Choose a fresh shop-bought croissant if you want to eat it straight after doing your food shop. Choose a bake-at-home or frozen option if you’d like to plan a warm treat at home and have time to prepare it. Looking for a less refined grain option for fussy eaters? Check the label: ‘multiseed’ doesn’t automatically mean a croissant is wholemeal. Whichever croissant you choose, check the allergen information too.
If you want your croissants on the table soon after doing your food shop, a fresh shop-bought croissant is an obvious choice. Albert Heijn, ALDI and Dirk are among the shops that list fresh croissants; check that your chosen option is available at your local shop before you set off.
For breakfast or brunch at a later time, you could consider a bake-at-home, dough or frozen option. Jumbo, for example, lists frozen croissants. Before buying, check how to store your chosen product and follow its preparation instructions.
A multiseed croissant may appeal to fussy eaters for its flavour or texture, but the name doesn’t confirm that it’s made with wholemeal flour. Albert Heijn lists a Meerzaden croissant; compare the ingredients and stated fibre content of the products you’re considering, using the same serving size.
First, decide when you want to serve your croissants. Then compare how they’re prepared and the portion sizes, or check the label if the type of grain is your main priority.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to serve straight away | Check whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs to be prepared first. | If I’m having breakfast straight after doing the food shop, I don’t want to switch the oven on first. Being able to serve it straight away is the top priority for around 43% of consumers. |
| Warm from the oven at home | Check the storage and preparation instructions, and the number of croissants in the pack. | If I’m planning brunch for a set time, I want to be able to prepare everything at home. An estimated 29% of consumers prioritise baking their croissants at home. |
| A less refined grain option | Read the ingredients and compare the fibre per serving, using the same serving size. Don’t judge by the seeds or colour alone. | When I’m choosing something for fussy eaters, I want to know which grains are used rather than rely on the name. For around 28% of consumers, the type of grain is the top priority. |
Visible seeds don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a croissant contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines wholemeal bread as bread made with 100% wholemeal flour; don’t apply that definition to a croissant without checking its product label.
Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and read the ingredients. If you want to compare fibre, use the nutritional information for equal-sized portions.
Allergen information for a packaged croissant is shown on the label. For an unpackaged shop-bought croissant, you should be able to ask for this information before buying.
Read the label or ask in the shop about allergen information before you choose.
A bake-at-home or frozen product may need to be defrosted or put in the oven. Instructions for one specific product don’t necessarily apply to other croissants.
Check that you can store and prepare the product in time for when you want to eat.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through the use of baker’s salt. This doesn’t tell you whether baker’s salt was used in a particular croissant.
If the type of salt used matters to you, check the product information or ask the manufacturer.
These ranges give you an idea of the types of product you can compare. Check the ingredients, preparation instructions and availability for each croissant individually.
Lists options including butter croissants and an AH Meerzaden croissant.
Lists packaged butter croissants and frozen croissants.
Lists a butter croissant described as a shop-bought product.
Lists a fresh butter croissant sold individually.
Lists options including a small butter croissant and Danerolles croissant dough.
Lists fresh butter croissants and packaged Délifrance frozen croissants.
This Joybuy selection includes an 85 g croissant and two options you could consider if you want to bake croissants at home. Check the preparation instructions for each product; the selection doesn’t indicate which croissant, if any, is wholemeal.
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Consider this 85 g portion if you want to take or serve one croissant. Before buying, check the preparation instructions, ingredients and allergen information, especially if you’re looking for a classic butter croissant or a wholemeal option.
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The mini size could be a good fit if you want to serve smaller croissants; the pack contains 200 g. If you want to bake them at home, check the preparation instructions in advance and read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
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A pack of four could be a good fit if you’re planning to serve several people. Before baking, check the instructions on the pack and read the ingredients and allergen information before you choose.
No. Seeds or a darker colour don’t confirm how much wholemeal flour has been used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines wholemeal bread as bread made with 100% wholemeal flour; for croissants, check the specific product description and ingredients.
If the information isn’t clearly displayed next to an unpackaged product, ask the shop assistant about allergens before buying. For pre-packed croissants, the information is on the label, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
No. Follow the instructions for the product you buy. For example, PLUS gives its small butter croissant its own defrosting step and baking advice; these aren’t general instructions for other croissants.
You can’t assume this is the case for every croissant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through the use of baker’s salt. Check the information for the specific product or ask the manufacturer which type of salt was used.
Compare the stated fibre content for the same quantity, for example per 100 g or per serving of the same size. Also read the ingredients, and don’t rely on the name ‘multiseed’ alone: it doesn’t tell you whether a croissant is wholemeal.
