If you want to be sure your croissants contain sourdough for Friday afternoon drinks, choose a product with sourdough in the ingredients list. Both the part-baked butter croissants from Jumbo and PLUS that we looked at list it as an ingredient. Part-baked croissants take little time to finish just before serving; dough that needs shaping and frozen croissants require more preparation time. The mention of sourdough alone tells you nothing about how much starter is used, how long the dough is left to rise or whether the croissants are made using traditional methods.
You want to see sourdough in the ingredients list, not just a traditional look. The part-baked croissants from Jumbo and PLUS that we looked at list sourdough; if you also want to know how long the dough has risen for, you can’t tell from the ingredients list.
You want to warm the croissants shortly before serving. The part-baked options from PLUS and Albert Heijn that we looked at take a few minutes to finish in the oven; dough that needs shaping and the frozen option we looked at require more time or effort.
You’re buying for guests with a food allergy or coeliac disease and need information about the exact product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the label of packaged products, and that information about unwrapped products must be available where they’re sold.
Start with your main priority: do you need sourdough to be clearly listed as an ingredient, do you want something warm on the table quickly just before drinks, or is the number of croissants most important? Then compare the preparation instructions and ingredients on the exact pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough clearly listed | Look for sourdough or starter in the ingredients list for the exact product. Its inclusion doesn’t confirm the quantity used or the rising time. | If you specifically want to serve sourdough croissants, check for the ingredient rather than judging by appearance. For around 46% of consumers, confirmed sourdough is the main priority. |
| Preparation time | Check the steps involved, temperature and baking time; part-baked croissants, fresh dough and frozen croissants all have different instructions. | If you want to warm the croissants just before serving, the preparation needs to fit your schedule. Around 36% of consumers prioritise when they’ll be served. |
| Number of croissants | Work out how many portions you need and compare individual croissants, packs of four and dough rolls by the number of pieces. | If you’re catering for a small or changing group, you’ll want to choose an amount that suits your guests without leaving lots over. For an estimated 18% of consumers, the number of pieces is the deciding factor. |
Butter tells you about one of the ingredients, but it doesn’t confirm that sourdough is used. Both ingredients are listed for the Jumbo and PLUS croissants we looked at; sourdough isn’t apparent from the ingredients lists shown for the AH croissants we checked.
If sourdough is a condition of your purchase, check the ingredients for the exact croissant. Don’t use the listing to infer the rising time or whether it’s made using traditional methods.
Dough that needs shaping takes extra effort; according to the product page, the Délifrance frozen croissants we looked at need 18 minutes in the oven. That matters when drinks are about to start.
Work backwards from when you plan to serve them and read the preparation instructions on the pack, even if you choose a part-baked product.
The Jumbo and PLUS sourdough croissants we looked at contain ingredients including wheat or spelt and milk. Ingredients can also vary between croissants that look similar.
For packaged croissants, read the current label. Before buying unwrapped croissants, ask for allergen information.
A shop’s ingredients, packaging and range can change. A product page you viewed earlier is no substitute for checking the information when you buy.
Check the current packaging and whether the croissants you want are available from your shop or for delivery.
A good option to consider if you’re looking for a part-baked butter croissant with sourdough in the ingredients list.
A good option to consider if you want to compare part-baked sourdough croissants with dough that needs shaping or frozen croissants.
A good option to consider if you want to compare part-baked croissants with fresh dough that you shape yourself.
A good option to consider if you want to compare the number of croissants in individual packs, four-packs and frozen packs.
A good option to consider if you’re looking for an individual butter croissant in store for a small get-together.
A good option to consider if you’re thinking of buying a croissant from the in-store bakery and want to check the product information while you’re there.
This four-pack from Joybuy could be a good fit for a small get-together. If sourdough or serving the croissants warm is a priority for you, check the current ingredients and preparation instructions for this option before buying.
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A pack of four croissants could be a good fit for a small get-together.
The pack contains 4 pieces and weighs 180 g. If these details matter to your choice, check the current ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions for this option.
According to their ingredients lists, the part-baked butter croissants from Jumbo and PLUS that we looked at list sourdough. Jumbo mentions ingredients including wheat and a spelt starter culture; PLUS lists wheat and spelt. The ingredients list doesn’t tell you how much starter was used or how long the dough was left to rise.
A part-baked option is a good choice if you have little time to prepare: PLUS says the croissants we looked at take 4–6 minutes in the oven at 200 °C or 4 minutes in an air fryer at 180 °C. The fresh dough from Albert Heijn that we checked takes 12–15 minutes in the oven after shaping; the Délifrance frozen croissants we looked at take 18 minutes at 185 °C.
For packaged croissants, read the current label; before buying unwrapped croissants, ask for allergen information. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must be available where unwrapped products are sold. The Jumbo and PLUS sourdough croissants we looked at contain ingredients including wheat or spelt and milk; always check the exact product.
No, the name croissant doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used in the exact product. If the type of salt is a condition of your purchase, check the current ingredients list or ask the seller for product information; don’t try to infer it from the Dutch rules on bakers’ salt.
