Which croissant is right for you?

If you want something to eat straight away

A fresh, individually sold butter croissant needs no preparation at home. Dirk and ALDI stock croissants like these; if you’re buying late, check that your chosen shop is open and has the product in stock.

If you want a warm croissant at home

A bake-at-home or frozen croissant is a good choice if you have an oven or a suitable air fryer and are happy to allow time for preparation. Check how to store the pack you choose, too.

If you want to choose your own filling

Croissant dough lets you add your own sweet or savoury filling, as PLUS explains for its butter croissant dough. You’ll need to shape and bake the dough yourself.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want something ready to eat or to prepare at home. Then consider whether choosing your own filling matters more to you than the convenience of a ready-shaped croissant.

Fresh and ready to eat

Choose this if: you don’t want to bake late in the evening.

The trade-off: you can’t choose when it’s prepared at home; check availability with the shop.

Bake-at-home or frozen

Choose this if: you want to prepare a warm croissant at home.

The trade-off: preparation and storage vary by product. PLUS says its bake-at-home croissants take 4–6 minutes in the oven; Délifrance says its frozen croissants take 18 minutes at 185 °C and should be stored at −18 °C.

Croissant dough

Choose this if: you want to decide the shape and choose your own sweet or savoury filling.

The trade-off: shaping and baking it yourself takes more effort than eating a ready-made croissant.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Ready to eat straight away Check whether it’s a fresh croissant or one that still needs baking. I want to be able to eat something late in the evening without having to switch on an appliance first. For around 42% of consumers, being able to eat straight away is the top priority.
Prepare it warm at home Compare the preparation instructions, equipment needed and storage method. A warm croissant is worth making time to bake for. For around 33% of consumers, preparing it warm at home is the top priority.
Your own filling and portion Check whether you can shape and fill the dough yourself, and read the ingredients and allergens on the pack. I want to decide how big my croissant is or what goes inside, even if it takes extra work. That’s the main preference for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Treating fresh, bake-at-home, frozen and dough as the same product

    A frozen croissant may need considerably longer in the oven than a bake-at-home croissant. The Délifrance pack at PLUS gives an oven time of 18 minutes and says to store it at −18 °C.

    Before buying, check the product type, storage instructions and preparation time. Only choose dough or frozen croissants if you have the storage space and equipment you need at home.

  • Assuming ‘butter’ or ‘luxury’ tells you about nutritional value

    Those words are no substitute for the nutrition table. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that the nutritional values of croissants can vary by brand.

    Check the current pack to compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the portion size you plan to eat.

  • Guessing allergens from the name alone

    A croissant’s name doesn’t tell you which allergens or warnings about possible traces appear on its specific packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of label information for food allergies.

    If you have an allergy, check the current label every time you buy the specific product.

  • Assuming online listings mean a product is available locally

    A product page doesn’t tell you whether you can buy the croissant at the late hour you have in mind. Lidl says its regular butter croissant is only available in store.

    Check the opening hours and range at the shop you plan to visit.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists an AH Luxe butter croissant and AH Excellent varieties, including a raspberry croissant.

  • Worth considering if you’re looking for a ready-made butter croissant or a flavoured variety.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and availability of each variety separately.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s croissant range includes frozen, filled and plant-based varieties.

  • You can compare different product types in one place.
  • Check the preparation instructions, filling and allergens for each product.

Lidl

Lidl lists a butter croissant and a mini butter croissant.

  • An option if you’re looking for a standard or smaller croissant.
  • The regular butter croissant is listed as available in store only; check local availability.

ALDI

ALDI lists a fresh, individually sold butter croissant.

  • A product type for anyone who doesn’t want to bake anything at home.
  • Check your shop’s range and the ingredients of the current product.

PLUS

PLUS lists butter croissants to bake at home, Délifrance frozen croissants and butter croissant dough.

  • These product types let you choose between a quick bake, freezer storage and shaping the dough yourself.
  • Preparation and storage vary by pack; follow the instructions for the product you choose.

Dirk

Dirk lists an individually sold butter croissant, 1 de Beste croissants to bake at home and Délifrance frozen croissants.

  • You can compare a ready-to-eat croissant with bake-at-home and frozen options.
  • Compare the nutritional information and allergens on the specific packs, rather than judging by product type alone.

Joybuy products to suit your choice

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Should I check the label on every croissant if I have a food allergy?

Yes, check the current label on the specific pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says allergen information is essential if you have a food allergy; don’t rely on the product name alone or on a previous purchase.

Does every Dutch croissant contain iodine because of baker’s salt?

You can’t tell from the word ‘croissant’ alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says iodine compounds may only be present in bakery products if baker’s salt has been added; check the ingredients of the product you choose.

What changes if I choose a bake-at-home or frozen croissant?

You’ll need to prepare the croissant at home instead of eating it straight away. PLUS says its butter croissants to bake at home take 4–6 minutes in the oven or 4 minutes in the air fryer. According to the product instructions, PLUS’s Délifrance frozen croissants should be baked from frozen for 18 minutes at 185 °C and stored at −18 °C.

How can I compare the nutritional value of two croissants?

Compare the nutritional information per 100 g on both packs, then check the weight of one croissant. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says values can vary by brand, so a general average won’t tell you what’s in the portion you’ve chosen.