recipe is suitable for wholemeal spelt flour.

Declared fibre: 11g per 100g. Contains spelt wheat and gluten; store in a cool, dry place.

Joybuy
Laila Chakki Atta 5kg

Laila Chakki Atta 5kg

A wholemeal wheat flour route for home cooking; check that its granular chakki-atta texture suits your preferred pancake recipe.

Declared fibre: 14g per 100g. Contains wheat and gluten; the 5kg pack needs suitable cool, dry storage.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are ready-made pancakes usually wholemeal?

Do not assume so. The checked Waitrose 4 Buttermilk Pancakes and M&S 6 Sweet Pancakes list wheat flour, but neither is labelled as wholemeal. If wholemeal is essential, choose a product explicitly named or ingredient-listed as wholemeal wheat flour.

Which flour type suits homemade wholemeal pancakes?

Plain wholemeal flour is the closest fit for a standard pancake batter, as M&S Food’s wholemeal recipe uses plain wholemeal flour with baking powder. Strong wholemeal bread flour is marketed for bread structure, so it is not the like-for-like starting point for that recipe.

Can I make wholemeal pancakes quickly late at night?

Yes, if you have the ingredients ready. M&S Food’s wholemeal recipe takes 15 minutes and cooks pancakes for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Ready-made pancakes can be faster to heat, but check the pack if wholemeal is a requirement.

Can I freeze pancakes or pancake ingredients?

Follow the instructions for the individual product. Waitrose 4 Buttermilk Pancakes are suitable for freezing, while M&S 6 Sweet Pancakes are not. M&S advises storing opened wholemeal flour in an airtight container where stated.

Is wholemeal flour suitable for a gluten-free supper?

No, the checked wholemeal flour products are wheat flour and declare wheat or gluten. Choose a product labelled gluten-free where appropriate for your dietary needs; the Food Standards Agency states that food sold as gluten-free must contain no more than 20mg/kg gluten.