Who is this choice for?

Small households looking to reduce leftovers

For one or two people, a whole loaf may be more than you need for one meal. Compare the number of croissants in a pack with the size of a half loaf, and think about what you’ll actually serve.

Home cooks serving bread with a meal

If you’re serving soup, a dip or a dish to share, a half loaf is a different choice from individual croissants. First decide whether you want bread to slice or individual pastries.

Shoppers with questions about ingredients

If you have an allergy or want to know which type of salt is used, check the label on the exact product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, so don’t rely on the product category alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what role the bread will play in your fakeaway: individual croissants or half a loaf to share. Then compare the quantity and labels of the products you’re considering.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Portion size Compare the number of items or slices and the pack weight with the number of people eating. For example, Jumbo and Dirk list packs of four croissants weighing 180 g in total. When I’m serving one or two people, I want to match the quantity to the meal and avoid leftovers. For around 42% of consumers, portion size is the deciding factor.
Role in the meal Choose between individual croissants and half a loaf that you can slice and share; these two product types serve different purposes. For soup or a dip, I’m looking for bread to share, while I’d choose croissants for individual pastries. The type of meal matters most to around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and type of salt Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. If you’re checking for iodine, look for iodised salt in the ingredients. If an ingredient or type of salt is important to my choice, I want to check the label before buying. Around 25% of consumers put these label questions first.

Common mistakes

  • Treating half a loaf as a type of croissant

    Half a loaf is a smaller bread pack, not a type of croissant. So comparing quantity alone won’t tell you much about how well the product will suit your meal.

    Decide whether you want to serve individual pastries or bread to slice, then compare the pack sizes.

  • Assuming every bakery product contains iodised salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the name ‘croissant’ or ‘bread’ won’t tell you which type of salt is in the product you choose.

    Check the ingredients on the pack, or ask which salt has been used if you’re buying unwrapped bread.

  • Guessing allergens from the product name

    Ingredients vary between products. For example, Albert Heijn lists gluten and sesame among the allergens in AH Vloerbrood volkoren half; that information doesn’t apply to another half loaf.

    Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose every time you buy it.

  • Assuming online availability means it’s in your local store

    A product page doesn’t mean the item is available at the store you’ve selected. PLUS showed its half delicatessen loaf as unavailable at the selected store.

    Check whether the exact product is available at your store or for your delivery slot before planning your meal around it.

Brands to compare

These brands offer examples of croissants or half loaves. Compare the specific product type and pack; a brand name alone tells you nothing about stock at your local store.

Albert Heijn

A useful place to start if you’re looking for half a wholemeal loaf to share with a meal.

  • AH Vloerbrood volkoren half is described as half a wholemeal wheat loaf.
  • Check the current packaging: this product lists gluten and sesame.

Jumbo

Offers examples of both croissant packs and half loaves.

  • Jumbo lists, among other options, four butter croissants weighing 180 g in total, as well as half-loaf products.
  • Choose based on the contents of the exact pack and check availability at your store.

Lidl

An option to consider if you’re looking for croissants to bake at home.

  • Lidl describes croissants that you can bake at home.
  • Before buying, check the pack contents, ingredients and cooking instructions for the product you choose.

ALDI

Worth considering if you’re choosing between an individual fresh croissant and bake-at-home products.

  • ALDI lists an individual fresh butter croissant and also includes croissants in its bake-at-home range.
  • A single fresh croissant and a pack of bake-at-home croissants need to be compared separately for quantity and preparation.

PLUS

Offers examples of both options: butter croissants and a half loaf.

  • PLUS lists 180 g butter croissants with cooking instructions, as well as a 400 g half delicatessen loaf.
  • The half delicatessen loaf may not be available at your selected store; check the store and exact product.

Dirk

A useful comparison for a pack of four butter croissants.

  • Dirk lists 1 de Beste Butter Croissants as a pack of four, weighing 180 g in total.
  • Check that this pack size suits the number of pastries you want to serve.

Croissants for a small-household fakeaway

These Joybuy products are croissants for anyone considering individual pastries or a croissant as a separate addition to the meal. If you mainly want bread to slice and share, compare a half loaf by its contents and ingredients rather than treating these croissants as an equivalent.

g'woon Butter Croissants, four pieces, 180 g

g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g

For anyone wanting to serve four individual croissants with their fakeaway. The pack lists four pieces and 180 g; check the cooking instructions before serving and, if you have an allergy, check the current label.

View at Joybuy
SCHOOF Croissants, four pieces

SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces

For a meal where you want to serve four individual croissants. Check the pack weight if the amount per person matters, and follow the cooking instructions on the pack you choose.

View at Joybuy
Bakery Village Danish Croissant, 85 g

Bakery Village Danish Croissant, 85 g

A Danish croissant to consider as an individual addition to the meal. The product name lists 85 g; check how many croissants are in the pack before calculating portions for several people.

View at Joybuy
G'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g

G'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g

For anyone considering mini croissants as individual additions to the meal. The product name lists 200 g; check the pack for the actual weight, number of pieces and cooking instructions before planning portions.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Do all Dutch croissants and loaves have to contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. If you want to know which salt is in a particular product, check the ingredients or ask if you’re buying unwrapped bread.

Can I rely on the word ‘croissant’ if I have a milk or gluten allergy?

No, check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product. The butter croissants described by PLUS list wheat, spelt and milk among their ingredients; that doesn’t tell you what’s in every other croissant.

Can you cook bake-at-home croissants in an air fryer?

Yes, if the pack for the croissants you’ve chosen gives air-fryer instructions. PLUS provides air-fryer instructions for its butter croissants; for another product, follow the instructions on its own packaging.

Is a half loaf listed online also available at my local store?

Not necessarily. PLUS showed its half delicatessen loaf as unavailable at the selected store. So check the exact product at your local branch or for your delivery slot before relying on it for your meal.