A croissant isn’t half a loaf: if you’re shopping for a small household at the start of the school year, it’s best to match the quantity to the occasions when you plan to eat them. An individual croissant is ideal for one portion; a small pack or bake-at-home product is only practical if you’ll use the remaining croissants and have time to prepare them. If you’re buying a croissant for school, always check the latest allergen information and the school’s rules.
If you only need one or a few croissants, it’s worth comparing individually sold products with the smallest suitable pack. PLUS lists a small butter croissant sold individually; with other packs, the main thing to consider is whether you’ll use the remaining croissants.
If you’re planning breakfast in advance and have a suitable oven or air fryer, bake-at-home croissants may be worth considering. ALDI Netherlands and Lidl Netherlands list products to bake at home. Check the preparation instructions and the number of croissants in each pack.
The product name alone isn’t enough to tell you whether a croissant is suitable for someone with an allergy. Read the latest information on prepacked products and ask for product-specific allergen information when buying loose croissants. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergen information must appear on the labels of prepacked foods.
First, work out how many croissants you’ll actually use around the start of the school year. Then consider whether you have the time and equipment to bake them at home. Check allergen information and school rules before packing one for school.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Compare the number of croissants with the occasions when you plan to eat them, and check the storage advice. | If I only need one croissant, I don’t want to be left with a mostly unused pack. Around 45% of consumers prioritise choosing the right quantity. |
| Baking at home | Check the preparation instructions, equipment required and number of croissants in the pack. | For a planned breakfast, I want to be able to bake them at home, but the preparation needs to fit into my morning. This is a key consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens for school | Read the latest allergen information and check the rules at your child’s school or in their class. | If I’m packing a croissant for school, I need to know which allergens are in that specific product. This is the main concern for around 22% of consumers. |
‘Half loaf’ doesn’t describe the croissant options listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS and Dirk. You could overlook a handy individual croissant or small pack as a result.
Search for ‘croissant sold individually’ or compare the number of croissants in each pack. If you’re buying a bake-at-home product, check the storage instructions too.
Ingredients vary between recipes and product types. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
Check the latest label for the product you’ve chosen. If you’re buying an unpackaged croissant, ask for allergen information before deciding whether it’s suitable for the allergy in question.
A bake-at-home product needs to be prepared and may contain more croissants than you need for one occasion. That makes it less suitable if you’re looking for a quick, single portion.
Read the preparation instructions before buying and check how many croissants you plan to bake or store. Consider buying an individual croissant if you don’t expect to use the rest.
Albert Heijn lists both fresh croissants and options to prepare at home.
Jumbo lists a range of croissants, including packs of four and six.
Lidl Netherlands lists croissants to bake at home, as well as oven-fresh products that vary by store.
ALDI Netherlands lists croissant dough and includes croissants in its bake-at-home range.
PLUS lists a small butter croissant sold individually, as well as packs of croissants.
Dirk lists bake-at-home croissants and packs containing different numbers of croissants.
This selection includes packs of four, a mini option and a ready-to-eat option. Compare the pack size with the number of portions you’ve planned. If you’re buying for school, check the latest ingredient and allergen information too.
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A pack for anyone planning to have several croissants and bake them at home.
The product description lists four croissants and describes them as bake-at-home croissants. Check the pack for preparation instructions.
According to the product information, this product contains wheat and may contain traces of milk, soya, sesame and lupin. Check the latest allergen information if you’re packing a croissant for school.
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A ready-to-eat croissant for an occasion when you don’t want to bake at home.
The product information gives the weight as 85 g and describes it as an individually wrapped croissant. Check how many are included in the sales unit before comparing the quantity with a pack.
The product information lists gluten, egg and milk. It also lists E102 and E110, with a warning that these colourings may have an adverse effect on children’s activity or attention. If you’re buying this product for school, check the latest packaging information.
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A pack for anyone who can use four croissants over several occasions.
The product name lists four croissants with a total weight of 180 g. Check the preparation and storage instructions on the pack before planning when to eat them.
The product information lists cereals containing gluten, milk, lupin, sesame and soya. Check the latest allergen information before buying.
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The mini size may suit you if you want to serve smaller croissants, provided the pack size matches the number of occasions you’ve planned.
The product name gives the weight as 200 g. Check the number of croissants on the latest packaging before planning portions.
The product information lists cereals containing gluten, milk, lupin, sesame and soya. Check the latest storage advice and allergen information too.
‘Half loaf’ isn’t a standard size for the croissants listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS and Dirk. If you want to buy fewer, compare individually sold croissants, the number in each pack and the storage instructions.
An individual croissant is a better choice if you only need one and don’t expect to use the rest of a pack. PLUS lists a small butter croissant sold individually; check with your own store to see if individual sales are available.
For a prepacked croissant, read the latest ingredient and allergen information for that specific product. If you’re buying an unpackaged croissant, ask for this information before you buy. Don’t rely on the product name or the ingredients of a different variety.
First, check your school’s, class’s or childcare setting’s rules on food brought from home and allergens. Also read the label on the croissant you’ve chosen, especially if someone in the group has a food allergy.
