If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, choose a pre-packed croissant clearly labelled gluten-free, and check the other allergens on the current packaging too. For a Christmas market, the available cooking equipment, freezer space and a separate serving area will determine which option is practical. Otherwise, a gluten-free croissant could still come into contact with crumbs from regular croissants.
At a Christmas market, you’ll need to pay attention to both the gluten-free labelling and packaging, and to serving the croissant somewhere it won’t come into contact with crumbs from regular croissants. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises keeping gluten-free products in their packaging for as long as possible.
If oven, air fryer, microwave or freezer space is limited, the cooking method, number of croissants per pack and storage instructions become key considerations.
Ingredients such as egg, milk, soya or wheat starch may affect your choice, as well as gluten. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the relevant packaging for each guest.
Start by checking the gluten-free labelling and how you’ll serve the croissants. Then compare the cooking and storage requirements with what’s possible at the Christmas market, and check the label against any additional dietary requirements.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Check the gluten-free labelling and plan a separate area with clean serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Association also highlights the risk of contact through crumbs and hands. | If I’m serving someone with coeliac disease, I want to make sure a gluten-free croissant on the table doesn’t come into contact with regular croissants. This is a priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Cooking and storage | Compare the cooking instructions with the equipment available and check whether the product needs to be kept frozen. | If there’s little room for equipment, I need to be able to store and prepare the croissants ready for serving. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
| Other ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging. | If a guest also needs to avoid egg, milk, soya or wheat, I can’t rely on the ‘gluten-free’ label alone. This additional requirement is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers. |
Crumbs can get onto a gluten-free croissant via hands, cutlery, a work surface or a shared serving plate.
Keep the packaging sealed for as long as possible, and use clean utensils and a separate serving area, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Association.
According to the product information at Jumbo, the Schär croissant contains wheat starch, egg and milk; the Consenza croissant contains egg, milk and soya. So a gluten-free label doesn’t answer every question about allergens.
Agree any additional requirements in advance, and check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
Jumbo states that Schär Croissant à la Française should be stored at −18 °C. Once defrosted, the product must not be refrozen. It should be kept chilled and eaten within one day.
Choose this option only if transport, storage and preparation at the Christmas market meet these instructions.
Croissants that aren’t used in time after defrosting may go to waste.
A supermarket that stocks gluten-free products won’t necessarily have the croissants you’re looking for at the branch where you shop.
Search for the exact product name shortly before the Christmas market and check local availability.
Albert Heijn describes a pack containing two part-baked gluten-free croissants.
Jumbo describes Schär Croissant à la Française as a pack of four gluten-free frozen croissants.
For the pack of three Consenza Gluten-free Croissants, Jumbo lists both oven and microwave cooking methods.
The Dutch Coeliac Association explains that a product may only be called ‘gluten-free’ if it contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. When serving at a Christmas market, keep the croissant in its packaging for as long as possible and prevent it from coming into contact with crumbs, hands or utensils that have touched regular croissants.
If you’re serving someone with coeliac disease, it’s best to use a separate plate and clean serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Association warns that crumbs and shared equipment can cause cross-contamination.
No. According to the product information at Jumbo, Schär Croissant à la Française contains wheat starch, egg and milk, while Consenza contains egg, milk and soya. Albert Heijn describes its gluten-free croissants as vegan and lactose-free, but also states that they may contain egg. Check the current packaging against your guest’s specific requirements.
No, you can’t assume this for every gluten-free croissant. Albert Heijn lists ‘salt’ in its croissants, and Jumbo lists ‘bread salt’ for Consenza, but neither gives the croissant’s iodine content. If the iodine content matters to your choice, ask the manufacturer about the product’s composition.
