Anyone organising an Easter brunch for a group
You want to serve enough croissants without ending up with lots of leftovers. Compare the number in each pack and consider whether your oven has room to bake them all in time.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Smaller households looking to avoid leftovers
For a small breakfast, an individual croissant may be a better fit than a whole pack. Albert Heijn, Lidl, ALDI and Dirk offer examples of individual croissants sold in store; check what your local shop has available at the time.
Anyone with specific dietary requirements
Looking for a plant-based option, or need to take allergens into account? For packaged croissants, read the information on the exact product. For unpackaged croissants, ask for the allergen information.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many croissants you actually want to serve. Then decide whether to buy them ready to eat, bake them at home or shape them yourself. Check the ingredients too, if they matter to your guests.
| What to consider | Check | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of croissants and leftovers | The number of croissants in each pack and how many your guests are likely to eat. | If I’m putting together an Easter breakfast for several people, I want enough croissants without having an opened pack left over. Getting the quantity right is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Preparation and serving time | Whether the product is ready to eat, part-baked or made from raw dough. Read the instructions too, and plan for oven space. | Warm croissants are a nice touch for my brunch, as long as baking them doesn’t get in the way of the rest of the preparations. Serving them warm is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients and allergen information for the exact product; ask for this information for unpackaged croissants. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients or is looking for a plant-based option, I want to check this before buying. Product information is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a large pack without counting the portions
A pack with more croissants isn’t necessarily right for a small Easter breakfast. Make sure you can use or store any leftovers according to the instructions on the packaging.
Count how many people are eating and decide how many croissants you want to serve before choosing between individual croissants and a pack.
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Treating part-baked croissants and croissant dough the same
Part-baked croissants and dough need different preparation. PLUS says its part-baked butter croissants take 4–6 minutes at 200 °C; its croissant dough has a longer baking time.
Check how your product needs to be prepared and allow for the oven space you’ll need. Follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
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Assuming the product name tells you about allergens
A plant-based croissant isn’t automatically free from other allergens. For example, PLUS lists wheat and milk in its butter croissants; that doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in another variety.
For a packaged product, read the current label. Before buying an unpackaged croissant, ask for the allergen information.
Shops and brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers plain croissants, butter croissants, mini croissants and varieties to bake at home or freeze. That gives you a range of pack sizes to consider alongside your brunch plans.
- Individual croissants sold in store are also available.
- According to Albert Heijn, some varieties are only available in store.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers packs of plain and butter croissants, as well as a plant-based option.
- The packs listed come in different sizes.
- If you have specific dietary requirements, check the label of the variety you choose.
Lidl
Lidl describes a butter croissant for anyone looking for an individual croissant in store.
- The product description says it is made with butter.
- Lidl says this croissant is only available in store.
ALDI
ALDI offers an individual fresh butter croissant, which is a good option if you only want to pick up a few.
- Buying them individually lets you choose the right number for a small group.
- Check what information is available in your shop for unpackaged products.
PLUS
PLUS offers both part-baked butter croissants and chilled croissant dough that you can shape yourself.
- Separate storage and preparation instructions are provided for the two products.
- The preparation and ingredients vary by product, so read the packaging of the one you choose.
Dirk
Dirk offers an individual butter croissant, as well as several products to bake at home.
- You can compare an individual croissant with a pack for a larger group.
- Check whether each product is a ready-to-eat croissant from the shop or one that needs baking at home.
Croissants for different brunch plans
These Joybuy products are packs for an Easter breakfast or brunch: four SCHOOF croissants, mini butter croissants and a pack of four butter croissants. Choose a quantity to suit your guests and read the preparation instructions for the product you select.
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SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pack
A pack of four croissants for a brunch where you want to serve several. Check the preparation instructions on the pack before planning your oven use.
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G'woon mini butter croissants, 200 g
The mini size is ideal for a brunch where you’d like to serve smaller croissants. The pack is labelled 200 g; check the packaging for preparation instructions.
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g'woon butter croissants, 4 pack, 180 g
Four butter croissants for a small group or as part of a larger brunch. The total weight is 180 g; check the pack for preparation instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how many croissants to buy for an Easter brunch?
Start with the number of people eating and how many croissants you’d like to serve, then compare this with the number in each pack. For a small breakfast, buying individual croissants can help reduce leftovers; for a larger group, a pack may be a better fit.
Can I buy croissant dough in advance for Easter?
Yes, as long as you can follow the storage and preparation instructions for the dough you choose. PLUS says its chilled butter croissant dough should be stored at a maximum of 7 °C and prepared immediately after opening. Check the instructions on the pack you buy too.
Where can I find allergen information for an individual croissant from a shop?
Before choosing an unpackaged croissant from a shop, ask for the allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that information about allergens in unpackaged food must be provided to consumers in a way other than on a label; for prepacked products, it appears on the label.
Does every croissant contain iodised baker’s salt?
Don’t assume so; check the ingredients for the specific croissant. PLUS lists iodised salt in its butter croissants, but that product information doesn’t automatically apply to croissants from other brands.