Choose a croissant to bake at home if you want a warm base that you can slice open and fill with savoury ingredients. A ready-to-eat or filled croissant is a better fit if you want to keep preparation to a minimum. Check the cooking instructions, allergens and nutritional information for each product. If you regularly eat a croissant instead of bread, don’t assume it provides the same amount of fibre or iodine.
Would you like to slice open a croissant after baking and fill it yourself with, for example, egg, cheese or vegetables? An unfilled variety could suit your plans, provided you have the time and oven space. Albert Heijn and PLUS’s cooking instructions show that the steps vary from product to product.
A ready-to-eat croissant or a cheese variety can save you time. Do check that the product really is ready to eat, and compare the allergens and nutritional information for filled varieties too.
If gluten, wheat or other allergens affect your choice, check the specific packaging. A croissant labelled gluten-free may still contain other allergens, so check for any ‘may contain’ statements too.
First decide whether you want to bake and fill it yourself or save time on preparation. Then check the croissant’s ingredients, as well as those of the filling you plan to eat with it.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Baking and filling it yourself | Check whether it is dough or a ready-to-bake product, and read the baking time and any defrosting instructions. | If I want a warm croissant that I can slice open and fill myself, I’m happy to put in the preparation time. That freedom is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| A quick savoury breakfast | Check whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs cooking. For cheese varieties, compare the salt per portion too. | When time is short, I want the croissant itself to add a savoury element. This is the most important consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the ingredients, allergen information and ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging you choose. | If I need to avoid gluten or another allergen, the product’s ingredients determine which croissants are suitable. This is the first thing around 23% of consumers consider. |
| Nutritional value if eaten regularly | Compare fibre, salt and saturated fat per portion, including what you add as a filling. If you have questions about iodine, check the ingredients. | If I often eat a croissant instead of bread, I want to know how it fits into my breakfast. This consideration takes priority for around 15% of consumers. |
For croissants, ‘medium sliced’ doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about the product’s shape. If you want to add plenty of filling to an unfilled croissant, check whether you can slice it open yourself after cooking; don’t assume it comes pre-sliced. Albert Heijn says its fresh croissant dough takes 12–15 minutes to bake at 200 °C. PLUS gives a defrosting step and different oven instructions for its small butter croissants. So follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
For an average 45 g croissant, Voedingscentrum lists 1.1 g of fibre, 5 g of saturated fat and 0.53 g of salt, among other values. These figures don’t apply to every croissant: compare the nutritional information for your chosen variety per 100 g and per portion, especially if you’re adding cheese or another savoury filling.
Dough, ready-to-bake croissants and filled croissants don’t all need the same preparation. A filled variety also leaves less room for your own choice of filling.
First decide whether you want to bake it yourself or eat it straight away. Then check the preparation steps and whether you need an unfilled croissant for your breakfast.
According to the product information, the gluten-free Consenza croissant listed by PLUS contains egg and soya and may contain sesame, lupin and nuts. So gluten-free doesn’t mean it’s free from those other ingredients.
For pre-packed products, read the label, including any ‘may contain’ statements. If a product isn’t pre-packed, ask for allergen information before buying it.
The croissant itself also contributes to the nutritional value of your breakfast. Voedingscentrum lists 5 g of saturated fat and 0.53 g of salt for an average 45 g croissant; products and portions may differ.
Compare the values for the portion of croissant you’ll actually eat, and factor in your chosen filling too.
The term baker’s salt refers to iodised salt, but you can’t assume that a particular croissant contains it. Voedingscentrum says using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory.
If iodine content matters to your choice, check the croissant’s ingredients rather than making assumptions based on the product category.
Dough, ready-to-bake products, and filled or gluten-free croissants can vary within the same brand. Check the product information for the variety you’re considering.
Albert Heijn offers fresh croissant dough, among other products, as well as a separate range of gluten-free croissants.
PLUS offers small butter croissants, cheese croissants and a gluten-free Consenza croissant, among other products.
PLUS lists the Consenza croissant as suitable for a gluten-free and wheat-free diet.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste butter croissants as a ready-to-bake product, in a pack of four weighing 180 g in total.
Dirk lists a frozen pack of six Délifrance butter croissants, weighing 330 g in total.
These two products suit different breakfast needs: a pack of croissants to bake and fill yourself, and a croissant for anyone looking for a savoury option with little preparation. For both, check that the shape and current packaging suit what you want to serve.
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An option if you want to bake croissants and then add your own savoury filling. The pack contains four croissants; check the baking instructions on the packaging, and don’t assume they’re already sliced open.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a savoury croissant that takes little preparation. The product name specifies 85 g; check the packaging for serving instructions, ingredients and nutritional information, and see whether its shape is suitable for filling yourself.
Don’t assume a croissant is pre-sliced unless the product information specifically says so. If you want to add your own filling, choose an unfilled variety and check whether you can slice it open yourself after following the cooking instructions.
Read the allergen information for the specific product before buying, even if it’s labelled ‘gluten-free’. Allergen information for pre-packed products is shown on the label; for unpackaged croissants, ask the seller for details. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains these ways of providing information.
Not if you mainly want to maintain the fibre content of your usual bread-based breakfast. Voedingscentrum lists 1.1 g of fibre for an average 45 g croissant and describes wholemeal and brown bread as nutritious grain products. For your own breakfast, compare the croissant you choose, the portion and the filling.
No, don’t assume that it does. Voedingscentrum says using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. If iodised salt content matters to you, check the ingredients list for the specific croissant.
