Organisers looking for a crowd-pleasing buffet staple
You want to serve croissants alongside sweet and savoury toppings, without assuming that a standard option will suit every guest.
Who are these choices important for?
Organisers catering for guests with dietary requirements or allergies
You need clearly labelled options and up-to-date allergen information. For example, a vegan label doesn’t mean a croissant is suitable for someone with a milk allergy: Albert Heijn states that its vegan Verse original croissants may contain milk and lactose.
Organisers who also want to offer wholegrain options
You want to give guests a clear choice between croissants and wholemeal rolls. Seeds on a croissant aren’t a substitute: Albert Heijn doesn’t label its Meerzaden croissant as wholegrain.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, decide which separate options your guests need, then see which croissants you can serve at the right time. Use the product name and current label to distinguish the options on the buffet.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Classic option | Check the number of pieces and whether the croissants are ready to serve or need preparing. | If I mainly want a familiar croissant to serve alongside other buffet breads, I want to keep serving simple. For around 29% of consumers, that classic buffet staple comes first. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Check the current label for each option and keep products for different dietary requirements clearly separate when serving. | When guests have specific dietary requirements or allergies, I need to be able to point out which product is intended for whom. For around 36% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
| Wholegrain option | Check whether rolls are actually labelled wholegrain; don’t present a multiseed croissant as wholegrain. | I want to offer croissants, but also have a clear wholegrain option on the table. For around 21% of consumers, this combination is the most important consideration. |
| Preparation and serving | Compare the storage, defrosting and baking instructions on each pack with your available oven space and serving time. | If I want to bake croissants shortly before the buffet, the baking schedule needs to fit the plan. Around 14% of consumers prioritise getting these practical details to work. |
Common mistakes
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Presenting a multiseed croissant as wholegrain
The ingredients for AH Meerzaden croissants include seeds, wheat bran and wheat flour, but Albert Heijn doesn’t label this option as wholegrain. Guests who specifically choose wholegrain may therefore expect something different from what you’re offering.
Use the product name on the buffet label and serve rolls specifically labelled wholegrain separately.
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Assuming vegan or gluten-free means allergen-free
According to Albert Heijn, its vegan AH Verse original croissants contain wheat and may contain milk and lactose. A label for one dietary requirement therefore tells you nothing conclusive about other allergens.
Check the current packaging for allergens relevant to each guest, and use separate labels and serving utensils for the different options.
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Giving all bake-at-home croissants the same baking time
PLUS says its small butter croissant should be defrosted and then baked at 170 ±10 °C; the instructions for another option may differ. So one baking session based on a single pack isn’t a practical plan for every option.
Check the instructions for each product against your buffet schedule before allocating oven space.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised baker’s salt
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its Meerzaden croissant, but that tells you nothing about the ingredients in other croissants.
Only include information about iodised salt if it appears on the current label for that particular option.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Worth considering if you want to look at a multiseed croissant and a separate option labelled vegan.
- The ingredients list for AH Meerzaden croissants includes linseed, sunflower seeds, wheat bran and iodised salt.
- This multiseed option isn’t labelled wholegrain. The vegan AH Verse original croissants contain wheat and may contain milk and lactose.
Jumbo
Worth considering if you’re looking for a separate croissant option labelled plant-based.
- Jumbo lists a plant-based croissant in a pack of four.
- According to Jumbo, once opened it should be kept chilled at a maximum of 7 °C and has a limited shelf life. Check the current packaging for allergen information too.
Lidl
Worth considering for a butter croissant that Lidl describes as a store product.
- Lidl says its butter croissant is made with butter.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the product you’re offering before making buffet labels for it.
ALDI
Worth considering if you want to pick up an individual butter croissant in store.
- ALDI describes its butter croissant as an individually sold product.
- For guests with allergies, use the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose.
PLUS
Worth considering if you want to look at a small butter croissant to bake at home, alongside a separate option labelled gluten-free.
- PLUS provides defrosting and baking instructions for its small butter croissant. Its range also includes Consenza Croissants, which are listed as suitable for a gluten- and wheat-free diet.
- Check the allergens and preparation instructions for each option individually.
Dirk
Worth considering if you’re shopping for croissants alongside other buffet breads.
- Dirk lists butter croissants, brown rolls and wholemeal rolls in the same bread category.
- Being listed in the same category doesn’t make the croissant itself wholegrain; check the name and ingredients of each product you choose.
Croissants for the classic buffet selection
These croissants are options for the classic part of the buffet and for anyone looking for a smaller or separate croissant choice. Pair them with separately selected bread and products for specific dietary requirements; check each pack to see how and when you can serve its contents.
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g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g
A butter croissant for the classic buffet selection, alongside separate bread and options for specific dietary requirements.
Check the current allergen information and whether the croissants need preparing before setting the serving time.
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G'woon mini butter croissants, 200 g
A mini option if you’d like to offer smaller butter croissants alongside other buffet items.
Check the serving or preparation instructions and the allergens on the packaging as part of your buffet planning.
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SCHOOF croissants, 4 pieces
An option to consider if you can fit a baking session in shortly before serving.
Check the packaging to see whether these need baking, and for the baking time, oven temperature and allergen information.
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Bakery Village Danish Croissant 85g
A Danish croissant as a separate choice alongside classic butter croissants.
Check the current ingredients and warnings on the packaging, and make sure the flavour suits your planned buffet.
Frequently asked questions
Is a multiseed croissant wholegrain too?
No, adding seeds doesn’t automatically make a croissant wholegrain. Albert Heijn lists seeds and wheat flour among the ingredients for its Meerzaden croissant, but doesn’t label the product as wholegrain. If you want to offer a wholegrain choice, select rolls specifically labelled as wholegrain.
Is a gluten-free croissant free from other allergens too?
No, a gluten-free label only tells you about gluten, not all other allergens. PLUS lists Consenza Croissants as suitable for a gluten- and wheat-free diet; also check the current allergen information for the guest in question.
Can someone with a milk allergy have a vegan croissant?
Don’t assume so based on the vegan label alone. Albert Heijn states that its vegan Verse original croissants may contain milk and lactose; if someone has an allergy, follow the current allergen information for that specific product.
Do I need to provide allergen information at a wedding buffet?
If a business serves food to consumers, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about any allergens present is required. Don’t assume this automatically defines the legal requirements for a fully private buffet; either way, make sure guests can get clear, up-to-date allergen information for each product.
How do I plan different bake-at-home croissants for the same buffet?
Follow the instructions on each product’s packaging, rather than using one general baking time. PLUS says its small butter croissant should be defrosted for 20 minutes and then baked for 14 ±2 minutes at 170 ±10 °C. Plan your oven space and serving time around the instructions for every product you choose.