If you want to serve croissants straight away at Christmas breakfast, choose fresh, ready-to-eat croissants. Bake-off or frozen croissants let you decide when to serve them, but you’ll need space to prepare them. Croissant dough gives you more control over the shape and filling, but takes more work. For each product you choose, check the number of croissants, preparation instructions and the latest ingredients and allergen information.
If you don’t want to bake on the morning itself, look for ready-to-eat croissants from the bakery. Packaged bake-off croissants are another option if you can make space in the oven or air fryer; check how much preparation your chosen product needs.
Shopping in advance is easier when you compare the number of croissants in each pack with your guest list. Bake-off croissants, frozen croissants and dough all offer different ways to prepare them at home, as long as you take storage requirements and available oven space into account.
If a guest has a food allergy or needs to avoid certain ingredients, compare the information for the exact products you’re considering. Check the latest label on packaged croissants, and ask about allergen information for loose bakery products. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking labels when dealing with food allergies.
Choose these: if you want to serve croissants without baking at home; ALDI and Dirk, for example, sell fresh butter croissants individually.
Bear in mind: when you shop and what’s in stock, especially if you need croissants for several guests.
Choose these: if you want to shop in advance and bake the croissants at home close to serving time.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space in the oven or air fryer. Preparation varies by product: PLUS says its packaged butter croissants take 4–6 minutes in an oven at 200 °C.
Choose these: if you want to stock up in advance for several occasions; Jumbo, for example, sells frozen butter croissants.
Bear in mind: you’ll need freezer space, and should follow the defrosting and baking instructions on the pack you choose.
Choose this: if you want to decide the shape or filling yourself. PLUS says you can cut at least six triangles from one roll of its croissant dough.
Bear in mind: you’ll need time to shape and bake the dough, and follow the storage instructions. Don’t eat the dough raw.
Start with the preparation method that works for you on Christmas morning. Then compare the pack size and ingredients of the specific croissants you want to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and serving time | Are the croissants ready to eat, or do they need baking? Can you follow the instructions with the equipment you have? | If I’m having guests at a set time, I don’t want to organise several batches of baking at once. That’s why minimal preparation would be the top buying priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the number of croissants in the pack with your guest list, and check how they should be stored. | For a larger brunch, I want to have enough croissants ready without relying entirely on buying them that morning. For around 25% of consumers, being able to plan ahead and stock up would come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the information for the exact variety; for loose croissants, ask for allergen information. | If a guest has a food allergy, I need to be able to check what’s in their croissant. For around 25% of consumers, this check would be the top priority. |
| Shape and filling | Do you want to serve ready-made croissants, or shape and perhaps fill the dough yourself? Check the preparation instructions too. | I want to choose the size or filling for my Christmas table, and I can make time to shape the dough. For around 17% of consumers, having that choice would matter most. |
Ingredients and possible traces vary by product. For example, the Délifrance butter croissants described by Jumbo contain milk and wheat and may contain traces of lupin, soya and sesame. This doesn’t apply to every other croissant.
Check the latest label for the variety you choose. Before buying loose, unpackaged croissants for a guest with an allergy, ask for allergen information.
A single croissant, a pack of four and dough that you shape into croissants yourself won’t necessarily provide the same quantity or involve the same amount of preparation.
Work out how many portions you need and compare the number of croissants and the weight on the pack. If you’re buying dough, also consider how much time you have to shape and bake it.
A product that’s part of a regular range won’t necessarily be available at your shop when you want to do your Christmas shopping.
Check current availability and pack details shortly before you buy. If you choose an alternative, check its preparation instructions and ingredients against your plans too.
These shops offer different types of croissants. Compare the specific product you want to buy; ranges and product information can vary by shop and over time.
Albert Heijn’s croissant range includes fresh, bake-off and frozen varieties, as well as mini and plant-based options.
Jumbo offers croissants from its own label and other brands, including plant-based and frozen varieties.
Lidl’s in-store bakery offers products including mini butter croissants.
ALDI sells a fresh butter croissant individually.
PLUS offers fresh croissants, packaged bake-off croissants and croissant dough to shape yourself.
Dirk offers both a fresh butter croissant sold individually and a pack of four bake-off croissants.
These Joybuy croissants offer options for serving straight away, baking at home and planning portions. Check the preparation instructions on each pack before deciding when to serve them.
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Worth considering if you want to serve croissants at brunch without baking them at home. The product name states 85 g; check the number in each pack before planning portions.
If you have specific dietary requirements, check the latest ingredients and allergen information, including the stated cheese preparation, wheat, egg and milk. If you’re buying for children, also check the warning about E102 and E110 on the pack.
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A handy option if you want to buy four croissants in advance to bake at home. Check the baking time and temperature on the pack before planning your oven use for Christmas breakfast.
This product is described as containing margarine rather than butter. If you have allergies, also check the latest information about possible traces of sesame, lupin, milk and soya.
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Mini croissants to consider if you want to serve smaller croissants at brunch. Check the pack to see how much preparation they need before deciding when to serve them.
If you have allergies, check the latest information about ingredients including cereals containing gluten, milk, lupin, sesame and soya.
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A pack of four croissants with a total weight of 180 g, to compare with the number of portions you need. Check whether they’re ready to eat or need further preparation.
If you have allergies, read the latest information about ingredients including cereals containing gluten, milk, lupin, sesame and soya.
Fresh, ready-to-eat croissants can be served without baking at home. If you’d rather bake them at home, check the instructions for that exact pack and leave enough space in the oven. For example, PLUS says its packaged butter croissants take 4–6 minutes in an oven at 200 °C.
Work out how many guests will want a croissant, then compare that number with the quantity in each pack and the baking space you have. For example, Jumbo offers packs with different quantities; if you’re shaping the dough yourself, remember to factor in how many croissants you’ll actually make.
Don’t assume they’re suitable without checking the exact ingredients and allergen information. The Délifrance butter croissants described by Jumbo contain milk and wheat; other varieties may list different ingredients or possible traces. Ask for the latest allergen information for loose croissants.
Yes, as long as you can follow the storage and use-by instructions on the pack you choose. PLUS says its croissant dough should be kept refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C and, once opened, prepared and eaten straight away. The dough shouldn’t be eaten raw.
