If you specifically want a croissant made with sourdough, ask a baker about the recipe for the croissant itself: selling sourdough bread as well doesn’t prove that their croissants are made with sourdough. A supermarket or bake-at-home croissant may be a better fit if convenience or serving them warm is your main priority, but check that sourdough is explicitly mentioned for each product. Whatever you choose, check the latest allergen information and any preparation instructions.
If you want the croissant itself to be made with sourdough, ask about the recipe for that product. Kometen Brood and Oscar Desemcafé both mention sourdough bread and croissants, but that doesn’t automatically mean their croissants are sourdough croissants.
If you want to take your croissants straight from the oven shortly before breakfast, choose based on the product type and the instructions on the packaging. A par-baked croissant needs different preparation from croissant dough that still needs shaping and baking.
If you’re buying for someone with an allergy or want to compare butter with vegetable fat, check the exact croissant. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for pre-packed products is shown on the label; for unpackaged products, this information must be available before purchase.
First, decide whether sourdough in the croissant is a must-have. If it isn’t, the preparation method and ingredients can help you choose between a ready-to-eat and a bake-at-home croissant.
Best for: anyone who wants to ask specifically about a sourdough croissant.
Bear in mind: a baker who also sells sourdough bread hasn’t confirmed the recipe for their croissants. Also ask what’s available on the day you plan to visit.
Best for: anyone who wants to serve a croissant without using the oven and doesn’t require it to be made with sourdough.
Bear in mind: butter tells you something about the recipe, but not whether it contains sourdough. For example, the product information for the AH Luxe butter croissant lists 25% butter and yeast, but doesn’t describe it as a sourdough croissant.
Best for: anyone who wants to serve warm croissants and has time in their breakfast schedule to bake them.
Bear in mind: baking a croissant at home doesn’t make it a sourdough croissant. Follow the time and temperature instructions for the product you choose, as par-baked croissants and croissant dough need different preparation.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough in the croissant | Look for an explicit mention of sourdough in relation to the croissant itself; for an unpackaged product, ask about the recipe. | If sourdough is the reason I’m choosing this croissant, I want to know whether it’s used in the croissant dough. This certainty is a priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Preparation for breakfast | Check the number of croissants and the preparation instructions for the par-baked croissants or croissant dough you’ve chosen. | If I want to serve warm croissants to a group, the preparation needs to fit into my morning schedule. Around 36% of consumers give this serving occasion top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the latest label or ask about allergen information for unpackaged croissants before buying; compare the types of fat used in each product. | If I’m buying for someone with an allergy or want to choose carefully between butter and vegetable fat, the ingredients are crucial. For around 18% of consumers, this check matters most. |
A bakery can sell both products without using sourdough in its croissant dough.
Ask specifically about the croissant, or look for a product description that identifies that particular croissant as a sourdough croissant.
These terms describe an ingredient or how something is served, not how the dough was made.
Check separately for a mention of sourdough, then compare the other ingredients and preparation method.
You can’t rely on a label for an unpackaged croissant. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the seller must make allergen information available before purchase.
If you need to avoid an ingredient, ask for this information before ordering.
Par-baked croissants and croissant dough need different preparation. Albert Heijn gives an oven time of 3–5 minutes at 200 °C for a par-baked croissant; don’t use these instructions for another product.
Follow the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging of the croissants you buy.
Albert Heijn provides product information for a range of ready-to-eat and bake-at-home croissants.
ALDI lists a butter croissant sold individually, as well as croissants in its bake-at-home range.
Lidl describes a range of bread products baked in store.
Jumbo offers sourdough recipes.
PLUS has an online category for bake-at-home bread.
Dirk is a supermarket you could include in your own comparison of croissants.
This croissant is an option for a weekend breakfast if you want to check a product that mentions sourdough. Check separately whether the role of sourdough in the dough matches what you’re looking for.
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If you’re looking for a croissant that mentions sourdough for your weekend breakfast, check what role the WHEAT SOURDOUGH plays in the dough if sourdough fermentation is essential to you.
The pack contains 4 croissants and states 180 g. Before breakfast, check the preparation instructions and, if you need to avoid certain ingredients, the latest allergen information on the packaging.
Check whether sourdough is explicitly mentioned in relation to the croissant itself, and ask about the recipe if it’s unpackaged. A bakery selling sourdough bread as well isn’t enough on its own.
No. Butter alone tells you nothing about the role of sourdough in the dough. For example, the product information for the AH Luxe butter croissant lists 25% butter and yeast; check separately for a mention of sourdough.
For a pre-packed croissant, check the latest label. For an unpackaged one, ask the seller for the information before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between pre-packed and unpackaged products.
You can’t assume that every croissant does. If the type of salt used matters to you, check the ingredients for the specific product or ask the baker which salt was used in that croissant.
