Which option is practical for you?

Families who plan lunches in advance

If you can use several croissants and have time to bake them at home, a pack of croissants to bake could work well. Just make sure you can use the whole pack.

Shoppers with no time to prepare lunch in the morning

You need a single croissant that’s ready to pack, without baking at home or storing leftover dough. But a product sold individually isn’t always ready to eat: check the preparation instructions.

Families weighing up allergens and everyday lunch choices

Check the ingredients and school rules before putting a croissant in the lunchbox. Even if you choose a gluten-free option, you’ll need to check for other allergens separately.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out whether you’ll need to prepare the croissant at home and how many you can use. Then check the allergens and consider how it fits in with your other school lunches.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this important for?
Number of portions you can use Check how many croissants are in the pack and whether you can use them all while following the storage instructions. If I’m planning several lunches, I want to be able to use the croissants without having dough left over. Around 42% of consumers prioritise using every portion.
Preparing lunch before you leave Check whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs to be defrosted or baked first. On a morning when there’s no time to bake, I need a lunch that’s ready to pack; around 33% of consumers consider this first.
Allergens and lunch habits Read the latest allergen information and check the school rules. If you’re packing the same lunch regularly, consider the other items in the lunchbox too. If I’m managing allergies, I need to know which ingredients are suitable. For a regular school lunch, I also think about including a variety of bread, vegetables and fruit. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing a pack without planning how many you’ll use

    A pack of several croissants is only practical if you can use them all while following the storage instructions. Otherwise, you could have portions left over.

    Before you buy, decide which lunches you’ll use the croissants for, then check the storage and preparation instructions.

  • Assuming croissants to bake are ready to put in a lunchbox

    Croissants that need baking must be prepared before you pack them. Albert Heijn says its chilled dough takes around 12 to 15 minutes to bake at 200 °C; the PLUS option described also needs preparing.

    Read the instructions for the option you choose. If baking at home isn’t practical, choose a product that’s ready to eat according to its packaging.

    Croissants to bake add preparation time and oven use to your morning routine.

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens

    According to the product information, the Consenza gluten-free croissants listed by Jumbo contain egg, milk and soya, and may also contain lupin, nuts and sesame.

    Check the latest packaging for all relevant allergens and follow the school’s rules.

  • Treating a croissant as an everyday lunch staple

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t list croissants among its preferred choices for regular school lunches. It recommends choosing items such as brown or wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit more often.

    Enjoy a croissant for a change, and plan your usual school lunch with those other options in mind.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

An option if you want to prepare six chilled croissants to bake at home.

  • Albert Heijn lists six AH Verse original croissants per pack, with a baking time of around 12 to 15 minutes at 200 °C.
  • Albert Heijn says the dough must be kept chilled at a maximum of 7 °C. Check the latest allergen information for wheat and possible milk ingredients.

Jumbo

Its range includes both standard croissants to bake and a separate gluten-free option.

  • The standard pack described contains six croissants. Jumbo also lists a pack of three gluten-free Consenza croissants.
  • The standard option contains wheat and gluten. The Consenza option described contains egg, milk and soya; check the latest packaging for other allergens too.

Lidl

Worth considering if you’re looking for a croissant from its fresh-from-the-oven in-store range.

  • Lidl lists options including butter and multiseed croissants, and provides ingredient and allergen information for its fresh-from-the-oven range.
  • If you’re buying an unpackaged product in store, ask for the allergen information for the option you choose.

ALDI

An in-store option if you’re looking for a single fresh butter croissant.

  • ALDI lists a fresh butter croissant sold individually.
  • If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information for the in-store product before packing it.

PLUS

An individually sold option where the preparation method needs extra attention.

  • PLUS lists a small butter croissant sold individually.
  • The option described needs to defrost, then bake for around 14 minutes. PLUS says it contains wheat, gluten, egg and milk, and may contain soya.

Dirk

An in-store option if you’re looking for a single butter croissant.

  • Dirk lists a 65 g butter croissant.
  • If allergens are a concern for your school lunch, check the information in store.

Croissants at Joybuy

These croissants suit two ways of planning: packing one croissant without baking at home, or baking several at home for different lunch occasions. Check the packaging for each product before packing it for school.

Bakery Village Danish Croissant, 85 g

Bakery Village Danish Croissant, 85 g

For a lunch that needs no baking at home: according to the product description, this croissant is ready to eat. Each portion is 85 g.

The product information lists wheat and gluten, egg and milk as allergens. Check the current label and the school rules. The product description also lists E102 and E110, with a warning that these colourings may have an adverse effect on children’s activity and attention.

View at Joybuy
SCHOOF Croissants, pack of 4

SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces

For anyone who can bake several croissants at home for planned lunches. The pack contains 4, and they need to be baked before eating.

Check the baking instructions on the packaging. The product information lists wheat flour and possible traces of sesame, lupin, milk and soya. Read the latest label before packing and follow the school rules.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

When should I choose an individually sold croissant rather than a pack to bake?

Choose a ready-to-eat croissant sold individually if you need one portion and baking at home isn’t practical. A pack to bake needs preparation. Even with a product sold individually, check the instructions: the small PLUS croissant described needs to be defrosted and baked first.

Should I check the allergens and school rules before packing a croissant for lunch?

Yes. Check the latest allergen information and the school’s rules before packing a croissant. The standard Albert Heijn and Jumbo croissants described contain wheat and gluten; the PLUS option mentioned also contains egg and milk.

Is a gluten-free croissant suitable for every allergy?

No. According to the product information, the gluten-free Consenza croissants listed by Jumbo contain egg, milk and soya, and may also contain lupin, nuts and sesame. Check the packaging for all relevant allergens.

Is a croissant suitable for an everyday school lunch?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t recommend croissants as a regular staple for school lunches. For lunches eaten regularly, it recommends options such as brown or wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit. A croissant can be a change from the usual.

Does every croissant contain iodine because of baker’s salt?

Not necessarily. Whether baker’s salt has been used varies by product. If this matters to you, check the ingredients for the croissant you choose.