Brunch planner with an oven
If you want to serve warm croissants at breakfast or brunch, check the baking time before you buy. Frozen croissants also need freezer space until you’re ready to bake them.
Which croissant is right for you?
Shopper who wants to eat straight away
If you want one or a few croissants without needing to bake them, a fresh croissant sold individually is an obvious choice. If it’s unwrapped, check the allergen information at the point of sale if this matters to you.
Shopper who wants to check the label
If you need to avoid certain ingredients or allergens, check the information for the croissant you’ve chosen rather than relying on labels such as ‘made with butter’ or ‘plant-based’. Check the ingredients too if you want to know whether iodised salt has been used.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide when you want to eat the croissants: straight after buying them, after a short time in the oven, or at a planned time from the freezer. Then compare the packaging and ingredients of the options that suit the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving warm | Check whether the croissants need baking, and find out the oven time and temperature for the option you’ve chosen. | If I want to serve warm croissants at a planned brunch, the preparation needs to fit into my schedule. Around 33% of consumers put serving time first. |
| Eating straight away | Check whether the croissant is sold fresh and individually, or whether you’ll need to buy a pack containing several. | For breakfast straight after the food shop, I don’t want to use the oven or take home more than I need. This convenience comes first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Recipe and size | Compare the stated butter percentage, weight and number of croissants in the product format you’re looking for. | When I choose a butter croissant, I want to know what’s in the pack and how the recipe differs. This is the first consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label or ask for allergen information if the product is unwrapped. Check separately for ‘iodised salt’ if this affects your choice. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, I want to know the information for this particular croissant before I buy it. Around 20% of consumers give this check top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Using ‘made with butter’ as a complete measure of quality
The butter percentage alone doesn’t tell you how big the croissant is or how much preparation it needs. For example, PLUS states that its long-life bake-at-home croissants contain 25% butter, while a luxury frozen croissant contains 24% butter. These are different product formats.
First choose between a croissant you can eat straight away, one you bake at home and a frozen option. Then compare the ingredients and size of products suited to the same occasion.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So a statement on one pack doesn’t automatically apply to another croissant.
Check the chosen product’s ingredients list for ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’ if you want to know whether it has been used.
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Choosing an unwrapped croissant without checking allergen information
Packaged options reviewed list ingredients such as wheat or other cereals containing gluten, milk and egg. Information about the possible presence of other allergens varies by product. The NVWA says allergen information must also be available for unwrapped foods.
Before you buy, ask the in-store bakery about the allergens in the specific croissant and any relevant information about possible cross-contamination.
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Waiting until you get home to check the baking time
PLUS’s long-life butter croissants state an oven time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C. Albert Heijn gives an oven time of 18 minutes at 185 °C for Délifrance frozen croissants, with no need to defrost them first. You’ll also need to allow time to preheat the oven.
Read the instructions on the pack you’re buying and plan the preparation around when you want to serve the croissants.
Brands to compare
These brands offer different ways to buy and prepare croissants. Always check the information for the individual product, as availability may vary by shop.
Albert Heijn
A range where you can compare fresh croissants, bake-at-home products and frozen options.
- The croissant range includes several product formats and pack sizes, including Délifrance products.
- Check whether each option can be ordered online or is only available in store.
Jumbo
A range that includes butter, frozen and plant-based croissants.
- The different product formats make it easy to start by choosing your preferred preparation method or ingredients.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific option you choose; ‘plant-based’ is not an allergen declaration.
PLUS
A comparison between long-life bake-at-home croissants and a luxury frozen option.
- PLUS states that its long-life butter croissants contain 25% butter and take 4–6 minutes in the oven at 200 °C; the luxury frozen option reviewed states that it contains 24% butter.
- Preparation varies by product, so check the packaging of the option you’re buying.
Dirk
An opportunity to compare a fresh butter croissant sold individually with packaged options.
- Dirk lists a 65 g butter croissant sold individually.
- If you’re buying an unwrapped croissant, ask about the ingredients and allergens if they’re important to your choice.
ALDI
An option if you want to buy a fresh butter croissant individually.
- The product listing describes a fresh croissant sold individually for breakfast or a snack.
- Check the allergen information at the point of sale if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
Lidl
A butter croissant for anyone looking for an individual croissant in store.
- Lidl lists this croissant as an in-store product and refers customers to its ingredient and allergen information.
- Check the information for the specific product before you buy it.
Croissants for breakfast from Joybuy
These two g'woon options are packaged butter croissants for breakfast. Before choosing, check the actual pack size and preparation instructions. Don’t assume you can eat them straight away or need to bake them based on the product name alone.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
A packaged option to consider if you’re looking for several croissants for breakfast.
The product title states 4 pieces and 180 g, but the product information also gives a different weight. Check the net weight and number of croissants on the pack, along with the preparation instructions and allergen information.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g
A mini option to consider if you’re looking for smaller croissants for breakfast.
The product title states 200 g, while the product information also mentions 4 pieces and 180 g. Check the pack for the number of croissants and net weight, and for instructions on how to prepare them. Also read the allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a butter croissant automatically a premium choice?
No. ‘Made with butter’ describes an ingredient and isn’t a complete measure of quality in itself. Compare the size, product format, preparation method and stated butter percentage, if given. A higher percentage alone doesn’t prove that one croissant tastes better or is higher quality than another.
Does every croissant in the Netherlands contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The PLUS butter croissants reviewed list iodised salt, but check the ingredients list for any other croissant.
How can I check the allergens in an unwrapped croissant?
Before buying, ask for allergen information for the specific croissant or check the information provided at the point of sale. The NVWA says retailers must also make allergen information available for unwrapped foods. If needed, ask separately which grain has been used and about possible cross-contamination.
Can I refreeze frozen croissants after they’ve defrosted?
Follow the instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. The luxury frozen croissant from PLUS and the Délifrance frozen croissants reviewed state that defrosted products must not be refrozen. If you choose one of these options, plan how many croissants you want to prepare.