Lidl’s bakery is a popular choice, but you can buy everything from baguettes to pain au chocolat in the frozen aisle too-and it’s a game-changer for the most popular option.
Lidl has always been a go-to choice for me as it delivers precisely what it promises: “Big on Quality, Lidl on Price.”
Whilst some of the fresh produce doesn’t last as long, Lidl continues to be a dependable option – even though Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Aldi are equally close to where I live.
My weekly shopping routine involves wandering through the bakery section for freshly baked bread and grabbing croissants as a weekend indulgence – especially when Lidl Plus rewards offer me a complimentary item.
The appeal lies in their texture: crispy and flaky exteriors with wonderfully soft, airy centres.
A single buttery crescent paired with Greek yoghurt, fresh fruit and seeds creates a delightful treat on a bright Sunday morning.
However, there’s one drawback: I frequently purchase the croissants a day or two ahead of consuming them.
Warming them up in my air fryer – even with a careful sprinkle of water – never recreates that freshly-baked wonder; the exterior becomes somewhat tough whilst the interior loses its fluffy quality.
To be fair, an air fryer functions as a worktop convection oven, excellent for creating crispness, but it’s no magical device for delicate layered pastry.
I experimented with various temperatures and durations, yet nothing replicated the texture of newly-baked croissants.
Everything shifted when I discovered the long-lasting croissants hidden in the frozen section, as I could suddenly enjoy fresh-baked pastries whenever I wanted – and that fragrance is unbeatable.
They appear modest in their packaging but expand during baking to something resembling a full-size bakery croissant, eliminating the need for an urgent supermarket dash. The result is golden, shatteringly flaky croissants that rival those from a bakery, but with the added bonus of being cheaper.
An All Butter Croissant from the Lidl bakery typically costs 59p, while the frozen version works out at about 35p each (£2.79 for 8), making it significantly cheaper per item.
The frozen croissants are easy to bake, as the packaging includes instructions for both oven and air-fryer. I have an air fryer oven rather than a basket, so I deviate slightly: 180C, no preheat, middle shelf, 18 minutes.
Fellow croissant lovers will be pleased to know that there is no difference in taste. The two baked products taste identical, though the frozen versions have the edge on freshness and texture.
When comparing the listed ingredients for the fresh and frozen croissants, the only clear difference is the addition of whey powder in the fresh bakery ones.
Surprisingly, the frozen version has a fairly basic list of ingredients, with no mention of vegetable oils or emulsifiers. The fresh croissants do list emulsifiers as an ingredient, correct as of January 2024.
It’s not just croissants that come in frozen form, either. Shoppers can also buy pain au chocolat for the same price as an 8-pack of croissants (£2.79).
Of course, Lidl isn’t alone in its fresh bakery offering. Several other retailers also sell fresh pastries.
For individual bakery items, Lidl beats all of the supermarkets on price:.
Tesco
- Single All Butter Croissant: £1.20
- 2-pack: £1.75 (£0.88 each)
- 6-pack (Family Pack): £2.50 (£0.42 each)
- 8-pack: £2.25 (£0.28 each)
Sainsbury’s
- 2-pack: £1.75 (£0.88 each)
Asda
- 4-pack: £1.44 (£0.36 each)
- 10-pack: £2.72 (£0.27 each)
Morrisons
- 8-pack: £2.25 (£0.28 each)
Waitrose
- Single All Butter Croissant: £1.30
- 8-pack: £4.75 (£0.59 each)
Lidl
Single All Butter Croissant: £0.59
