Shopping for a small Christmas breakfast
You want to match the number of croissants to your guests so you don’t end up with too many leftovers. Loose croissants and smaller packs are worth comparing.
For Christmas breakfast with several guests, a multipack is practical if the number of croissants suits your party; buying loose croissants can help avoid leftovers if you have one or two extra guests. Frozen croissants are a good option if you want to shop in advance and have enough oven and freezer space when it’s time to serve them. Whatever you choose, check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions on the packaging.
You want to match the number of croissants to your guests so you don’t end up with too many leftovers. Loose croissants and smaller packs are worth comparing.
You want to shop in advance for several guests and bake the croissants just before serving. If you choose a frozen option, check the storage instructions and the time needed in the oven.
Make your choice only after checking the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product. Regular, plant-based and butter croissants don’t necessarily have the same ingredients.
Work out how many croissants you need and whether you want to serve them straight away or bake them at home. Then check the ingredients and preparation instructions for each product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Comparing the price per croissant | The number of croissants in each pack, and whether you’re comparing like with like. | I want to compare packs of different sizes on a like-for-like basis. For around 33% of consumers, comparing the price per croissant comes first. |
| Quantity and serving time | Loose croissants or a multipack; for frozen croissants, also check that you have enough oven and freezer space. | I want enough croissants for my brunch and to be able to bake them just before we eat. For around 25% of consumers, this combination of quantity and serving time is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product you’re buying, including warnings about possible traces. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in these croissants before buying them. For around 25% of consumers, checking this comes before other selection criteria. |
| Preparation | Whether the croissants are ready to serve or need baking, and which storage and baking instructions apply. | I want to keep breakfast preparations to a minimum on Christmas morning. For around 17% of consumers, easy preparation is the top priority. |
Ingredients vary by product: AH lists vegetable oil in its regular croissants, while Jumbo lists butter in its butter croissants.
Is butter important to your choice? Compare the ingredients lists for the specific products, not just the pack sizes.
A frozen product may need a different baking time and storage method from a bake-at-home croissant. For its frozen Délifrance croissants, PLUS recommends baking from frozen for 18 minutes at 185 °C.
Check the instructions on your pack in advance and allow enough time and oven space.
Ingredients and possible traces vary between croissants. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be clearly available.
For prepacked croissants, read the current label. If you’re buying loose croissants, ask about allergen information before you buy.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says using bakers’ salt is not compulsory. So you can’t tell whether a product contains iodised salt just from its category.
If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the croissants you’re buying.
Albert Heijn offers regular croissants, butter croissants and frozen options under its AH own brand.
Jumbo offers regular, butter and plant-based croissants.
Lidl offers croissants to bake at home, as well as butter croissants sold in store.
ALDI offers individual fresh butter croissants in store.
PLUS offers butter croissants and frozen Délifrance croissants, among other options.
Dirk offers both individual butter croissants and a multipack from 1 de Beste.
These croissant packs are suited to a Christmas breakfast where you want to serve several croissants at home. Check the quantity and preparation method for each product to see what works best for your plans.
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An option if you’re looking for mini croissants for Christmas breakfast. Check the net weight and ingredients on the packaging before comparing the contents with other packs.
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A pack of four for anyone looking to serve several croissants. Before baking, check the instructions on the packaging and read the label for ingredients and allergens.
Choose a pack to suit the number of people eating: loose croissants are handy if you only need a few, while a multipack may suit a larger group. Check exactly how many croissants are in the pack.
Yes, as long as you have enough freezer space and time to use the oven. For its frozen Délifrance croissants, PLUS recommends baking from frozen for 18 minutes at 185 °C, storing at −18 °C and not refreezing defrosted products. Always follow the instructions on your product’s packaging.
Check the allergen information for the specific croissants you’re buying. Wheat and milk are present in the products discussed; also check for other listed ingredients and warnings about possible traces. If you’re buying loose croissants, ask about allergen information before you buy.
No, you can’t assume that every croissant does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says using bakers’ salt is not compulsory. Check the ingredients list on the relevant pack if you want to know whether iodised salt has been used.