Breakfast shopper keen to avoid leftovers
You only need one or a few croissants and want to weigh up buying them individually against choosing a larger pack.
Which option is right for you?
Brunch shopper feeding several people
You want to serve several croissants at once and can bake them or prepare the dough at home, if required for the product you choose.
Shopper who checks ingredients
You want to check which grains, milk ingredients and other relevant allergens a croissant contains before buying, even if it’s labelled as plant-based.
What should you look for when choosing?
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Compare the number of croissants, the weight and how many you actually need. | If I’m having breakfast on my own, I don’t want a larger pack left over. Around 37% of consumers prioritise getting the right number of pieces. |
| Ready to eat or bake at home | Check whether the product is ready to eat or needs preparing at home, and read the preparation instructions. | If I’m short on time, I don’t want to have to turn the oven on first. Around 27% of consumers prioritise minimal preparation. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack, or ask for allergen information if the product is sold loose. | If I need to avoid milk or certain grains, I need to know what’s in this particular croissant. This is the first thing around 18% of consumers consider. |
| Fibre and wholegrain | Check the ingredients and fibre content per serving; don’t assume a croissant is wholegrain because of its colour or seeds. | If you’re looking for croissants that fit a wholegrain preference, you’ll want to know exactly what the label says. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this nutritional information. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a larger pack without considering how many people you’re feeding
Four or six croissants can be handy for a group, but if you’re having breakfast on your own, you may have some left over.
First decide how many croissants you want to serve, then compare individual products with multi-packs.
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Relying on the words ‘butter’ or ‘plant-based’ to check for allergens
A plant-based label doesn’t tell you which other allergens the product may contain. A butter croissant may contain milk and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients.
Check the label on packaged croissants. If they’re sold loose, ask about allergen information before buying.
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Assuming a croissant is wholegrain without checking the label
A dark colour or seeds don’t prove that a croissant is wholegrain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 1.1 g of fibre for a 45 g croissant; the value may vary for other products.
Check the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you’re buying if wholegrain or fibre is a deciding factor for you.
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Overlooking the preparation needed for dough or bake-at-home croissants
Dough and bake-at-home products need different preparation from croissants that are ready to eat.
Before buying, check what equipment you’ll need and follow the storage and preparation instructions on the pack.
Chilled croissant dough also needs space in the fridge, as well as time to shape and bake.
Brands to explore
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers fresh, bake-at-home and frozen croissants, including own-brand products.
- The range includes different pack formats to suit the number of people you’re feeding.
- Check whether each product is available at your shop and whether it needs preparing at home.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers plain, butter, frozen and plant-based croissants, among other options.
- If you’re weighing up butter and plant-based options, you can compare the labels for the specific products.
- A plant-based product name doesn’t tell you whether it contains other allergens.
Lidl
Lidl offers oven-fresh mini butter croissants and a separate cheese croissant.
- The mini size is a separate option if you’re looking for smaller croissants.
- Check the portion size and allergen information for your chosen product in store.
ALDI
ALDI offers a fresh butter croissant sold individually.
- Buying one at a time suits you if you want a croissant to eat straight away.
- Ask in store about ingredients and allergens if they affect your choice.
PLUS
PLUS offers pre-baked butter croissants, as well as chilled butter croissant dough sold separately.
- With croissant dough, you can choose the shape and add a filling if you like.
- The dough needs to be kept chilled and prepared according to the product instructions.
Dirk / 1 de Beste
Dirk offers a single oven-fresh butter croissant and a four-piece bake-at-home pack from 1 de Beste.
- You can choose between eating one straight away and baking several croissants at home.
- Check the preparation instructions for the bake-at-home pack and the allergen information for both products.
Croissants at Joybuy
This selection includes croissants in different sizes, including four-piece packs and mini croissants. Check the preparation method and ingredients for each product if they’re important for your breakfast.
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SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces
A pack for when you need four croissants at once; check the pack for preparation instructions.
Pack size: 4 pieces.
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Bakery Village Danish Croissant, 85 g
A croissant with a listed weight of 85 g; check whether it’s ready to eat if you don’t want to bake it.
Weight: 85 g.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
If you’re looking for four butter croissants in one pack, check whether they need baking at home.
Pack size: 4 pieces, 180 g in total.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g
If you’re looking for mini butter croissants, check the pack to see how many it contains and how to prepare them.
Pack weight: 200 g.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose an individual croissant instead of a bake-at-home pack?
Choose a single fresh croissant if you want to eat it straight away and only need one or a few. A bake-at-home pack is better suited to feeding several people, provided you have the necessary equipment and time.
Can I cook bake-at-home croissants in an air fryer?
You can if the specific product comes with air fryer instructions. PLUS gives air fryer instructions for its pre-baked butter croissants; for other products, follow the directions on the pack.
Which allergens should I check in croissants?
Check the allergen information for the specific product, especially if milk or cereals containing gluten are relevant to you. PLUS butter croissants list wheat and milk, among other ingredients. If croissants are sold loose, ask about allergen information before buying.
How can I tell whether a croissant contains iodised salt?
Check the ingredients list for the croissant in question, or ask for product information if it’s sold loose. PLUS lists iodised salt in its butter croissants; this doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in other croissants.