If you’re hosting someone with coeliac disease, choose a packaged croissant labelled gluten-free and prepare and serve it separately from regular croissants. Then compare pack sizes and storage and preparation instructions: Albert Heijn lists two bake-at-home croissants, Consenza three croissants and Schär four frozen croissants. If your guest has other allergies or dietary requirements, check the current ingredients and warnings on the packaging too.
You want to serve a gluten-free croissant without it coming into contact with crumbs from regular croissants at home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
You can choose a pack size to suit the number of guests who want a gluten-free croissant. For the products discussed here, Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list packs of two, four and three croissants respectively.
Egg, milk, soya and other allergens may matter as well as gluten. Ask your guests what they need to avoid, and read the packaging of the product you’ll actually be serving.
Start with the label and whether you can prepare the croissants separately. Then choose a suitable pack size and a preparation method that fits your dinner-party plans.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving gluten-free food | Check that the packaging says gluten-free, and use clean, separate utensils and equipment for preparation and serving at home. | If I’m hosting someone with coeliac disease, I want to keep crumbs from regular croissants off their food. This is the main concern for an estimated 33% of consumers. |
| Planning the bake | Compare the preparation method and time on the packaging with the oven or air fryer you have available. If the croissants are frozen, follow the storage instructions too. | If I need the oven for other dishes, I want to know when and how I can prepare the croissants. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this kind of planning. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare packs of two, three or four, and check what you can do with any leftovers after opening or defrosting. | For a small gathering, I want enough croissants without being left with leftovers that are difficult to store. This need is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Ask which allergens matter to your guests, and check both the ingredients and any warnings about traces on the current packaging. | If a guest needs to avoid something other than gluten too, I don’t want to assume that gluten-free also meets their other needs. An estimated 20% of consumers put this check first. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, even a stray breadcrumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease. Shared tongs, a baking tray or a serving plate could bring the croissant into contact with crumbs from regular croissants.
Prepare and serve gluten-free croissants separately, using clean equipment and a clean plate.
Jumbo lists egg, milk and wheat among the allergens in the Schär croissants. Consenza product pages also mention other allergens or warnings about traces, while Albert Heijn warns that its gluten-free croissants may contain egg.
Ask in advance what each guest needs to avoid, then check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging you buy.
Albert Heijn says its croissants are not suitable for freezing at home. According to the information for Schär, the croissants must not be refrozen after defrosting.
Work out how many croissants you want to serve and factor in the storage instructions when choosing a pack of two, three or four.
A shop that stocks gluten-free products won’t necessarily have gluten-free croissants in stock when you do your shopping.
Before the dinner party, check that you can get the specific product, and read the label again when you buy it.
Albert Heijn lists a pack of two gluten-free bake-at-home croissants for the oven or air fryer.
Jumbo lists frozen Schär Croissant à la Française in a pack of four.
Jumbo and PLUS list Consenza croissants in packs of three, weighing 60 g each, and recommend storing them in a cool, dry place.
Choose a pack labelled gluten-free and make sure the croissant doesn’t come into contact with regular breadcrumbs at home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease, so use clean, separate equipment when preparing and serving it.
Jumbo’s product information lists gluten-free wheat starch and also names wheat as an allergen. If you have a wheat allergy, don’t rely on the gluten-free label alone; check the allergen information on the pack you buy.
Albert Heijn also gives air fryer instructions for its croissants: 5 to 6 minutes at 180 °C. For Consenza, Jumbo gives microwave instructions as well as oven instructions: 20 seconds at 800 W. Check the instructions on your pack, and prepare the gluten-free croissants separately from regular ones.
The words ‘bread salt’ alone don’t tell you how much iodine has been added to a particular croissant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products because baker’s salt is added. If the ingredients matter to your purchase, ask the manufacturer for product information.
