If you want to serve them straight away
If you don’t want to plan around the oven on Easter morning, a fresh croissant from the shop is a convenient option. Albert Heijn, for example, lists a large Luxury butter croissant weighing 90 g.
Which option is right for you?
When you plan to serve your croissants will determine how much preparation suits your Easter breakfast or brunch.
If you’re planning a warm brunch
Bake-at-home or frozen croissants let you plan when to serve them around your oven schedule. Check how many will fit in the oven at once, and follow the cooking and storage instructions on the packaging you choose.
If you want to shape and fill your own
Chilled croissant dough gives you the freedom to choose your own size and sweet or savoury filling. PLUS suggests these uses for its butter croissant dough, but remember to allow time for shaping and baking.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to serve them straight away, bake them at home or work with the dough yourself. Then check the packaging for the exact product: the description ‘butter croissant’ alone tells you nothing about portion size or preparation.
Fresh croissant from the shop
Choose this if: you want to put the croissants on the table without baking them first.
The trade-off: you have less control over when they come out of the oven.
Bake-at-home or frozen croissant
Choose this if: you want to serve warm croissants and can set aside oven space.
The trade-off: you’ll need to plan for preparation and storage. For its frozen luxury butter croissants, Jumbo says not to refreeze them after thawing.
Croissant dough
Choose this if: making your own shapes or fillings is important for your brunch.
The trade-off: shaping and baking take more preparation than serving ready-made croissants.
| What to consider | What to check | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Butter and serving experience | Check the stated butter percentage and whether the product is fresh, frozen or dough. Only compare percentages for products in a similar form and with a similar preparation method. | I want a croissant with a clearly stated butter content and would prefer to serve it warm. This would be the most important consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Timing and portions | Count the croissants and check the weight per pack. For bake-at-home products, look at the cooking instructions and how much oven space you have. | If brunch starts at a set time, I want to know whether I can prepare enough croissants at once. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Your own shape and filling | Choose dough if you want to shape or fill the croissants yourself, and follow the baking instructions for that product. | I want to decide for myself how big the croissants are and what goes in them for Easter brunch. Around 21% of consumers would put this first. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the latest allergen information and compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g. Check the type of salt in the ingredients list if it matters to your choice. | When choosing for my guests, I want to know what’s in the croissants and which allergens are listed. This information would carry the most weight for an estimated 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘luxury’ means a fixed product specification
The name doesn’t tell you how much butter or salt a croissant contains. Albert Heijn states that its Luxury butter croissant contains 25% butter, while Jumbo lists 23% for its frozen luxury version. These are different product formats, not a ranking of flavour.
Read the ingredients list and nutritional information for the exact product, and only compare values on the same basis.
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Leaving oven planning until Easter morning
Dough and bake-at-home croissants need to be prepared before you can serve them. If you have several packs, the amount of oven space available may determine when everything is ready for the table.
Work out how many you need in advance, read the baking instructions and plan your oven schedule. Choose a fresh croissant from the shop if serving them straight away matters more.
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Guessing allergens from the product name
‘Butter’ indicates that the product contains milk, but it doesn’t tell you which other allergens or warnings apply to the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen information on the label.
Check the latest information on the packaging before you buy, even if you’ve bought the product before.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt
This varies by product. PLUS specifically lists iodised salt in its Luxury butter croissant, but you can’t tell from the croissant category alone.
Check the ingredients list for the croissant you want to buy if the type of salt matters to your choice.
Brands to compare
These brands offer different types of croissant for you to compare. Always compare the specific product, not just the brand name.
Albert Heijn
An option if you’re looking for a large croissant from the shop to serve straight away.
- Albert Heijn says its AH Luxury butter croissant weighs 90 g and contains 25% butter.
- Albert Heijn says this product is only available in store. Check the latest product information there.
Jumbo
A brand to consider if a multipack of frozen croissants fits your oven plans.
- Jumbo says its frozen luxury butter croissants come in a pack of four and contain 23% butter.
- Make room in your freezer and follow the storage advice: Jumbo says not to refreeze them after thawing.
PLUS
A good option if you’re choosing between shaping your own croissants and buying a large butter croissant.
- PLUS says its croissant dough is suitable for sweet and savoury fillings. Its Luxury butter croissant lists 24% butter and iodised salt.
- Dough and ready-made croissants have different preparation and storage instructions, so check these for each product.
Dirk
A useful point of comparison for a pack of several bake-at-home butter croissants.
- Dirk says its 1 de Beste Butter croissants come in a pack of four with a total weight of 180 g.
- Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information before comparing this with another product.
Lidl
An in-store option for an individual butter croissant.
- Lidl describes its croissant as made with butter.
- Lidl says the product is only available in store; check the latest product information there.
ALDI
An in-store option if you want to compare individual butter croissants.
- ALDI describes an individual butter croissant for breakfast or as a snack.
- Check the latest packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information if these affect your choice.
Croissants on Joybuy
These two packs of g'woon butter croissants are worth considering if you’re planning croissants for Easter breakfast or brunch. Check the cooking instructions for both products before deciding whether they’re ready to serve or need baking at home.
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G'woon mini butter croissants, 200 g
The mini size could work well for a brunch where you want to serve smaller croissants. The product title states 200 g, but another product listing says 180 g, so check the net weight on the packaging. Also read the cooking instructions and latest allergen information.
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g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
With four croissants in one pack, it’s easy to work out how many portions you’ll have for brunch. The product title gives a total weight of 180 g. Check whether the croissants need baking at home, and read the latest label information if you have any allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘premium’ or ‘luxury’ automatically mean more butter?
No. Check the butter percentage on the ingredients list for the exact product. Albert Heijn states 25% for its Luxury butter croissant, while Jumbo lists 23% for its frozen luxury version. As they’re different product formats, these percentages alone don’t tell you which croissant you’ll prefer.
Does every croissant in the Netherlands contain iodised salt?
You can’t tell from the product name or its Dutch origin. PLUS lists iodised salt in its Luxury butter croissant; for another product, check the latest ingredients list.
What should I look out for if any guests have a food allergy?
Before you buy, check the allergen information for each specific product, including any warnings about possible traces. Butter indicates that the product contains milk, but other ingredients and warnings may vary between croissants. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of clear allergen information on the label.
Can I refreeze frozen croissants after thawing them?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging you choose; don’t assume the same rule applies to every croissant. For its frozen luxury butter croissants, Jumbo says not to refreeze them after thawing.