Buy a fresh croissant shortly before you leave if you don’t want to bake anything at home. Part-baked croissants let you choose when to warm them up; frozen ones also need freezer space and more preparation time. For a picnic, compare the preparation method, ingredients and number of croissants rather than relying on a label such as ‘premium’.
A fresh croissant from the shop doesn’t need to go in your oven at home. If you’re buying them shortly before your picnic, think about how many you need. For unwrapped products, ask for allergen information.
Part-baked or frozen croissants let you plan when to serve them. Before buying, check how long your chosen option takes to prepare and make sure you have the space and facilities needed to store and cook it.
Compare the information for the exact product you’re buying: butter, plant-based, frozen and filled croissants can all have different ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products and be available before purchase for unwrapped products.
The preparation method determines how much you still need to do at home. You can buy fresh croissants shortly before you leave, while part-baked and frozen options need time in the oven. Then choose a pack size and ingredients that suit your group.
Choose this if: you want to buy croissants shortly before leaving, without baking them at home.
Bear in mind: baking times and ranges can vary between shops. Lidl says its fresh bakery range varies by store.
Choose this if: you want to shop in advance and warm the croissants at home shortly before leaving.
Bear in mind: you’ll need suitable equipment. PLUS says its 180 g butter croissants take 4–6 minutes in the oven or 4 minutes in an air fryer.
Choose this if: you have freezer space and can set aside time to bake them at home.
Bear in mind: baking times vary by product. PLUS says its 330 g Délifrance butter croissants should be baked from frozen for 18 minutes at 185 °C.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| When you’ll serve them | Check whether the croissants are fresh, part-baked or frozen, and follow the preparation instructions on the pack. | I want to serve the croissants at a time that suits me, but I don’t always have time to bake them at home. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Transport and keeping food cool | Check whether fillings or toppings need to be kept chilled, and take a cool bag with you if they do. | If I’m taking chilled fillings to the park, I want to keep them cool while travelling and during the picnic. This is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for your chosen product, or ask for allergen information before buying an unwrapped product. | I need to be able to check whether the ingredients suit my dietary needs; the product name alone doesn’t tell me enough. This check is a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Number of croissants | Compare loose croissants with the number in a pack, and choose an amount that suits your group. | I don’t want to be left with unused croissants after a small picnic. Around 14% of consumers prioritise buying the right amount. |
The name doesn’t tell you whether a croissant is ready to eat, needs a quick warm-up or has to be baked through.
First check the product type and preparation instructions. Then compare the ingredients and size.
For a picnic, chilled toppings or fillings affect what you’ll need to bring, even if the croissant itself is sold unrefrigerated.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking chilled products in a cool bag and removing them from the fridge shortly before you leave.
Ingredients can vary between butter, plant-based and other croissants. Information about possible traces of allergens is also specific to each product.
Read the current packaging for your chosen croissant, or ask for allergen information before buying an unwrapped product.
A pack containing several croissants won’t necessarily suit a small picnic.
Count how many people are coming, then compare a suitable pack with croissants sold individually.
These brands offer different ways to buy croissants for a picnic. The product types mentioned don’t guarantee what will be available at a particular store on the day you visit.
Albert Heijn’s range includes fresh, part-baked and frozen croissants, including mini and butter varieties.
Jumbo lists butter, mini, plant-based and frozen croissants, among other options.
The in-store bakery is an option if you want to buy fresh croissants shortly before you leave.
ALDI describes a freshly baked butter croissant that is available individually.
PLUS lists both part-baked butter croissants and a frozen Délifrance option.
Dirk lists a fresh, 65 g butter croissant sold individually.
These croissants come in different pack sizes to suit a picnic. If you want to bake them at home or serve them straight away, check the preparation instructions for each product; the product name doesn’t always make the difference clear.
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The mini size is a good option if you want to serve smaller croissants at your picnic.
200 g pack. Check the packaging to see whether preparation is needed, and read the latest ingredients information if you have allergies.
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A pack of four could suit you if you want to match the number of croissants to your group in advance.
Total weight 180 g. Before you leave, check the packaging to see whether the croissants need to be prepared, and check the ingredients if you have allergies.
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This pack is for anyone who wants to take four croissants and can plan when to prepare them at home.
The ingredients listed by Joybuy include 30% margarine, with no butter percentage stated. Check the baking instructions and allergen information on the packaging.
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An individual 85 g croissant could suit you if you want to choose one portion per person.
Before buying, check the ingredients and any preparation or storage instructions to see whether this option suits your picnic.
Not for every croissant that can be stored unrefrigerated, but you will need one for fillings, toppings or other products that need to stay chilled. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking these products out of the fridge shortly before you leave and carrying them in a cool bag. According to its advice, you should throw away products that have been kept unrefrigerated for more than two hours.
Check the allergens for the specific product, as ingredients vary. PLUS’s examples include wheat and milk; the Délifrance frozen option mentioned also contains egg and may contain soya and nuts. Read the latest packaging, or ask for information before buying an unwrapped croissant, as advised by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
No, don’t assume that every croissant does. According to Dutch information about the baker’s salt and iodine agreement, using iodine-containing baker’s salt is not a legal requirement. If iodised salt is important to your choice, check the ingredients of the croissant you’re buying; PLUS, for example, lists it in its 180 g butter croissants.
No. Butter describes an ingredient, but doesn’t tell you how to prepare or transport the croissant. Compare the ingredients, preparation method and packaging of the options you’re considering with when you plan to eat them.
