Shoppers who want one croissant
For a quick coffee break, a single ready-to-eat croissant is a handy choice if you don’t want to open a larger pack or bake one first. ALDI and Dirk both list individual butter croissants in their ranges.
Who are the different types suitable for?
Home bakers hosting several guests
If you’d like to serve warm croissants with coffee and cake, consider a pack of bake-at-home croissants. Check first whether they’re already shaped: chilled dough needs shaping before baking.
Shoppers who check ingredients
If you need to avoid certain ingredients or allergens, you’ll need the information for the exact product variant. Also check whether it contains butter or other fats; don’t rely on the word ‘croissant’ alone.
What should you consider when choosing?
Before your coffee break, decide how many croissants you need, whether you have time to bake and which ingredients matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions you’ll use | Check the number of pieces and compare packs containing the same type of product. | If I only need one croissant, I don’t want to open a pack and leave the rest unused. Around 42% of consumers prioritise the number of portions they can use. |
| Preparation and serving time | Check whether the croissants are ready to eat, need baking or need shaping first. | When I have guests, I want to plan when to serve warm croissants without having to shape the dough at the last minute. Around 33% of consumers prioritise how much preparation is needed. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for the exact product variant to check its ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ information. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, I want to know what’s in the croissants before serving them. Around 25% of consumers prioritise checking this information. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all packs contain the same type of product
An individual croissant, a pack of bake-at-home croissants and a roll of dough don’t all need the same preparation. The number of croissants you end up serving can differ too.
Check how many pieces there are and whether you’ll need to shape, bake or store them for later.
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Assuming every croissant contains butter
The name or shape of a product doesn’t always tell you which fat it contains. Albert Heijn lists palm fat in its AH Verse original croissants; according to Albert Heijn, Danerolles Original contains margarine and concentrated butter.
If the type of fat matters to you, read the ingredients list for the variant you’ve chosen.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products. That doesn’t mean every croissant contains iodised salt.
Check the ingredients list on the pack. If you’re buying an unpackaged product in store, ask for the ingredient information.
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Only checking how to prepare them when it’s time to serve
Bake-at-home croissants need an oven or air fryer and time to cook; chilled dough may also need shaping. So not every pack is right for an impromptu coffee break.
Read the preparation and storage instructions before deciding when you want to serve the croissants.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s range includes AH Verse original croissants: 240 g of chilled dough for six portions.
- You can shape the croissants yourself before baking.
- Albert Heijn gives a baking time of 12–15 minutes, so these aren’t ready to serve straight away.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists standard croissants alongside butter, plant-based and frozen options, among others.
- The standard pack is listed as containing six pieces.
- Check the type of product: a filled, plant-based or frozen option calls for different considerations from a standard croissant.
ALDI
ALDI lists an individual fresh butter croissant and also includes croissants for baking at home in its range.
- A single fresh croissant is a good fit for a coffee break for one.
- For bake-at-home products, check the pack and preparation instructions separately.
PLUS
PLUS lists butter croissants for baking, fresh croissant dough and Délifrance frozen croissants, among other products.
- PLUS says its own-brand butter croissants can be prepared in an oven or air fryer.
- You’ll need to shape fresh croissant dough yourself, while frozen croissants need freezer space. Follow the instructions for the variant you choose.
Dirk
Dirk lists both an individual 65 g butter croissant and a 180 g own-brand pack containing four butter croissants.
- You can compare a single croissant with a pack for several people.
- For the four-piece pack, check whether the preparation method suits when you plan to serve it.
Lidl
Lidl stocks croissant products as part of its bread and bakery range.
- You can check in store to see which types of product are available.
- Lidl directs customers to its stores for the latest information about food products, so check the pack you choose there.
Croissants at Joybuy
These Joybuy products include options for a quick coffee break as well as packs to share with others. Check whether each product needs preparing and how many pieces you’d like to serve.
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Bakery Village Danish Croissant 85 g
An option if you want to serve one croissant with coffee without baking it first. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens before sharing.
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SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces
A pack for a planned coffee break with several people. Allow time for baking and follow the pack instructions for cooking time and temperature. If you’re specifically looking for butter croissants, check the ingredients too.
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g'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g
Mini croissants to consider if you’d like to serve smaller portions with coffee and cake. The pack states 200 g; check the number of pieces, preparation instructions and current allergen information.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
Four croissants for a coffee break with several people. Before serving, check whether they need baking and read the pack for ingredient and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a larger pack always handy for coffee and cake?
No. A pack with several pieces makes sense if you’re going to serve them or store them according to the pack instructions. For an impromptu coffee break for one, a single ready-to-eat croissant may be more convenient than dough or bake-at-home croissants.
Can you cook bake-at-home croissants in an air fryer?
Some can: PLUS says its own-brand butter croissants take four minutes in a preheated air fryer at 180 °C. Don’t use those instructions for another product; follow the instructions on the pack of croissants you buy.
What should I do with opened chilled croissant dough?
Follow the storage instructions for the specific dough. For the croissant dough it reviewed, PLUS says to keep it chilled at a maximum of 7 °C and to prepare and consume it immediately after opening. Don’t eat the dough raw.
Does every croissant in the Netherlands contain iodised salt?
No, you can’t tell from the product category alone. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products; check the ingredients list for the croissant you’ve chosen.
Which allergens should I check in croissants?
Always check the exact pack, as ingredients vary between products. PLUS lists wheat and milk for the butter croissants it reviewed; for the Délifrance frozen variant it reviewed, PLUS also mentions egg and the possible presence of soya and nuts.