🍽 Calculate Calories for Any Amount of a Croissant
Weight100g
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g a croissant
* % Daily Value based on a 2,000 kcal diet.
Quick summary: A croissant contains 406 calories per 100g — 231 kcal per standard 57g croissant. High in refined flour, saturated fat from butter (12g/100g), and sodium. The laminated butter pastry technique makes croissants particularly rich. A large bakery croissant (80g): ~325 kcal. Almond or filled croissants add 100-200 kcal.
Plain butter croissant. Almond: ~450 kcal/100g. Ham and cheese (120g): ~456 kcal. GI ~67. High saturated fat (~12g/100g) from laminated butter layers.
Key Nutrients
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Saturated fat
12g
60% DV
From laminated butter layers
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Protein
8.2g
16% DV
Relatively high for pastry
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Sodium
384mg
17% DV
From butter and dough salt
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Thiamine
0.24mg
20% DV
From enriched flour
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Iron
2.1mg
12% DV
From enriched flour
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Riboflavin
0.17mg
13% DV
From flour and eggs
Croissant Nutrition Facts
The Laminating Technique — Why So Much Butter
A traditional French croissant incorporates 250-300g of butter per kilogram of dough — 25-30% of the finished product by weight. This lamination technique is responsible for both the flaky texture and the high calorie and saturated fat content.
Protein — A Relative Bright Spot
At 8.2g protein per 100g, a croissant has more protein than most comparable pastries (muffin: 5.9g, donut: 5.7g) due to egg content. Pairing with eggs or smoked salmon significantly improves the protein content and satiety of the meal.
Glycemic Response — GI 67
Despite containing butter, a croissant's GI of approximately 67 is relatively high — driven by refined white flour. The blood sugar response is significantly higher than sourdough bread (GI ~52) or whole-grain bread (GI ~49). Whole-grain versions reduce GI and add fiber.
Plain vs Filled — Calorie Gap
Plain butter croissant (57g): 231 kcal. Almond croissant (same size, filled with almond cream): ~360 kcal. Ham and cheese croissant (120g): ~456 kcal. Plain is always the lowest-calorie choice.
A croissant has 406 calories per 100g. Standard (57g): 231 kcal. Large bakery (80g): ~325 kcal. Almond croissant (100g): ~450 kcal.
Why are croissants so high in calories?
Croissants use the laminating technique — folding and rolling butter into dough repeatedly creating 27-81 layers of dough and butter. This incorporates 25-30% of the dough weight as butter, accounting for most of the calorie content.
Are croissants healthy?
Not nutritionally valuable — high in refined flour, saturated fat (12g/100g), and sodium with minimal vitamins, minerals, or fiber. As an occasional breakfast treat, fine. As a daily choice, concerning.
Croissant vs bagel?
Bagel (98g): 270 kcal, 1.5g fat, 54g carbs. Croissant (57g): 231 kcal, 12g fat, 26g carbs. Per gram: croissant is more calorie-dense. Per serving, similar total calories.
Is a croissant keto?
No — 45.8g carbs per 100g.
How to make a healthier choice?
Choose plain over filled, smaller over large, pair with protein (eggs, smoked salmon), coffee without added sugar.