If you want to serve them warm
If you want to put the croissants on the table just before your Sinterklaas celebrations, consider bake-at-home or frozen options. Check how much preparation time and oven space your chosen product needs.
Which option is right for you?
If you want to create your own treat
A larger fresh butter croissant takes very little effort. With croissant dough, you can decide on the size and any filling yourself, as long as you have time to shape and bake it.
If you’re shopping for guests with dietary requirements
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging of the exact product. The way it’s prepared doesn’t, in itself, tell you whether it’s suitable for a guest.
What should you look for when choosing?
Fresh croissants
Choose these if: you want to serve them without baking, for example if you’re planning to serve them straight away.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to be able to get the variety you want when you shop; Albert Heijn lists its luxury butter croissant as an in-store product.
Bake-at-home croissants
Choose these if: you want to warm croissants shortly before serving without shaping the dough yourself.
Bear in mind: preparation requirements and oven temperatures vary by product; follow the instructions on the packaging.
Croissant dough
Choose this if: you want to decide on the size or filling yourself. According to PLUS, you can cut at least six triangles from its roll of croissant dough.
Bear in mind: shaping and baking take time; also follow the instructions for using the dough after opening.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving warm | Check the product type and preparation instructions, and make sure you have enough oven space. | If I want to prepare the croissants just before serving them, I need to fit that into my evening plans. Around 27% of consumers prioritise serving them warm. |
| Festive presentation | Compare the size and, where stated, the butter content; choose dough if you want to shape the croissants yourself. | I want the treat to suit the occasion without assuming that ‘luxury’ means the same thing for every product. Around 33% of consumers prioritise presentation. |
| Label and nutritional information | Read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the packaging you choose, per 100 g or per portion. | When I’m buying for someone with an allergy or dietary requirement, I want to know what’s in these particular croissants. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Quantity and portions | Compare the number of croissants and the weight per pack with the number of guests. | When I’m catering for a larger group, I want to have enough croissants for everyone without relying on the packaging alone. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the number of portions. |
Common mistakes
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Taking ‘luxury’ as a complete product description
A large fresh croissant, a pack of bake-at-home croissants and croissant dough all require different things from your plans. The size and ingredients also vary from one specific product to another.
Compare the weight, number of croissants, preparation method and label before you choose.
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Confusing online listings with availability on the day
Albert Heijn lists its luxury butter croissant as available in-store only. So a product page doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to buy one on the day you shop.
Check what your store has available shortly before you go shopping, and have another type of product in mind if needed.
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Assuming you know the allergens from the word ‘croissant’
The products mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS don’t have the same ingredient and trace-allergen information. Nutritional values for a product also don’t automatically apply to the portion you buy.
If you’re buying for guests with specific requirements, check the current packaging for the exact product, including any ‘may contain’ statements.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt
Jumbo lists iodised salt for one butter croissant variety we looked at; that doesn’t tell you anything about other croissants.
If iodine content matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
For comparing a single fresh butter croissant with bake-at-home options.
- Albert Heijn lists its luxury butter croissant as weighing 90 g per croissant and containing 25% butter.
- The product page says this variety is available in-store only; check the latest store information.
Jumbo
For comparing different types of product, including bake-at-home and frozen croissants.
- Jumbo lists 25.2% butter in a pack of four butter croissants.
- Check the preparation method and current availability for each variety.
PLUS
For choosing between a large croissant and dough you can shape yourself.
- PLUS lists 24% butter in its large luxury croissant; according to PLUS, you can cut at least six triangles from its separate roll of croissant dough.
- The dough needs preparing. Read the instructions on the packaging, including those for use after opening.
Lidl
For considering a single butter croissant from the store.
- Lidl lists a 65 g butter croissant.
- The product is listed as available in-store only; check the ingredients and allergens there.
ALDI
For counting out individual croissants for your group and deciding how to present them yourself.
- ALDI describes its butter croissant as a product sold individually in store.
- Before buying, check the product information that’s relevant to your guests.
Dirk
For comparing a single croissant with a pack of bake-at-home croissants.
- Dirk lists a single 65 g croissant, as well as four butter croissants with a total weight of 180 g.
- Compare the preparation method and weight per croissant for the specific products; the two pack formats aren’t interchangeable.
Croissants at Joybuy
These packs of croissants are worth considering if you want to compare sizes and quantities for Sinterklaas Eve. Check the packaging to see how to serve or prepare your chosen product; the product type will determine your plans.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g
An option if you’d like to serve mini croissants; the pack states 200 g.
Before serving, check the packaging to see whether and how these croissants need to be prepared.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 stuks, 180 g
For anyone who wants to factor four croissants into their plans for guests; the total weight is 180 g.
Read the preparation instructions on the packaging before deciding when to serve them.
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SCHOOF Croissants, 4 stuks
A pack of four for anyone who wants to plan how many croissants to serve each guest.
If you specifically want butter croissants or want to serve them warm, check the ingredients and preparation instructions on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is a butter croissant automatically a luxury option?
No. The fact that it contains butter doesn’t tell you how large the croissant is or how it needs to be prepared. For Sinterklaas Eve, compare the specific products: for example, Albert Heijn lists 25% butter in its 90 g luxury croissant, while PLUS lists 24% for its large luxury croissant.
Can I assume that every croissant contains iodised salt?
No, check the ingredients list of the product you’re buying. Jumbo lists iodised salt for one butter croissant variety we looked at, but that doesn’t automatically apply to other croissants.
Which allergens should I check when buying croissants for guests?
Read the full allergen information on the current packaging, including any trace-allergen statements. Albert Heijn’s luxury croissant, which we looked at, lists wheat, milk and egg; the PLUS luxury variety also lists possible traces of ingredients including soya and nuts.
How do I plan to serve warm croissants?
Choose a product you can prepare shortly before serving, and follow the timings and temperature on that particular pack. Dough that you shape yourself also takes time to shape, so check in advance that everything will fit in your oven at once.