Which option is right for you?

The brunch host short on oven time

You want to get croissants on the table quickly this King's Day, so you’re choosing between serving them straight away and baking them briefly just before you eat.

The home baker who likes to experiment

You want to choose the shape, size or filling yourself, and have time to shape and bake the dough.

The shopper with allergy or ingredient requirements

You need to be able to check the information for your chosen croissant before buying. For prepacked products, read the label; for unpackaged croissants, ask for allergen information.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with when you plan to serve them. This will determine whether you want croissants ready to eat, briefly baked or shaped by hand.

Fresh croissant

Best for: handing out croissants or filling the table without baking at home.

The trade-off: you have less control over when the croissant is served warm.

Ready-to-bake croissant

Best for: a warm brunch without having to shape the dough yourself.

The trade-off: you’ll need a suitable oven or air fryer just before serving.

Frozen croissant

Best for: shopping ahead and planning preparation around mealtime.

The trade-off: you’ll need freezer space and must follow the defrosting and storage instructions.

Croissant dough

Best for: choosing the shape or filling of your croissants yourself.

The trade-off: shaping and baking take extra preparation; don’t eat the dough raw.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
When you’ll serve them Check whether the croissant is ready to serve or needs preparing, and read the instructions. If I want to hand out croissants straight away or serve them warm at the table, this determines how much preparation will work for me. Around 33% of consumers prioritise when they’ll be served.
Shaping and filling them yourself Check whether you can shape the dough, and follow the storage and baking instructions. I want to shape or fill the croissants myself, and I’m happy to allow extra preparation time. Around 27% of consumers value this freedom most.
Portions for guests Compare the number of croissants, total weight and size of each one. When I have several guests, I want to know whether small croissants will work alongside other brunch dishes. Portion size matters most to around 20% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare nutritional information per 100 g and per portion if it’s relevant to your choice. If I have an allergy or specific ingredient requirements, I want to know what’s in my chosen croissant before buying it. Ingredients and allergens are the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming every croissant is served the same way

    Freshly sold croissants, ready-to-bake croissants, frozen products and unbaked dough all need different preparation. For example, PLUS says its pre-baked butter croissants need 4–6 minutes in the oven at 200 °C.

    Decide when you want to serve them and how much oven space you have before choosing a preparation method.

  • Guessing allergens from the product name

    A name such as butter croissant doesn’t tell you which allergens a particular product contains or whether it may contain traces of other allergens.

    For prepacked products, read the label. For unpackaged croissants, ask for allergen information before buying.

  • Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So, seeing iodised salt on one croissant’s label doesn’t tell you anything about another product.

    If this ingredient matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for the exact product you’re buying.

  • Using an average nutritional value for every brand

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives figures for a 45 g croissant that include 181 kcal and 5 g of saturated fat. These aren’t the label values for every croissant.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the products you’re considering, and take the weight of each croissant into account too.

Relevant brands and shops

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists both an AH Luxe butter croissant and Délifrance butter croissants.

  • You can browse two distinct product ranges.
  • Check the ingredients, size and preparation method for each pack you’re considering; the product names don’t indicate a quality ranking.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s croissant range includes butter, plant-based and mini options.

  • Different sizes and product types make it easier to put together a table for guests.
  • Check the current availability of the specific product before relying on it.

Lidl

Lidl describes a butter croissant as an in-store product and also lists mini butter croissants.

  • Choosing between a regular and a mini croissant can help you plan portions.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for the in-store product you choose.

ALDI

ALDI describes a fresh butter croissant sold individually.

  • Buying them individually makes it easy to match the quantity to the number of guests.
  • For an unpackaged product, ask for allergen information if you need it to make your choice.

PLUS

PLUS lists ready-to-bake croissants, a luxury frozen croissant and croissant dough to shape yourself.

  • These product types let you choose between baking briefly, freezing in advance and shaping them yourself.
  • Preparation and storage instructions vary by product, so check the current packaging.

Dirk

Dirk lists a 65 g butter croissant sold individually, as well as a pack of four butter croissants weighing 180 g in total.

  • The number of croissants and their weight can help you plan portions.
  • Check the ingredients and preparation instructions for the product you choose.

Croissants for portion planning

For a King's Day table where you want to plan how many croissants you’ll need per pack, you can assess this pack by its quantity and total weight. Check the packaging to see how to serve or prepare the croissants.

g'woon butter croissants, pack of 4, 180 g

g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g

A handy way to plan how many croissants you’ll need for brunch.

The pack contains 4 croissants, with a total weight of 180 g.

Before buying, check the serving or preparation instructions and the latest ingredients and allergen information, especially if you need to avoid wheat, milk, lupin, sesame or soya.

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Frequently asked questions

Does using butter automatically make a croissant premium?

No. Butter describes an ingredient, not a fixed quality grade. Choose based on when you’ll serve the croissants, how they need to be prepared and the size you need for your King's Day table.

How can I check the allergens in croissants?

For prepacked croissants, read the allergen information on the label; for unpackaged croissants, ask for this information before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between prepacked and unpackaged products. Also check whether information about possible traces is given for the specific croissant.

Do all Dutch croissants contain iodised salt?

No, you can’t tell from the product category alone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list if iodised salt matters to your choice.

How should I store croissant dough or frozen croissants?

Follow the instructions for the specific product, as dough and frozen croissants need different storage conditions. PLUS says to keep its croissant dough chilled at a maximum of 7 °C and to prepare and eat it straight away after opening. For its luxury frozen croissant, PLUS says to store it at −18 °C and not to refreeze it after defrosting.