What you need for a pancake afternoon

A pancake afternoon needs more than flour, milk and a hot pan. Plan the shopping around your final guest count, including separate ingredients for vegan and gluten-free batter if needed. You will also need enough plates, cups, cutlery, toppings and drinks for people who may come back for seconds. Check equipment early: pans, induction plates, extension cords and serving tools are easy to overlook and harder to find at the last minute.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Buffet tablesqty 3
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Platesqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 60
Glassesqty 70
Forksqty 70
Knivesqty 70

Kitchen

Mixing bowlsqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 4
Ladlesqty 6
Spatulasqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4

Equipment

Pancake pansqty 8
Induction platesqty 8
Extension cordsqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 10
Buntingqty 6
Menusqty 8

Cleaning

Washing-up tubsqty 3
Cleaning clothsqty 12
Broom and dustpanqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Wheat flour - 8 kilos
- Gluten-free flour - 1 kilo
- Semi-skimmed milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Eggs - 120 pieces
- Granulated sugar - 2 kilos
- Vanilla sugar - 4 sachets
- Baking powder - 2 sachets
- Salt - 500 grams
- Sunflower oil - 3 liters
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Powdered sugar - 1 kilo
- Syrup - 6 bottles
- Pancake syrup - 4 bottles
- Strawberry jam - 4 jars
- Apricot jam - 2 jars
- Chocolate spread - 4 jars
- Apple syrup - 2 jars
- Whipped cream - 12 cans
- Vanilla ice cream - 6 liters
- Apples - 5 kilo
- Bananas - 4 kilos
- Strawberries - 3 kilos
- Raisins - 1 kilo
- Walnuts - 750 grams
- Cinnamon - 2 jars
- Cheese slices - 3 kilos
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Bacon cubes - 2 kilos
- Mushrooms - 2 kilos
- Bell peppers - 2 kilos
- Onions - 1 kilo
- Spinach - 1 kilo
- Herb cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Coffee - 2 kilos
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar cubes - 1 kilo
- Milk cups - 300 pieces
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilos
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Storage containers - 30 pieces
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Labels - 100 pieces

Tips

Allow 3 to 4 pancakes per guest, plus enough batter for a few extras. For 20 guests, that means roughly 60 to 80 pancakes, depending on whether pancakes are the main food.
Buy 2 to 3 drink servings per person for the first hour, then add 1 serving per person for each additional hour. Include coffee and tea as well as cold drinks.
Plan at least 5 to 6 topping portions per guest if toppings are served buffet-style. Fruit, spreads and other toppings should be cut and portioned before guests arrive.
Keep vegan and gluten-free ingredients clearly separate from the standard groceries. Prepare allergen information before setting out the buffet, not after serving starts.
Count tableware at 1.5 times the guest number when washing up during the event is difficult. For 20 guests, prepare about 30 plates, cups and sets of cutlery, plus waste bins and cleaning cloths.

Frequently asked questions

How much pancake batter do I need per person?: Plan for 3 to 4 pancakes per guest, or about 250 to 350 ml of batter per person depending on pancake size. For 20 guests, prepare approximately 5 to 7 litres of batter, including a small reserve.
How many pancake toppings should I buy?: Allow 5 to 6 topping portions per guest when people can choose from several options. For 20 guests, prepare around 100 to 120 portions spread across fruit, spreads and other toppings.
How many plates and cups do I need for a pancake afternoon?: Use 1.5 times the guest count if you do not plan to wash up during the event. For 20 guests, that is about 30 plates, coffee cups and glasses, plus 30 sets of forks and knives.
When should I buy ingredients for a pancake afternoon?: Buy dry groceries and drinks 2 to 3 days beforehand. Collect fresh fruit and chilled products on the day before or the morning of the event, then keep chilled items cold until setup.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.