Choose a croissant for Friday afternoon drinks based on the filling and when you plan to serve it. A larger size gives you more croissant per piece, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sturdy enough for generous fillings. If you want to serve them warm, remember to allow for preparation time with ready-to-bake or frozen varieties.
If you want to add savoury fillings or share the croissants, consider both their size and how much room there is for filling. Albert Heijn and Jumbo offer croissants in different shapes and sizes; the pack weight alone won’t tell you whether your filling will stay put.
If you want the croissants to come out of the oven just before drinks, you’ll need to allow time and make sure you have enough oven space. Jumbo offers both ready-to-bake and frozen varieties; check the preparation and storage instructions on the pack you choose.
If you’re buying for guests with an allergy or specific dietary requirements, check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. A plant-based product name doesn’t automatically mean the croissant is allergen-free.
First decide whether you want to fill the croissants, serve them warm or simply have enough to go round. Then check the packaging for the variety you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Room for filling | Check the size and cross-section. If the croissant needs to work as a drinks-party snack, try it with your planned filling beforehand. | I want to add a generous filling and still be able to hold or share the croissant. For around 36% of consumers, how easy it is to fill comes first. |
| Serving warm | Check whether it’s a ready-to-bake, frozen or ready-to-serve variety, and follow the instructions on the pack. | I want to serve warm croissants and need to plan when they go in the oven. For around 29% of consumers, getting the timing right takes priority. |
| Number of croissants | Compare the number of croissants per pack and the weight per croissant when planning portions for a group. | If I’m having several guests, I want to know how many croissants I can serve. For around 21% of consumers, the number in the pack is the first thing they consider. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the allergen information, ingredients and nutritional information for the exact variety, including the stated serving size. | I’m also buying for guests with an allergy or dietary requirements, so I want to check the pack I choose. For around 14% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
Jumbo lists packs of six croissants with different total weights. A higher weight per croissant doesn’t, by itself, tell you anything conclusive about its cross-section or how well it will hold your filling.
Use size as your first way to narrow down the options. If you’re planning an important get-together, try a pack with your planned filling beforehand.
A plant-based variety may still contain allergens. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.
Read the allergen information on the exact pack and look out for any warnings about cross-contamination.
Ingredients and other product information can change. That’s why Albert Heijn recommends checking the packaging; Lidl lists its butter croissant as an in-store product.
When you buy, check the packaging and product information for the variety you’re actually taking home.
Albert Heijn offers, among other options, petite, luxury butter and multiseed croissants.
Jumbo offers, among other options, large, ready-to-bake, frozen, filled and plant-based croissants.
Lidl lists a butter croissant as an in-store product.
No, the term alone doesn’t guarantee that a croissant will be sturdy enough. Check its actual cross-section and try it with your planned filling if that matters for your get-together.
Read the allergen information on the exact pack before serving the croissants. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products. Don’t rely on terms such as ‘plant-based’ or ‘butter’ alone.
Choose the variety whose preparation and storage requirements fit your plans. Jumbo offers both types; check the instructions on the packaging for the croissants you choose and make sure you have enough oven space.
Don’t assume that every croissant contains iodised baker’s salt. A document from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority discusses bread baked with iodised salt, but it doesn’t tell you which type of salt is used in a specific croissant. Check the ingredients list on the pack.
