Host catering for different tastes
You want to serve croissants without assuming everyone wants the same kind of bread. Offering separate wholemeal rolls gives guests a familiar alternative.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Guests looking to increase their fibre intake
You’d like to enjoy a croissant, but also have the option of choosing bread that is genuinely wholemeal. Check the product label: according to the Voedingscentrum, the colour alone doesn’t prove that bread is wholemeal.
Anyone planning the oven schedule
You want to know what still needs doing just before lunch. Part-baked croissants and croissant dough that you shape yourself need different preparation, so read the instructions on your chosen pack before planning the rest of the menu.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which bread options you want to serve, then consider how much time you have to prepare the croissants.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Choice at the table | Serve separate rolls labelled ‘wholemeal’ alongside the croissants. Don’t rely on a dark colour or visible seeds. | If guests have different preferences, I want everyone to see a suitable bread option straight away. Around 42% of consumers put choice at the table first. |
| Wholemeal option | Check for the ‘wholemeal’ label and, if you wish, compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutritional information. | I want to keep the croissant, but also be able to make a conscious choice of a wholemeal roll. Around 33% of consumers put having a wholemeal option first. |
| Preparation | Check whether you’re buying part-baked croissants, dough to shape yourself or a shop-bought option; follow the time and temperature on the pack. | When other Easter dishes also need attention, I want to know how much work the croissants will take just before serving. For around 25% of consumers, preparation is their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Counting a croissant as a wholemeal roll
A regular croissant doesn’t automatically count as a wholemeal roll. The Voedingscentrum also says you can’t tell whether a dark or seeded roll is wholemeal just by looking at it.
If you want to offer both options, buy rolls labelled ‘wholemeal’ alongside the croissants.
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Assuming the name ‘butter croissant’ tells you which allergens it contains
The name doesn’t give you a complete list of ingredients or possible ‘may contain’ statements. This information varies between product versions.
If you’re serving guests with allergies, check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact product you’re serving.
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Assuming all croissants have the same baking time
Part-baked croissants, dough that you shape yourself and products that need to be defrosted first all require different steps. This could mean preparing them at the same time as other lunch dishes.
Before buying, check the preparation method and instructions, then plan your oven schedule around the product you’ve chosen.
Shaping or defrosting takes extra preparation time; just before serving, oven space may also be limited.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out conditions for using iodised baker’s salt, but this doesn’t mean it’s found in every croissant.
If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the croissants you’ve chosen.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The AH butter croissants reviewed are part-baked and come in packs of four, weighing 180 g in total.
- Albert Heijn lists 25% butter for this version and recommends baking for 4–6 minutes at 200 °C.
- This version contains wheat and milk; check the current pack for the full allergen information.
Jumbo
The Jumbo butter croissants reviewed also come in packs of four, weighing 180 g in total.
- Jumbo lists 25.2% butter for this version and provides nutritional information per 100 g.
- The listed allergens include gluten, milk, spelt and wheat; check the label before serving your guests.
Lidl
Lidl offers butter croissants to bake at home, as well as bread products you can consider separately for lunch.
- Its bread range also includes a wholemeal roll, so you can choose croissants and wholemeal rolls as two separate product types.
- According to Lidl, the bread range may vary between stores.
ALDI
ALDI offers a fresh butter croissant sold individually, which is handy if you don’t want to buy a pack of four.
- You can choose the number of individual croissants to suit your group, depending on what’s available in store.
- If you’re choosing for someone with an allergy, ask for the information for the croissant you’re actually buying.
PLUS
PLUS offers part-baked butter croissants, croissant dough to shape yourself and a small individual option.
- According to PLUS, the packaged croissants reviewed can be baked in an oven or air fryer; the dough reviewed makes at least six triangles.
- Preparation varies by product. The small individual croissant reviewed needs to be defrosted first and then baked.
Dirk
Dirk offers 1 de Beste butter croissants in packs of four, weighing 180 g in total.
- The pack gives you a set number of croissants for this part of the lunch.
- Check the pack for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions.
Croissants for Easter lunch at Joybuy
These products are options for the croissant part of your Easter lunch. If you’d also like to serve wholemeal bread, choose it separately by looking for the ‘wholemeal’ label.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
A pack for anyone who wants to serve classic butter croissants alongside a separate wholemeal option.
Check the preparation instructions and current allergen information on the pack before planning your lunch.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g
A mini option for the croissant part of a lunch with a range of bread choices.
Check the pack for the number of croissants and the preparation and allergen information for this version.
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SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces
An option if you want to bake four croissants for lunch and choose a wholemeal bread option separately.
If you’re looking specifically for butter croissants, check the ingredients: this version is described as being made with margarine. Also check the baking time, temperature and allergen information on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dark or seeded roll automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. If you want to offer a wholemeal option alongside the croissants, choose a roll explicitly labelled ‘wholemeal’.
Which allergens should I check in croissants?
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact version you’re serving, including any ‘may contain’ statements. The part-baked versions reviewed from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list wheat or gluten and milk, but recipes and additional statements vary by product.
Can you cook part-baked croissants in an air fryer?
Yes, if the instructions for your chosen product say you can. For its packaged butter croissants reviewed, PLUS recommends four minutes in a preheated air fryer at 180 °C. For another product, follow the instructions on its own packaging.
Do Dutch croissants always contain iodised baker’s salt?
Don’t assume they do without checking the label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out conditions for using iodised baker’s salt in bakery products; to find out whether your croissants contain it, check the ingredients list for that version.