Which option is right for you?

If you’re serving brunch

Look for a croissant with plenty of room for savoury fillings, and consider the size of each one and the preparation time.

If you want something warm on the table quickly

Compare ready-to-bake and frozen options by baking time, defrosting requirements and whether you have an oven or air fryer available.

If you read labels carefully

Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each product. Whether it contains iodised salt may also matter if croissants regularly replace bread.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to serve the croissants straight away, bake them at home or fill them yourself. Then compare the size of each one and check the current packaging.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Room for fillings Compare the weight of each croissant and check whether it can be served without baking at home. If I want to fill one croissant generously for brunch, size matters more than a small portion. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Serving something warm quickly Check the baking time and temperature; for frozen products, also check the defrosting instructions. I want to get a warm breakfast on the table quickly, without shaping the pastry myself. Around 21% of consumers prioritise a short preparation time above all else.
Your own savoury filling Choose between an unfilled croissant, one that’s already filled, and pastry that you shape and bake yourself. I want to choose the filling and size of the croissants myself, even if it takes more preparation. This freedom is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Label and nutritional information Check the allergens, nutritional values per 100 g and per portion, and whether it contains iodised salt if relevant. If I need to consider ingredients or eat croissants instead of bread more often, I want to know exactly what’s in them. For around 21% of consumers, checking the label comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Taking ‘luxury’ or ‘made with butter’ as nutritional advice

    These words alone don’t tell you the portion size or nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 5 g of saturated fat, 1.1 g of fibre and 0.53 g of salt, among other values, for an average 45 g croissant; a different size or recipe may vary.

    If you eat croissants regularly, compare the nutritional information per portion, including fibre, saturated fat and salt, rather than looking only at the product name.

  • Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory for bread. The ingredients for some of the croissants reviewed list ‘iodised salt’, while Albert Heijn lists only ‘salt’ for its Luxe roomboter croissant.

    If iodised salt is important to your choice, check the current ingredients list.

  • Leaving frozen croissants too long after defrosting

    Jumbo says its frozen luxury butter croissants should not be refrozen after defrosting and must be prepared and eaten within 24 hours.

    Read the instructions on your pack and only defrost as many as you’ll use within the stated time.

    Defrosting too many can lead to food waste.

  • Checking allergens in the croissant alone

    Ingredients vary by recipe: the PLUS ham and cheese croissant reviewed contains wheat, milk and egg, among other ingredients. Any filling or topping you add yourself has its own ingredients list too.

    Check the current packaging for both the croissant and the filling or topping. Don’t rely on the product name alone to identify allergens.

Brands to consider

These examples show the types of products offered by the brands mentioned. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a particular croissant is right for your breakfast.

Albert Heijn

Offers a choice between a pack of ready-to-bake butter croissants and a larger individual Luxe roomboter croissant.

  • Albert Heijn lists 4 × 45 g and a baking time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C for the ready-to-bake option; the Luxe version weighs 90 g.
  • Ingredients vary between versions. Check the label even if you’ve bought a different croissant from the same brand before.

Jumbo

Its croissant range includes plant-based, frozen and pre-filled savoury options.

  • A frozen option may suit you if you want to plan ahead for serving.
  • Jumbo’s frozen luxury butter croissants come with instructions not to refreeze after defrosting and to prepare them within 24 hours.

Lidl

Offers a butter croissant filled with cheese if you’d rather not put together the savoury filling yourself.

  • The cheese croissant combines the pastry and filling in one product.
  • Lidl says this version is only available in store; check the latest product information there.

Aldi

Offers an individual butter croissant in its in-store range.

  • Buying croissants individually lets you choose how many to serve at breakfast.
  • Ask in store for the latest ingredients and allergen information if you need it to make your choice.

Plus

Offers ready-to-bake croissants, croissant pastry to fill yourself and a frozen ham and cheese croissant.

  • PLUS gives both oven and air fryer instructions for its ready-to-bake butter croissants; with its croissant pastry, you can choose the filling yourself.
  • The pastry must be prepared according to the pack instructions and must not be eaten raw. The frozen ham and cheese croissant has separate defrosting and baking instructions.

Dirk

Offers both a pack of four butter croissants and individual butter croissants.

  • Dirk lists 180 g for the pack of four and 65 g for the individual croissant; these sizes can help you plan portions.
  • Check the ingredients and any preparation instructions on the current packaging for the product you choose.

Croissants at Joybuy

These butter croissants make a good base for a breakfast with toppings. Compare the regular pack with the mini version by size, and check the pack instructions before serving.

g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g

g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g

A pack of croissants to serve individually alongside savoury toppings. The product name lists four pieces and 180 g; check the packaging for preparation instructions and allergen information.

View at Joybuy
g'woon mini butter croissants, 200 g

g'woon mini butter croissants, 200 g

The mini version is a good option if you want to serve smaller croissants alongside savoury toppings. The pack lists 200 g; check the preparation instructions and allergen information before use.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a ‘luxury’ croissant automatically better for savoury fillings?

No. Choose based on what suits your plans for serving, such as size, preparation and space for your preferred filling. Albert Heijn’s Luxe roomboter croissant weighs 90 g; PLUS croissant pastry lets you decide on the shape and filling yourself.

Do I always need to bake croissants in the oven?

No, it depends on the type of product. Albert Heijn and PLUS list a baking time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C for the ready-to-bake croissants reviewed; PLUS also gives air fryer instructions for its version. Always check the instructions for the specific product, whether it’s pastry or a frozen croissant.

Can a croissant replace wholemeal bread every day?

A croissant isn’t necessarily a like-for-like everyday replacement for wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 1.1 g of fibre, 5 g of saturated fat and 0.53 g of salt for an average 45 g croissant, and advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible. Compare the portion size and nutritional information on the packaging when making your choice.

Do all Dutch croissants contain iodised salt?

No, don’t assume they do. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory for bread. The ready-to-bake croissants reviewed from Albert Heijn and PLUS list iodised salt, while Albert Heijn lists only ‘salt’ for its Luxe roomboter croissant. Always check the current ingredients list for the croissant you choose.