Families who want lunch straight away
If you want to serve lunch without getting the oven ready, individually sold, ready-to-eat croissants let you buy the right number for your group. Just check that your chosen variety is available at your store.
Which type is right for you?
Planning for a group
If you’re buying for a family or group, check how many croissants are in each pack and whether they need preparing. This will help you work out how many packs you need and whether you’ll have any left over.
Checking ingredients
If you have a food allergy or follow a specific diet, it’s important to check the information for the exact variety you’re buying. The Voedingscentrum highlights the importance of allergen information on labels, so don’t assume another croissant has the same ingredients.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you want to serve the croissants straight away or have time to prepare them. Then work out how many you need and check the ingredients of your chosen variety.
Individually sold, ready-to-eat croissants
Choose these: if you want lunch straight away and only want to buy the number you need.
Bear in mind: availability can vary by store, so check for your exact variety.
Ready-to-bake croissants in a pack
Choose these: if you’re feeding a group and have time to prepare the croissants.
Bear in mind: the cooking instructions and the number of croissants in each pack.
Frozen croissants or croissant dough
Choose these: if you want to shop in advance and can plan when to prepare lunch.
Bear in mind: you’ll need freezer space for frozen products, while dough involves extra preparation.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding leftovers | Compare the number you need with the pack size, and check whether you can buy croissants individually. | If I’m buying for a small lunch, I don’t want to be left with an opened pack. For around 36% of consumers, avoiding leftovers would be the top priority. |
| Portions for a group | Check how many croissants are in each pack and whether you can prepare enough portions. | When several people are eating, I want to know in advance that there’ll be enough croissants. For around 29% of consumers, planning enough portions would come first. |
| Ready to serve straight away | Check whether the croissants are ready to eat or need baking. | On a busy holiday, I want to serve lunch without having to bake first. For around 21% of consumers, being able to serve straight away would matter most. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the information for the exact variety, including any ‘may contain’ statements. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what these croissants contain. For around 14% of consumers, checking this would be the main concern. |
Common mistakes
-
Looking only at the pack size
A pack with more croissants won’t necessarily suit the number of people you’re feeding. If you only need a few, you could end up with some left over.
First work out how many people are eating, then compare individual croissants with the number in a pack.
-
Buying ready-to-bake croissants without planning how to prepare them
Ready-to-bake croissants and croissant dough don’t need the same preparation. PLUS gives oven and air fryer instructions for its butter croissants, while Danerolles dough needs to be shaped and then baked, according to the product information.
Read the instructions on your chosen pack and check that you’ll have time and suitable equipment where you’re having lunch.
-
Assuming every croissant has the same ingredients
Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. PLUS’s product information for an individually sold butter croissant lists wheat, egg and milk, and says the product may contain soya.
Check the current packaging every time you buy. For unwrapped croissants, ask the retailer for allergen information.
-
Assuming every variety shown online is available in store
Albert Heijn marks some croissant varieties as available in store only. So an online range won’t necessarily tell you which variety you’ll find at your local branch.
Before you set off, check that the exact croissant you want to buy is available.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
The croissant range includes fresh, ready-to-bake and frozen varieties, as well as Danerolles croissant dough.
- The different product types make it easy to compare options for serving straight away and preparing at home.
- Check how each product is sold: some varieties are only available in store.
Jumbo
The online range shows own-brand croissants in different pack sizes, including standard and butter varieties.
- The packs shown list quantities and weights, helping you plan portions.
- Check the ingredients, preparation instructions and availability of the variety you choose.
Lidl
Lidl publishes information about its oven-fresh bread range, along with a separate guide to ingredients and allergens.
- The ingredients and allergen information gives you a starting point for checking an oven-fresh product you’re considering.
- Check which croissants are available at the branch you plan to visit.
ALDI
ALDI lists a fresh butter croissant sold individually in store.
- Buying croissants individually lets you match the quantity to the number of people you’re feeding.
- Check availability at the ALDI store where you plan to shop.
PLUS
PLUS lists both packs of butter croissants to bake at home and a small butter croissant sold individually.
- The ready-to-bake pack includes instructions for the oven and air fryer.
- The individually sold and packed varieties won’t necessarily have the same ingredients or preparation instructions, so check the exact product information.
Dirk
Dirk lists an individually sold butter croissant and a pack of four butter croissants to bake at home.
- You can compare an individually sold croissant and a pack against the number of people you’re feeding.
- Check whether your chosen variety needs preparing and whether the pack size suits your lunch.
Croissants on Joybuy
These packaged croissants are options to help you plan portions for a school holiday lunch. Check whether each product needs preparing and read the ingredients on the pack you choose.
Image unavailable
SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces
Four croissants could suit a planned lunch if you have time to bake them. Check the baking instructions and ingredients on the pack.
Image unavailable
g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
With four croissants, you can match the pack size to the number of people you’re feeding. Before lunch, check whether this variety is ready to eat or needs preparing.
Image unavailable
G'woon mini butter croissants, 200 g
These mini croissants come in a pack and are a good option if you’re looking for smaller portions for lunch. Check how many are in the pack and whether they need preparing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how many croissants I need for a school holiday lunch?
Start with the number of people eating and compare it with the number of croissants in each pack. Then decide whether individually sold croissants are a better fit or whether a pack will leave you with spares. Remember to allow time for any preparation.
Can you cook ready-to-bake croissants in an air fryer?
Yes, if the instructions for your chosen variety say you can. PLUS recommends preheating an air fryer to 180 °C and cooking its butter croissants for 4 minutes. For other products, follow the instructions on their packaging.
Which allergens should I check in croissants?
Check the allergen information for the exact croissant you’re buying. An individually sold butter croissant from PLUS lists wheat, egg and milk, and says the product may contain soya. Another variety may have different information. For unwrapped croissants, you can ask the retailer for allergen details.
Does every croissant in the Netherlands contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that every croissant does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt; this isn’t a general requirement for every croissant. Check the ingredients list for the variety you choose.