The classic brunch host
Wants to serve croissants on Mother’s Day without having to bake just before serving. A familiar buttery flavour and minimal preparation are top priorities.
Who are these options for?
The host planning a hot brunch
Wants to bake croissants close to serving time, while taking preparation time, oven space and the number of guests into account.
The host catering for different preferences
Wants to offer something alongside croissants for guests who prefer wholemeal, without automatically assuming that a multiseed croissant is wholemeal.
What should guide your choice?
First decide whether you need croissants that are ready to serve or whether you want to bake them at home. Then check the pack size, and look at the packaging separately if wholemeal options or allergens matter to your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to serve | Check that the croissants are ready to eat and read the allergen information. | If I don’t want to bake in the morning, I look for croissants that can go straight on the table. Convenience would be the main priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Freshly baked and warm | Read the cooking instructions and compare the number of croissants with your available oven space. | If you want to serve warm croissants at a planned time, you’ll need to allow time and oven space. Around 30% of consumers would put serving them at the right moment first. |
| Wholemeal preference | Look for an explicit wholemeal description and, if needed, compare the fibre per 100 g. | If a guest prefers wholemeal, I don’t want to guess from a croissant’s colour or seeds. For around 30% of consumers, confirmed wholemeal ingredients would be the main priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multiseed’ means wholemeal
Seeds on or in a croissant don’t, on their own, tell you whether the grain used is wholemeal. If that’s what you’re looking for, the product name alone isn’t enough to go on.
Check the wholemeal description and ingredients on the packaging. Compare the fibre per 100 g if you want to weigh up the nutritional value of different products.
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Buying bake-at-home croissants without planning for the oven
A bake-at-home product needs to be prepared just before brunch. The number of portions you can make at once also depends on the oven space available.
Read the cooking instructions and count the croissants and baking trays you’ll need in advance. Choose a ready-to-eat option if you don’t want to bake.
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Guessing allergens from the type of croissant
Ingredients vary from product to product and can change. If you have a food allergy, it’s the information on the packaging of the product you’re actually serving that matters.
Before buying and serving, read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on that packaging.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodine
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in baked goods through baker’s salt. This doesn’t tell you what’s in any individual croissant.
Check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen rather than assuming it contains baker’s salt based on the product category.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s croissant range includes butter and multiseed options to suit different tastes around the table.
- A multiseed croissant is available alongside classic options.
- The name ‘multiseed’ doesn’t confirm that a product is wholemeal, so check the packaging of the option you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers frozen croissants, including a pack of 6 weighing 420 g, for a brunch planned around baking time.
- The stated number of croissants makes it easier to plan portions.
- Check the cooking instructions, ingredients and allergens on each pack; frozen doesn’t indicate whether a product is wholemeal.
PLUS
At PLUS, you can compare options such as a pack of bake-at-home butter croissants and chilled butter croissant dough.
- The product formats make it clear whether you’re baking croissants or working with dough.
- Read the cooking instructions for the option you choose; neither format proves that the product is wholemeal.
Dirk
Dirk offers a pack of 4 butter croissants weighing 180 g, as well as a separate Délifrance option.
- With the pack of 4, you can plan the number of croissants for your brunch table in advance.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation method of each option separately.
ALDI
ALDI offers a fresh butter croissant and a separate product made with croissant dough.
- These products give you a choice between a fresh croissant and baking your own from dough.
- Check the preparation method and label of the product you choose; the format doesn’t confirm that it is wholemeal.
Croissants at Joybuy
This pack of butter croissants could suit your Mother’s Day brunch if four croissants are right for your group. Read the cooking instructions before planning when to serve them.
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g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
A pack of four could be a good fit if that’s how many croissants you want to serve at brunch.
4 pieces, 180 g in total. Check the packaging to see whether they need baking, and read the ingredients and nutritional information if you’re looking for a wholemeal option.
If you have allergies, refer to the allergen information on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is a multiseed croissant automatically wholemeal?
No. ‘Multiseed’ doesn’t, on its own, mean wholemeal. Check the packaging and ingredients of the croissant you’re buying. For products labelled as wholemeal, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority looks at the composition of the grain ingredient.
What can I serve alongside croissants for guests who prefer wholemeal?
If you wish, serve bread with a clear wholemeal description separately, rather than presenting a multiseed croissant as wholemeal without checking its label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that wholegrain products contain more fibre than white grain products; compare the nutritional information per 100 g for specific products.
What should I check if someone has an allergy?
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the exact product you’re serving. Ingredients vary between croissants; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, common allergens must be clearly stated on the label.
Can I buy bake-at-home croissants in advance?
Yes, as long as you follow the storage instructions and date on the packaging you choose, and allow enough time to prepare them. Also check how many croissants will fit in your oven at once.
Does every croissant in the Netherlands contain iodine?
No, you can’t tell from the product category alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in baked goods through baker’s salt; check the ingredients of the specific croissant.