Which approach suits you?

For serving straight away

Are you shopping just before dinner and don’t want to bake at home? A fresh croissant from the in-store bakery fits the bill. Just check whether your preferred variety is available at your store.

For planning a baking slot

Want to prepare the croissants just before serving, without shaping the dough yourself? Compare part-baked and frozen options by baking time, storage instructions and any defrosting steps.

For creating your own menu

Want to tailor the shape, size or savoury or sweet filling to one of the courses? Fresh croissant dough gives you that flexibility, as long as you set aside time for shaping and baking.

What should guide your choice?

First decide when you want the croissant on the table and how much preparation you’re happy to do. Then compare the instructions and ingredients for the specific products.

Fresh from the shop

Best for: serving a croissant without baking it at home.

Consider: availability depends on the shop where you do your food shopping.

Part-baked and ready to bake

Best for: a quick baking slot just before serving, without shaping the dough.

Consider: you’ll need an oven or air fryer ready at the right time and you’ll need to follow the product instructions.

Frozen croissants

Best for: shopping in advance and planning the preparation for the evening itself.

Consider: freezer space, baking time and defrosting instructions vary by product.

Fresh croissant dough

Best for: creating your own shape or filling to complement the dinner.

Consider: cutting, shaping and baking take more work than serving a ready-made croissant.

What to consider What to check when buying Best suited to
Serving straight away Check whether the croissant can be served without preparation at home and whether its size suits your presentation. If you’re shopping just before dinner, you may want to serve it as soon as you get home. For around 36% of consumers, serving straight away is the priority.
A planned baking slot Check the baking time, the equipment needed and any instructions for defrosting and storage. If the croissants are going into the oven shortly before serving, you’ll want to plan the rest of the cooking around them. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this baking slot.
Creating your own version Check whether the dough is suitable for your chosen filling and how many croissants you can make from it. For a savoury course or a sweet finish, you may want to choose the size and filling yourself. This freedom matters most to around 21% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, even if the product name sounds familiar. If the ingredients determine what you can serve, check the label before choosing a preparation method. For around 14% of consumers, this is the first thing to consider.

What should you watch out for?

  • Assuming ‘premium’ from the name or butter percentage

    A stated butter percentage tells you something about the ingredients in that product, but it isn’t an independent assessment of taste or quality. Fresh croissants, part-baked products and dough also each need a different approach to preparation.

    First choose the preparation method that suits when you want to serve them. Then compare the size, ingredients and preparation instructions of products within that category.

  • Leaving it until just before serving to check the baking time

    PLUS says its part-baked butter croissants take 4–6 minutes to finish in the oven, while its croissant dough needs around 15–20 minutes of baking time. These timings won’t necessarily apply to another product.

    Read the instructions on your pack before planning dinner, and make sure the oven or air fryer is free at the right time.

  • Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt

    The fact that some croissants list iodised salt doesn’t mean they all do. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory.

    If iodised salt is important to your choice, check the ingredients list for the specific product or ask the baker.

  • Checking allergens only when it’s time to serve

    Ingredients and possible traces vary from one croissant to another. The product information reviewed lists wheat and milk, and, in some varieties, egg or possible traces of nuts.

    Ask in advance what you need to take into account and check the current packaging, including any warnings about possible traces.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers both an individual AH Luxe butter croissant and a sweet AH Excellent Swirl with apricot.

  • The AH Luxe butter croissant is listed as 90 g each, with 25% butter.
  • According to Albert Heijn, the apricot variety contains 36% apricot jam, so it isn’t a neutral alternative for a savoury presentation.

Jumbo

Jumbo sells a frozen version of its luxury butter croissants in a pack of four.

  • The product information lists 23% butter; choosing a frozen option lets you plan your purchase in advance.
  • According to Jumbo, this product must not be refrozen after defrosting and should be eaten within 24 hours.

PLUS

PLUS offers both part-baked butter croissants and fresh butter croissant dough.

  • For its part-baked croissants, PLUS recommends 4–6 minutes in an oven at 200 °C or 4 minutes in an air fryer at 180 °C.
  • The dough lets you shape and fill the croissants yourself, but the product instructions also mean you’ll need to set aside time for shaping and baking.

Délifrance

Délifrance offers frozen croissants to bake at home.

  • An Albert Heijn product page gives instructions for a Délifrance variety: bake from frozen for 18 minutes at 185 °C.
  • Albert Heijn marks that variety as discontinued. Before buying, check which Délifrance pack your shop stocks and follow the instructions on it.

Lidl

Lidl lists a butter croissant as an in-store bakery product.

  • According to Lidl, this croissant is made with butter and is only available in store.
  • Check the current product information in store if the size or ingredients are important to your choice.

ALDI

ALDI describes a fresh butter croissant sold individually in store.

  • Buying them individually can work well if you want to match the number of croissants to your dinner.
  • Check the product’s ingredients and allergen information in store before choosing it for your menu.

Dirk

Dirk offers individual fresh butter croissants and a pack of 1 de Beste butter croissants to bake at home.

  • According to Dirk, the 1 de Beste pack contains four croissants with a total weight of 180 g.
  • A fresh croissant and a pack of croissants to bake at home call for different plans, so check which option you’re choosing.

Croissants at Joybuy

Each of these packs contains four croissants. Compare the ingredients and check the preparation method on the pack so you know how they’ll fit into your dinner plans.

Pack of g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g

g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g

With four croissants in the pack, you can serve several people.

The pack contains 180 g in total. Before dinner, check the packaging to see whether the croissants are ready to serve or need baking, and read the current allergen information.

View at Joybuy
Pack of SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces

SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces

This pack is a good choice if you want to serve several croissants.

Schoof’s ingredients information lists 30% margarine, so these aren’t butter croissants. Check the current packaging for allergen information and preparation instructions before planning when to serve them.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Which croissants can I bake just before dinner without shaping the dough myself?

Part-baked croissants are a good fit for that plan. PLUS recommends 4–6 minutes in an oven at 200 °C or 4 minutes in an air fryer at 180 °C for its part-baked butter croissants. For another product, follow the instructions on its packaging.

Can I shape fresh croissant dough well in advance?

Don’t assume you can: read the instructions for the dough you’ve chosen first. PLUS says its croissant dough should be stored at a maximum of 7 °C and prepared and eaten immediately after opening. The dough must be heated and shouldn’t be eaten raw.

Do all Dutch croissants contain iodised baker’s salt?

Don’t assume they do. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory, although some croissants do list iodised salt. Check the ingredients list for the croissant you want to buy, or ask the baker.

Which allergens should I check before dinner?

Read the current allergen information for the specific croissant and look out for possible traces too. Albert Heijn lists wheat, milk and egg among the allergens in its AH Luxe butter croissant, along with possible traces of almond or hazelnut. Another product may have different information on its label.