If you’re specifically looking for a sourdough croissant for St Nicholas’ Eve, check the details of the product you’re considering to see whether it mentions sourdough or a starter, and what role it plays in the proving process. ‘Artisan’ and ‘all-butter’ don’t prove that it’s made with sourdough. If you’d rather bake just before serving, a bake-at-home croissant could be a good option, as long as the instructions suit your equipment. Whatever you choose, check the allergen information too.
If you’re after the gently tangy flavour that Albert Heijn associates with sourdough for St Nicholas’ Eve, look beyond the croissant’s name or shape. Check whether the product information mentions sourdough and what it says about how the croissant is made.
If you’d rather prepare the croissants at the last minute, a bake-at-home option could work, provided you have the oven or air fryer it requires. Follow the instructions for the product you choose.
If allergens or the use of baker’s salt are important to your choice, check the information for the exact croissant. If it’s sold loose, you can ask the seller for these details before buying.
First decide whether verified sourdough or when you’ll be serving the croissants matters more to you. Then check the ingredients and allergen information for the croissant you’re considering. A general description of the range isn’t a substitute for product-specific information.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Verified sourdough | Look for sourdough or a starter on the packaging or product page. If it’s a deciding factor for you, ask how it was used in the proving process. | If I’m choosing it for the sourdough flavour, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘artisan’. For around 40% of consumers, verified sourdough comes first. |
| When you’ll be serving them | Check whether it’s a bake-at-home product and what equipment and method the packaging specifies. | If I want to bake them just before guests arrive, the preparation needs to fit my plans. For around 30% of consumers, serving time takes priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the information for the exact product, or ask about it if the croissant is sold loose. Also check whether baker’s salt has been used if that’s relevant to your choice. | If I need to know in advance which ingredients and allergens a croissant contains, I give that information more weight than flavour or timing. For an estimated 30% of consumers, it’s the top priority. |
All-butter tells you something about an ingredient, not the leavening agent. So an all-butter croissant isn’t automatically a sourdough croissant.
Only make sourdough a deciding factor when the information for the exact product backs up the claim.
The ingredients in the croissant you buy are what matter. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products appears on the label.
Read the label before buying, or ask the seller about the allergens in that specific croissant if it’s sold loose.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s been used just from the word ‘sourdough’.
If baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients information or ask the baker whether it’s been used.
A useful starting point for understanding what sourdough means.
Useful for recipes and tips on baking with sourdough.
A reference point if you’re considering an all-butter croissant from the in-store bakery.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an all-butter croissant or something to bake at home.
Useful if you’re browsing bread and bakery products and looking for sourdough options.
A reference point for the standard croissant range.
These butter croissants are one option to consider alongside your preference for sourdough. Before choosing them for that specific reason, check the ingredients and the role of any sourdough starter.
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A pack of four croissants to consider for St Nicholas’ Eve. If a sourdough starter as the leavening agent is essential for you, check the ingredients information and, if necessary, ask how the croissants were proved.
Also check the packaging for allergen information and preparation instructions, especially if you want to serve the croissants warm.
No. These words don’t confirm which leavening agent was used. Check the information for the specific product for sourdough or a starter, and ask what role it plays if that matters to your choice.
Before buying, ask the seller about the allergens in that exact croissant. If you’re buying a prepacked one, read the label. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, that’s where the allergen information is provided.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. If it matters to your choice, check the ingredients information or ask the baker whether it’s been used in this croissant.
Bake-at-home croissants can be a good option if you want to prepare them just before serving and have the required equipment. Check the packaging for preparation instructions and allergen information. ‘Bake-at-home’ on its own tells you nothing about sourdough.
