If you want to serve warm croissants
You have a serving time in mind and want to bake the croissants shortly beforehand. Check the preparation instructions and how many will fit in your oven or air fryer at once.
Who are these options for?
If you’re catering for different dietary needs
You’re looking for croissants for guests who eat plant-based or gluten-free, or who avoid certain allergens. Check the current packaging: these labels don’t mean the same thing.
If you want a snack for a group with no extra preparation
You want to put out enough croissants without baking them just before serving. Compare the number of croissants, the total weight and whether the product is ready to serve.
What should you consider when choosing?
Bake at home
Choose this if: you want to warm the croissants shortly before serving.
Bear in mind: you’ll need time to preheat and bake them, and may need to do several batches for a group.
Serve straight away
Choose this if: you don’t want to plan time for the oven on the evening itself.
Bear in mind: you’ll have less control over when the croissants come out of the oven warm.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving time | Check whether the croissants need baking, and read the time, temperature and space needed for each batch on the packaging. | If I want to serve warm croissants at a set time, baking them needs to fit into my plans. This is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Diet and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning; check gluten-free and plant-based claims separately. | When guests have different dietary needs, I want to be able to check the right label for each person. This matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Portions | Compare the number of croissants, total weight and size within the same product type. | For a shared snack, I want to know how many croissants I can actually serve. Having enough suitable portions is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion for the product you choose; check the ingredients separately if the type of salt used matters. | If there are other snacks on the table, I want to be able to take the croissants’ nutritional information into account. This comparison is the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Using ‘medium sliced’ as a croissant size
A bread slicing size doesn’t tell you how many croissants you’ll get or how big they are.
Compare the number of croissants, their weight and their size. Ask for clarification if ‘medium sliced’ is meant to describe medium-sized croissants or sliced bread.
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Assuming plant-based means gluten-free
Jumbo’s plant-based croissant lists wheat and gluten as allergens. So a plant-based label doesn’t tell you whether a product contains gluten or other allergens.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific product for each guest.
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Trying to bake all the croissants at once
A short baking time won’t help much if you can’t fit all the croissants in your oven or air fryer at once.
Check the preparation instructions for each product and, if needed, plan several batches before serving.
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Assuming every croissant uses the same type of salt
You’ll need to check separately whether the croissant you choose contains iodised salt.
Check the ingredients list or ask the retailer for product-specific information if the type of salt matters to you.
Brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
The croissant range includes standard, bake-at-home and explicitly labelled gluten-free options.
- According to its product page, AH Gluten-Free Croissants are made for baking at home and produced in a fully gluten-free environment.
- Even with this option, check the current packaging for other allergens and preparation instructions.
Jumbo
The bake-at-home range includes butter, mini and plant-based croissants.
- The number of croissants and weights shown for each product make it easier to compare portions.
- Jumbo’s Plant-Based Croissant contains wheat and gluten; plant-based doesn’t mean gluten-free here.
PLUS
PLUS sells 180 g packs of butter croissants to bake at home.
- For this option, PLUS recommends baking for 4–6 minutes in an oven at 200 °C or for 4 minutes in an air fryer at 180 °C.
- This option contains wheat, spelt and milk; check the packaging if allergens are a concern.
Dirk
The bake-at-home range includes a butter option with four croissants and a total weight of 180 g.
- The stated number of croissants and weight make this pack easy to assess for a group snack.
- Compare the size and preparation method separately before comparing this pack with another type of croissant.
Lidl
Lidl describes both freshly baked bread from its shops and croissants to bake at home.
- These two options let you choose between picking something up and preparing it at home.
- Check with your chosen shop and on the packaging to see which croissants and preparation instructions apply.
ALDI
ALDI describes fresh butter croissants and croissants to bake at home.
- This makes it easy to look for an option to serve straight away or bake at home.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific option you choose.
Croissants on Joybuy
These croissants are worth considering when comparing the number and size of portions for a group snack. Check whether and how each product needs to be prepared before serving.
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SCHOOF Croissants, 4 pieces
A pack of four croissants for sharing; plan when to bake them using the instructions on the packaging.
Contains wheat and may contain traces of sesame, lupin, milk and soya.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g
A mini option to consider if you want to serve smaller croissants; the pack contains 200 g. Check the preparation instructions before planning when to serve them.
Contains cereals containing gluten, lupin, milk, sesame and soya.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
Four croissants with a total weight of 180 g make it clear how many you’ll have for your group. Check the packaging to see whether they need to be prepared.
Contains cereals containing gluten, milk, lupin, sesame and soya.
Frequently asked questions
Is a plant-based croissant gluten-free too?
No, not automatically. Jumbo’s Plant-Based Croissant lists wheat and gluten as allergens. If you need a gluten-free option, check that the specific product is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
How can I check allergens in loose croissants from a shop display?
Ask for the allergen information for the specific croissant before buying. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, don’t rely on the name or appearance of a loose croissant.
How long does it take to bake croissants at home?
It varies by product and appliance. PLUS recommends baking its butter croissants for 4–6 minutes in an oven at 200 °C or for 4 minutes in an air fryer at 180 °C. Follow the instructions on your pack, and allow time for preheating and any extra batches.