Breakfast & staples

Is Croissants vegan?

Not vegan

No — a classic croissant is laminated with butter and glazed with egg.

Key facts

Verdict
Not vegan
Category
Breakfast & staples
Also listed as
Croissants
Best swap
Vegan croissants from labelled ranges

Why

Butter is the defining ingredient of the pastry. Some bakeries and supermarkets now sell a vegan croissant made with a plant margarine and a plant-milk glaze, which is always labelled because it needs a different lamination fat.

What to check on the label

  • The ingredient list on your own pack — Croissants recipes differ by country and change over time
  • Milk, whey, casein, lactose, egg, honey, gelatin, carmine (E120) and shellac (E904) in the list
  • "May contain milk" is an allergen cross-contamination note, not an ingredient — most vegans still buy it

Swap it for

Vegan croissants from labelled rangesPuff-pastry pain au chocolat with dairy-free pastryToasted sourdough with jam

Questions people ask

Is Croissants certified vegan?

Certification is separate from the recipe. Many products with no animal ingredients carry no vegan mark because the maker will not rule out shared production lines. Check the pack for a registered vegan trademark, and treat the ingredient list as the primary evidence.

Does the answer change between countries?

Often, yes. The same brand name can use different fats, emulsifiers, colours or whey depending on the plant that made it, so always read the local label rather than an answer written for another market.

More breakfast & staples checks

Reviewed 2026-08-23 by the Veg.ac editorial team · Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link back.