For anyone who wants to bake just before guests arrive
You want to serve warm croissants with coffee and cake, and have the time and space to store and prepare chilled dough or frozen croissants.
Who are the different preparation options for?
For anyone who wants to serve something warm quickly
You want to keep preparation at home to a minimum. A part-baked croissant could be a good option, as long as its instructions suit the time and equipment you have.
For anyone who checks ingredients and allergens first
For you, the ingredients matter more than whether you choose dough, a bake-at-home croissant or one that’s ready to eat. Read the current label, and ask for allergen information before buying loose croissants.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to shape, bake or serve your croissants straight away. Then compare the instructions and ingredients of the croissants that suit your coffee occasion.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Baking them yourself in time to serve | Check whether you’re buying dough or unbaked frozen croissants. Look at the baking time and storage instructions. | For a planned coffee break, I want to bake the croissants shortly before serving. Around 46% of consumers say having control over when they serve them is their top priority. |
| Minimal preparation | Check whether the product is ready to eat or part-baked, and whether the stated preparation method suits your equipment. | If guests turn up unexpectedly, I don’t want to wait long before putting croissants on the table. Around 27% of consumers prioritise speed above all else. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label, including allergen details and any warnings about cross-contamination. Ask for information about unpackaged products. | I want to know which ingredients and allergens the croissants contain before serving them. For around 27% of consumers, this check is their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘premium’ tells you how to prepare them
A croissant described as luxurious could be a loose bakery item, a part-baked croissant, an unbaked frozen product or dough. This affects how long it takes to serve and how it needs to be stored.
First decide how much you want to do at home, then read the instructions for the exact product you’ve chosen.
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Guessing allergens from the name
‘Made with butter’ points to a milk ingredient, but doesn’t tell you which other allergens may be present. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
Check the current label, including any warning about cross-contamination. Ask for allergen information before buying an unpackaged croissant.
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Assuming every croissant contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the ingredients list for one croissant won’t tell you what’s in another.
If you want to know which salt has been used, check the packaging of the product you’re buying or ask about it when buying a loose croissant.
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Defrosting frozen croissants without a plan for serving them
Jumbo says its frozen-fresh croissants must not be refrozen after defrosting and should be prepared and eaten within 24 hours. Délifrance also states that its frozen croissants included in this review must not be refrozen after defrosting.
Choose a pack size that suits the number of guests, and follow the storage and defrosting instructions for the product you’ve chosen.
Brands and ranges to consider
The ranges below show different ways to choose croissants for a coffee occasion. The features mentioned apply to the products described, not automatically to the entire brand.
Albert Heijn
For anyone who wants to compare sizes and flavours within one range, from mini and butter croissants to filled varieties.
- Albert Heijn lists both bake-at-home and bakery options in its croissant range.
- Some products are only available in store, so check availability for the variety you want.
Jumbo
For anyone who wants to compare regular, plant-based and frozen varieties.
- Jumbo offers several types of product. According to its product page, its frozen-fresh croissants are an unbaked frozen option made with 23% butter.
- The recipe and defrosting instructions for this product don’t automatically apply to other Jumbo croissants.
PLUS
For anyone choosing between a quick bake, baking frozen croissants or shaping dough themselves.
- PLUS states that its part-baked butter croissants take 4–6 minutes in the oven at 200 °C. For its croissant dough, it explains how to cut and shape it before baking.
- Check the current packaging: ingredients, nutritional information and preparation methods can vary from product to product.
Dirk
For anyone who wants to compare a loose butter croissant with packaged varieties.
- Dirk lists a loose 65 g butter croissant and a separate croissant category.
- A loose croissant doesn’t give you the same control over when to bake as unbaked dough does.
ALDI
For anyone who wants to pick up a loose butter croissant without baking at home.
- ALDI describes a butter croissant sold individually in store.
- Check availability in store and, if needed, ask for the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Croissants for different coffee occasions
This selection of Joybuy products includes a Danish croissant that’s ready to serve, a variety you can bake at home and butter croissants in two sizes. If you want to serve them warm, check the preparation instructions on the packaging you choose.
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SCHOOF croissants, 4 pieces
For a coffee occasion when you want to bake the croissants at home. The pack contains four croissants; check the baking time and oven temperature on the packaging before you start.
If you’re specifically looking for a butter-based recipe, check the ingredients: this variety is listed as containing margarine. If you have allergies, check the current label too.
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Bakery Village Danish Croissant, 85 g
For anyone who wants to serve a croissant without baking it at home. This Danish croissant weighs 85 g and is individually wrapped.
If you have allergies, check the current label. If children will be eating them too, also read the warning about E102 and E110 and their possible effect on activity and attention.
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g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
For anyone planning to serve four butter croissants with coffee. The pack contains four croissants, with a total weight of 180 g.
If you want to serve them warm, check the packaging before buying to see how they should be prepared. If you have allergies, check the current ingredients and allergen information.
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G'woon mini butter croissants, 200 g
For anyone who wants to serve mini butter croissants with coffee and cake. The pack has a total weight of 200 g; don’t use this to work out how many croissants are included.
Check the packaging to see whether they need to be prepared, and if you have allergies, read the current ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose ready-to-eat, part-baked or unbaked croissants?
Choose ready-to-eat croissants if you don’t want to bake at home, part-baked ones if you want to serve something warm quickly, and unbaked croissants or dough if you want to choose when to bake them. Preparation varies by product: PLUS says its part-baked butter croissants take 4–6 minutes at 200 °C, while its croissant dough needs to be shaped first, according to the product information.
Which allergens should I check in croissants?
Check the allergens for the specific croissant rather than guessing its ingredients from the product name. Wheat and other gluten-containing cereals, milk and egg are found in the products described; some product information also mentions the possible presence of soya or nuts. Read the current label, and ask for allergen information before buying unpackaged croissants.
Does every croissant contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that every croissant does: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. PLUS does list iodised salt in its part-baked butter croissants included in this review; check the ingredients list for other varieties.
Can I refreeze defrosted frozen croissants?
Follow the instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. Jumbo says its frozen-fresh croissants must not be refrozen after defrosting and should be prepared and eaten within 24 hours. According to the product information, the Délifrance croissants included in this review must not be put back in the freezer after defrosting either.