If you want to pick up a croissant on the go and eat lunch straight away, choose one from the in-store bakery. If you have an oven and some time at home, you can choose between croissants that need a quick bake and frozen croissants that require more preparation. The word ‘premium’ alone doesn’t tell you which option is right for your lunch: check the preparation instructions, portion size and ingredients of the exact product.
If you pick up a croissant just before lunch, one from the in-store bakery is a good choice when you don’t want to use an oven. Lidl lists a croissant that’s only available in store; ALDI and Dirk also offer individual butter croissants. Check the label and portion size before you buy.
If you have time to bake your croissants, the instructions for the exact product are key. Albert Heijn says its pre-baked butter croissants take 4–6 minutes at 200 °C; according to PLUS, its PLUS Luxe large butter croissant needs 20–25 minutes in the oven, followed by 30 minutes to cool.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each option. Compare salt and fat on the same basis, such as per 100 g or per portion, and always refer to the current packaging of the product you’re buying for allergen information.
First, decide whether you want your croissant ready to eat or would prefer to bake it at home. Then compare the preparation instructions, packaging and label of the options that suit the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to eat | Check whether you’re buying a croissant from the in-store bakery or a product that still needs to be prepared. | If I’m picking up lunch on the go, I don’t want to factor in using an oven. Being able to eat straight away is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Warm from the oven | Read the full instructions, including the oven time, temperature and any cooling time. | I can make time to prepare a planned hot lunch, but it needs to fit into my lunch break. A warm, freshly baked croissant is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Number of croissants and portion size | Compare the number of croissants and the weight of packs that suit your lunch plans. | If I only need one croissant, I’ll choose an individual one rather than a pack for several people. The right portion size is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the allergen information and compare salt and fat per 100 g or per portion actually eaten. | If an ingredient or nutritional value affects my choice, I want to read the label for that exact option. For around 20% of consumers, checking this is the first priority. |
A more luxurious name doesn’t tell you whether a croissant is ready to eat or how long it will take to get lunch ready. Ingredients and portion sizes also vary between products.
First, choose between taking one away ready to eat, giving it a quick bake or planning ahead. Then compare the packaging or product page for the exact option.
According to the product instructions, the Délifrance butter croissant at PLUS takes around 18 minutes to bake; the PLUS Luxe large butter croissant needs an additional 30 minutes to cool after baking.
Read the full preparation instructions before you buy. If you want to eat straight away, look for a croissant from the in-store bakery.
The butter croissants we looked at don’t all have the same ingredients or information about possible allergens. Having bought the same brand before doesn’t mean you can skip checking the current packaging.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact option every time you buy, even if you switch to a different pack size or format.
An individual croissant and a multi-pack suit different numbers of people. The weight of each croissant can also vary.
Check the number of croissants and the weight before choosing a pack, and think about how many you’ll actually need for lunch.
These examples show the types of products available from the retailers listed. Always check the exact product rather than relying on the retailer’s name.
Offers both pre-baked butter croissants and chilled croissant dough that you shape yourself.
Its croissant range includes butter, plant-based, frozen and filled options.
Lists an individual butter croissant that’s only available in store.
Lists an individual butter croissant in its bakery range.
Offers frozen croissants from PLUS and Délifrance for a lunch you can plan ahead.
Offers both an individual butter croissant and a pack of frozen Délifrance croissants.
These packaged g'woon croissants can be compared by weight and number of croissants. Before choosing one for lunch, check whether it’s ready to eat or needs to be prepared first.
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An option to consider if you want to compare packs of mini croissants by weight. The pack is labelled 200 g. Check the preparation instructions to see whether this option suits a lunch when you don’t want to wait, and read the label if allergens are important to your choice.
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An option to consider if you want to plan how many croissants you’ll need for lunch. The pack contains four croissants and weighs 180 g. Check the preparation instructions to see whether you’ll need to use an oven; also check the current allergen label.
No, the name doesn’t guarantee a particular taste. For your lunch, it’s better to compare the product type, preparation instructions, portion size and ingredients of the exact product.
Yes, as long as you can fit the full preparation time into your plans. PLUS says its Délifrance butter croissants take around 18 minutes to bake from frozen; according to the product instructions, the PLUS Luxe large butter croissant needs 20–25 minutes in the oven, followed by 30 minutes to cool.
Read the allergen information on the exact pack, even if you’ve bought a product with the same name before. According to their product information, the PLUS Luxe and Délifrance options we looked at contain wheat, egg and milk, and state that they may contain soya and nuts. Don’t assume this applies to other options.
For a product comparison, use the nutritional information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives general values for a 45 g croissant of 181 kcal, 5 g saturated fat and 0.53 g salt; the values and portion sizes of individual products may differ.
