Choose ready-to-eat croissants if you want to serve them at your family get-together without using the oven. If you’d like to serve them warm, choose a bake-at-home option or chilled dough if you have the time and equipment; frozen croissants also need to be factored into your defrosting plans. Check the quantity, preparation and storage instructions, and ingredients for each product, especially if anyone needs to avoid allergens.
You want to serve croissants without a long wait. Individually wrapped croissants that are ready to eat, such as those described by Albert Heijn, are handy for giving everyone their own; bake-at-home croissants need a few minutes in the oven.
You want to bake croissants yourself and can plan ahead for oven space and the instructions for chilled dough or a frozen product.
You need to know before serving whether wheat, milk, egg or a warning about possible allergens is relevant. Even when a product is labelled plant-based, it’s important to check the information for that exact product.
First, work out how many people will be eating and when you want to serve. Then compare the preparation method, ingredients and nutritional information of the products that suit your plans.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of croissants and portions | Check the number of croissants and the weight per piece or pack. Think about what you’ll do with any leftovers. | If several family members will be eating, I want enough croissants to share without unnecessary leftovers. Around 24% of consumers put portion planning first. |
| Preparation and serving time | Check whether the croissants are ready to eat, need baking or need to be defrosted first. Follow the time and equipment instructions for the product you choose. | If I want warm croissants, I need to set aside time and oven space; when I’m in a hurry, I’d rather serve them straight away. Preparation is the most important factor for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | For packaged products, read both the ingredients list and any statements about allergens that are present or may be present. For unpackaged croissants, ask about allergen information before buying. | If someone eating needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the exact product before serving it. Around 29% of consumers put this check ahead of other preferences. |
| Nutritional information per portion | Compare energy, saturated fat, sugars, fibre and salt per croissant or planned portion. Also check whether the figures apply to the product before or after preparation. | When croissants vary in size, I want to know what’s in the portion I’m serving, not just what the label says per 100 g. Around 18% of consumers put this comparison first. |
The plant-based croissant described by Jumbo contains wheat and may contain milk, barley, oats and rye. So the plant-based label doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with a specific allergen restriction.
Before buying, check both the ingredients list and any statements about possible allergens for the exact product.
For the cinnamon version reviewed, Danerolles states that the dough must not be eaten raw and must be used up completely once opened. You’ll need to plan a baking session for this type of product.
Before opening the pack, check how many people you’re catering for and follow the baking and storage instructions on the packaging.
A pack that must be used up completely once opened may be impractical if you only want to bake some of the dough.
A 40 g croissant and a 90 g croissant provide different amounts per person, even if you serve the same number. A figure per 100 g doesn’t automatically tell you what’s in the portion on your table.
Compare the nutritional information for the number of croissants you’ll actually serve, and check the weight of each one.
Jumbo lists iodised salt in the plant-based croissant reviewed; PLUS lists it in the bake-at-home version reviewed. That doesn’t make it a standard ingredient in every croissant.
If this ingredient matters to you, check the ingredients list for the exact product instead of relying on the product category.
These examples show the different types of products you can compare. Ingredients and instructions apply to the specific version mentioned.
Albert Heijn describes both croissants that are ready to eat and chilled dough for baking at home.
Jumbo offers different options, including chilled dough, plant-based croissants and frozen butter croissants.
PLUS describes both an individual butter croissant and butter croissants to bake at home.
Danerolles offers chilled croissant dough for those who want to shape and bake their own, including party mini and cinnamon versions.
Dirk lists a Délifrance butter croissant in a pack of six, weighing 330 g.
These products offer a range of options for a family get-together: a bake-at-home version, an individually wrapped croissant, and packs of butter or mini croissants. Check how many you get and whether they need to be prepared.
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An option if you want to bake four croissants for your guests. Check the baking time and temperature on the packaging before planning when to serve them.
The product information lists wheat and possible traces of sesame, lupin, milk and soya. Check the current allergen information if it matters to anyone eating them.
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According to the product information, this individually wrapped croissant is ready to eat, making it handy if you want to serve without using the oven. Check how many croissants are in the pack if several people will be eating.
The product information lists wheat, egg and milk. It also lists the colourings E102 and E110, with a warning that they may affect children’s activity and attention. Check the current packaging for nutritional values, including saturated fat and sugars.
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The pack of four, weighing 180 g, gives you a useful starting point for planning portions for your guests. Check the packaging to see whether the croissants are ready to eat or need to be prepared.
The allergen information lists wheat and milk, as well as lupin, sesame and soya. Check the current information if anyone needs to avoid certain ingredients.
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The mini size may suit you if you want to share smaller croissants; the pack is labelled as 200 g. Check the number of croissants and the preparation instructions before planning portions.
The allergen information lists wheat and milk, as well as lupin, sesame and soya. Check the current packaging if you have dietary requirements.
Choose ready-to-eat croissants if you want to serve them without any preparation; bake-at-home croissants are a good fit if you have a few minutes and the necessary equipment. Chilled dough takes time to shape and bake. Frozen croissants also need freezer space and a plan for defrosting. Follow the instructions for the product you choose, including any restrictions on refreezing.
Before buying, ask which allergens are present in the unpackaged product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that sellers must provide consumers with this information. For packaged croissants, read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact version you’re buying.
First, follow the storage instructions and any guidance for after opening on the packaging. Voedingscentrum recommends keeping an opened croissant in a kitchen cupboard for two days or in the freezer for one to three months; product-specific instructions may be stricter. For example, Danerolles says that the cinnamon dough version reviewed must be used up completely after opening and must not be frozen.
Don’t assume so. Jumbo lists iodised salt in the plant-based croissant reviewed, and PLUS lists it in the bake-at-home butter croissants reviewed, but that doesn’t tell you anything about other versions. If iodised salt matters to you, check the ingredients list for the exact product.
