Brunch organisers
If you’re serving a group around Flag Day, you’ll want to know how many croissants you need and when they need to be ready. Compare the number of croissants in each pack and choose a preparation method that fits your serving time.
Who should consider this choice?
Those who want to bake them at home
If warm croissants matter more to you than serving them straight away, you’ll need to factor in baking time and storage. Chilled dough and frozen croissants each need their own planning.
Those who check labels carefully
If you’re buying for someone with an allergy or specific dietary requirements, the information for the variety you choose matters. Even a croissant described as plant-based may contain wheat and carry a warning that it may contain milk.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you want to serve the croissants straight away or bake them yourself. Then compare the number of croissants and the weight per item to find a pack that suits your group.
Croissants from the in-store bakery
Choose these if: you’re shopping just before brunch and don’t want to factor in oven time.
Bear in mind: availability depends on what the shop has in stock. If you’re buying individual croissants, ask for the product information if ingredients or allergens are important.
Chilled croissant dough
Choose this if: you want to bake the croissants yourself shortly before serving and have access to an oven.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to keep it chilled and prepare it on the day. Albert Heijn gives a baking time of 12–15 minutes at 200 °C for AH Verse original croissants, recommends storing them at a maximum of 7 °C and says to bake them immediately after opening.
Frozen croissants
Choose these if: you want to shop in advance and have freezer space until it’s time to prepare them.
Bear in mind: storage instructions vary by product. For the Délifrance croissants reviewed, Jumbo recommends storage at −18 °C and says not to refreeze them once thawed.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and size | Compare the number of croissants with the total weight and work out the weight per croissant. Look at the croissant itself if you want to slice it open for a filling. | If I want to make filled croissants for a group, I need to get the quantity right without relying on the word ‘medium’. Around 36% of consumers prioritise portion size and the quantity needed for a group. |
| Preparation and storage | Check whether the product is ready to serve or needs to be prepared, and follow the timings and storage conditions on the pack. | Serving warm croissants at the planned brunch time means making room in my morning schedule. For around 29% of consumers, the serving time and preparation requirements are the first things they consider. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning for the specific variety, including for plant-based products. | If I need to take an allergy or dietary requirement into account, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. Ingredients and allergens are a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Nutrition information | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g and, where listed, per serving. Check the ingredients list if iodised salt is relevant to your choice. | If I’m putting together a breakfast regularly, I want to know how my chosen croissant compares with my other bread choices. Around 14% of consumers give nutrition information their highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘plant-based’ means ‘allergen-free’
According to Jumbo, Jumbo Croissant Plantaardig contains wheat and may contain milk, oats, barley and rye. The name alone doesn’t tell you whether this variety is suitable for someone’s allergy or dietary requirements.
Before buying for someone else, check the current allergen information and any warnings about possible traces on the specific pack.
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Planning only around the serving time
Chilled dough needs to be baked, while frozen croissants need to be stored appropriately. If you don’t allow for these steps, you may not be able to serve your chosen product when you want to.
Before buying, check the storage and preparation instructions for the specific variety, and decide when you’ll have access to the oven.
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Judging the size by a photo or the word ‘medium’
Pack sizes vary in the number of croissants and total weight. A size that looks right doesn’t tell you how many croissants you’ll have for your group or how large each one is.
Divide the total weight by the number of croissants. If you want to add a filling, check whether you can slice them open as you’d like.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodine from baker’s salt
The Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The fact that one Jumbo variety lists iodised salt tells you nothing about the ingredients in other croissants.
Check the ingredients list on the pack you choose if the use of iodised salt is relevant to you.
Brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes AH Verse original croissants as chilled dough to shape and bake at home; the pack contains 240 g, or 6 portions.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn lists the ingredients and allergens, along with a baking time of 12–15 minutes at 200 °C.
- The dough isn’t ready to serve: Albert Heijn says to store it at a maximum of 7 °C and bake it immediately after opening.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers various types of croissants, including varieties to bake at home and one described as plant-based.
- Packs come in different sizes, so you can choose a quantity to suit your group.
- Ingredients vary by product: Jumbo Croissant Plantaardig contains wheat and may contain milk.
Lidl
Lidl lists an individual butter croissant from its in-store bakery.
- Lidl describes this variety as made with butter.
- According to Lidl, this product is available in store only. Check the product information you need for your choice while you’re there.
ALDI
ALDI describes an individual butter croissant for breakfast or a snack.
- Buying individual croissants lets you choose the right number for your group.
- Ask in store about ingredients and allergens if you need to check them for the croissant you choose.
Dirk
Dirk offers croissants to bake at home, including a four-pack of own-brand butter croissants with a total weight of 180 g.
- The number of croissants and total weight work out at 45 g per croissant for this pack.
- Check the pack for the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information for the variety you buy.
Croissants at Joybuy
This four-pack is particularly useful if you’re working out how many croissants you need for a Flag Day brunch. Check the pack to see how to serve them and whether you can slice them open as you’d like for a filling.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 croissants, 180 g
A pack that makes it easy to plan how many croissants you’ll need for brunch.
Four croissants with a total weight of 180 g work out at 45 g each; this doesn’t confirm whether they’re pre-sliced or easy to slice open.
Check the pack for preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a medium-sized croissant that I can fill?
Compare the weight per croissant and check whether you can slice your chosen variety open as you’d like; ‘medium sliced’ doesn’t indicate a standard croissant size or whether it has been sliced. Albert Heijn lists AH Verse original croissants as 6 portions of 40 g, while Dirk gives a total weight of 180 g for a pack of 4 butter croissants. Check the size of the variety you want to buy.
Can I buy croissants in advance for a brunch?
Yes, as long as the storage method and use-by instructions for the variety you choose fit your plans. Albert Heijn says to store AH Verse original croissants at a maximum of 7 °C and bake them immediately after opening. For the Délifrance frozen croissants reviewed, Jumbo recommends storage at −18 °C and says not to refreeze them once thawed. Always follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
Is a plant-based croissant suitable for someone with a milk allergy or coeliac disease?
You can’t tell from the word ‘plant-based’. According to Jumbo, Jumbo Croissant Plantaardig contains wheat and may contain milk. Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about possible traces on the specific pack; don’t rely on the product name alone.
Does every croissant contain iodine because of baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that every croissant does: according to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For the plant-based croissant it reviewed, Jumbo lists iodised salt among the ingredients. Check the ingredients list for the variety you choose rather than assuming the same applies to other croissants.