Group · Sweet foods
Croissant
The croissant is the emblematic pastry of the French breakfast. Made from a yeasted, laminated dough rich in butter, it is recognisable by its crescent shape, its golden, crisp crust and its airy, melting crumb. It comes as an all-butter croissant, an ordinary croissant or in filled versions (almond, ham and cheese). Nutritionally, it belongs to the sugary foods family and provides around 417 kcal per 100 g, with 22.1 g of fat, 46.2 g of carbohydrate and 7.19 g of protein. Indulgent and comforting, it has a place in a balanced diet as long as it stays an occasional pleasure rather than a daily reflex.
Macronutrient breakdown
Nutrition table per 100 g
| Calories | 417 kcal |
| Kilojoules | 1750 kJ |
| Protein | 7,2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 46,2 g |
| Fat | 22,1 g |
| Fibre | 2,5 g |
Micronutrients per 100 g
All measured nutrients, ranked by share of the daily reference intake.
- Vitamin A149 µg19 %
- Manganese0,37 mg19 %
- Selenium9,7 µg18 %
- Phosphorus80,9 mg12 %
- Vitamin B921,3 µg11 %
- Omega-6 LA0,92 g9 %
- Copper0,09 mg9 %
- Vitamin E0,9 mg8 %
See the other 15 nutrients
- Vitamin B50,43 mg7 %
- Vitamin B10,07 mg7 %
- Potassium123 mg6 %
- Zinc0,56 mg6 %
- Omega-3 ALA0,11 g6 %
- Iron0,74 mg5 %
- Total omega-30,13 g5 %
- Vitamin B120,12 µg5 %
- Magnesium15,7 mg4 %
- Vitamin K12,41 µg3 %
- Calcium23,5 mg3 %
- Vitamin B60,03 mg2 %
- Vitamin B20,03 mg2 %
- Vitamin B30,17 mg1 %
- Vitamin C0,61 mg1 %
Anses Ciqual 2025. Source: Anses, 2025, Ciqual food composition table
Tips
The croissant is a morning pleasure, but its energy density is high because of the butter in the layers. A croissant weighs 50 to 60 g on average, which is around 210 to 250 kcal. To enjoy its nutrition facts without overdoing it, savour it whole but without routinely spreading it with extra butter or chocolate hazelnut spread, which would double the intake of fat and sugar.
How can you eat it sensibly?
- Favour an artisan all-butter croissant, tastier and more filling than an industrial version.
- Serve it with protein (egg, plain yoghurt, fromage blanc) and a piece of fresh fruit to rebalance breakfast and limit the blood sugar peak.
- Keep it for weekends or special occasions rather than every morning.
- If you keep it, reheat it in the oven for a few minutes to bring back the crispness: it keeps for 1 to 2 days at room temperature in a paper bag.
Nutrition profile. With 46.2 g of carbohydrate and a fairly high glycaemic index due to the refined flour, the croissant provides quick energy. Its 2.41 g of fibre is modest. As for fat, the butter provides saturated fatty acids, which should be moderated if you are watching your weight or cholesterol. Its 7.19 g of protein comes mostly from wheat gluten: those affected can read our guide to gluten intolerance.
Advice for active people. As an easily available source of energy, the croissant can help out before a prolonged endurance outing, around 1 to 2 hours before the effort. However, its richness in fat makes it hard to digest just before or during an intense session. For recovery, it is better to combine higher-quality carbohydrate and protein: explore our protein snack ideas or the snacks suited to your goals.
Weight control. The croissant is one of the foods to enjoy in moderation if you are trying to slim down. If you are looking for an alternative to vary your breakfast, take a look at the pain au chocolat or other pastries in the sugary foods family, and compare their intakes using our calorie table. What matters most is the regularity of your habits rather than an occasional treat.