If you want to serve straight away
If you don’t want to use the oven, you can plan individual portions with croissants sold ready to eat. ALDI and Dirk offer croissants individually; check how the option you choose should be served.
Which option works best for you?
The time you have to prepare, the number of guests and any dietary requirements all help determine which croissant is right for coffee time.
If you’d like to serve warm croissants
If you can set aside some time beforehand, compare croissants that need a short bake with frozen croissants. The PLUS and Délifrance options we looked at have different preparation times, so check the instructions on the pack you buy.
If you need to consider dietary needs and ease of eating
Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact croissant you’re buying. If a guest has difficulty swallowing, ask about their existing dietary guidance. Thuisarts advises that swallowing difficulties may require advice from a GP and, if needed, a speech and language therapist or dietitian.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to serve straight away or have time to bake. Then compare the number of portions and check the information on each product that matters to your guests.
Ready to eat
Choose this if: you want to serve without using the oven and plan one croissant per guest.
Bear in mind: a croissant with a crispy crust isn’t automatically suitable for someone with difficulty swallowing.
Quick bake
Choose this if: you want to serve warm croissants just before coffee and have an oven or air fryer available.
Bear in mind: preheating and baking time; instructions vary between products.
Frozen
Choose this if: you have a planned coffee get-together and want to bake the croissants just beforehand.
Bear in mind: the freezer space and preparation required. According to PLUS, the Délifrance option we looked at needs 18 minutes in the oven.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and serving time | Check whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs baking. If it needs baking, check the time, temperature and equipment required. | If I’m short on time just before coffee, I don’t want to have to preheat the oven as well. Around 40% of consumers prioritise minimal preparation. |
| Portions and leftovers | Compare the number of croissants and the weight per pack with the number of guests. | For a small group, I want to serve enough croissants without having lots left over. Around 30% of consumers prioritise a suitable number of portions. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact option; compare the nutritional information per 100 g if salt is relevant. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the pack I’ve chosen. Around 20% of consumers give checking the label their top priority. |
| Ease of eating | If someone has difficulty swallowing, ask about any existing guidance on food consistency; don’t judge suitability by the shape of a croissant. | If someone has difficulty swallowing, I want to know what food has been agreed as suitable for them. For around 10% of consumers, this is their main consideration. |
The term ‘medium sliced’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you the size of a croissant or how it should be served. If you’re looking for a particular size or want to cut croissants in half, it’s best to check the actual product. Cutting a croissant in half doesn’t automatically make it suitable for someone with difficulty swallowing.
Common mistakes
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Assuming one croissant has the same allergens as another
Even butter croissants can list different ingredients and allergens. The PLUS bake-off croissants we looked at list wheat, spelt and milk; for its Délifrance frozen croissants, PLUS also lists egg and possible traces of soya and nuts.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re going to serve, even if you’re familiar with the brand.
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Judging a croissant’s suitability for swallowing difficulties by sight
A softer-looking centre or a cut croissant won’t tell you what consistency someone needs. Thuisarts explains that swallowing difficulties vary and that suitable food needs to be decided on an individual basis.
Ask about any existing dietary guidance. If someone has difficulty swallowing, contact their GP rather than deciding for yourself that a croissant is a suitable alternative.
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Buying extra without planning the portions
A single croissant, a pack of four and a frozen pack won’t all suit every group equally well. If you only look at the pack size, you may end up with croissants left over.
First count how many guests would like a croissant, then choose the number you need and the preparation option that suits you.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt
According to Brood.net, bakers aren’t required to use iodised salt. The fact that one of the PLUS bake-off options we looked at lists iodised salt says nothing about the salt in other croissants.
If iodised salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the pack you’ve chosen.
Brands to compare
These brands offer different types of croissant. Always compare the exact product and pack rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s category page includes butter, plant-based and other types of croissant.
- The options and pack sizes shown give you a starting point for comparing portions and product types.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the page or pack for the specific option.
PLUS
PLUS offers both bake-off butter croissants and a small butter croissant sold individually, with different preparation instructions.
- For the bake-off pack we looked at, PLUS gives an oven time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C and an air fryer time of 4 minutes at 180 °C.
- The small individually sold option has different preparation instructions and allergens; don’t assume the details for one option apply to the other.
Délifrance
The frozen butter croissants we looked at are an option if you can plan the preparation in advance for a scheduled coffee get-together.
- For the 330 g pack we looked at, PLUS says to bake from frozen for 18 minutes at 185 °C.
- Allow for freezer space and check the allergens: the product information lists wheat, milk and egg, with possible traces of soya and nuts.
ALDI
ALDI offers a fresh butter croissant sold individually.
- Buying them individually makes it easy to match the number of croissants to the number of guests.
- Check the product information or pack if ingredients, allergens or nutritional values matter to your choice.
1 de Beste (Dirk)
Dirk offers 1 de Beste butter croissants in a pack of four, weighing 180 g in total.
- The stated number of croissants makes it easier to plan portions for a small group.
- Check the pack for preparation instructions, ingredients and nutritional information for this option.
Croissants for coffee time at Joybuy
These croissants offer individual portions, a mini size or a pack of four for coffee time. Check the preparation instructions and allergens for each product separately; the product name alone won’t tell you whether it needs baking or what texture to expect.
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Bakery Village Danish Croissant 85 g
An individually sold croissant may suit you if you’re planning a separate portion for one guest.
Net weight: 85 g. Check the pack for ingredients, allergens and the serving method you need; don’t judge the texture by the image alone.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants 200 g
This mini size is worth considering if you’d like to serve smaller croissants.
Pack weight: 200 g. Check the pack for the number of croissants, preparation instructions and allergens; a mini size doesn’t mean it’s suitable for someone with difficulty swallowing.
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g'woon Butter Croissants 4 stuks, 180 g
A pack of four may suit you if you’re planning one croissant per guest for a small group.
The four croissants weigh 180 g in total. Read the pack for preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens before serving.
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘medium sliced’ mean for croissants?
The term doesn’t tell you what size or cut you’ll get. Compare the dimensions or weight of the specific croissant, and decide whether you’d like to cut it before serving. If someone has difficulty swallowing, cutting it in half is no substitute for individual dietary guidance.
Should I always choose a soft croissant for older guests?
No. Age alone doesn’t determine what consistency someone needs. If someone has difficulty swallowing, Thuisarts advises contacting their GP; if needed, a speech and language therapist or dietitian can help agree on suitable food.
How long should bake-off and frozen croissants go in the oven?
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen, as preparation varies by product. For the bake-off butter croissants we looked at, PLUS gives an oven time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C. For the Délifrance frozen croissants we looked at, PLUS says to bake from frozen for 18 minutes at 185 °C.
Does every Dutch croissant contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume that it does. According to Brood.net, bakers aren’t required to use iodised salt. The PLUS bake-off butter croissants we looked at do list iodised salt; for any other croissant, check its own ingredients list.