I’m a bit of a pastry snob. Not in an annoying way, but in an endearing way that’s justified and rooted in years of experience. (That’s what I tell myself!) I develop new baking recipes almost every week in the Test Kitchen, so I’m constantly tasting, examining, and critiquing every detail of sweet treats. So when the German-owned grocery store Lidl—famous for its beloved bakery section—opened up in my neighborhood, I knew I needed to try it.
What makes the bakery items so popular? Well, for starters, they’re dirt cheap. I’m talking less than a dollar for many. And people genuinely love them. Like really, really love them. I’ve heard countless praises of the famous $0.49 croissants, and as a sucker for anything European, I was curious. I picked up a few items and gave them a try. Here’s my honest review.
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Apple Turnover ($0.99)
Score: 4/10
Great? No. Good for being less than a dollar? For sure. The filling has a bit of a McDonald’s apple pie flavor, but the consistency was too gel-like for me. The pastry was flaky, tender, and properly baked.
Chocolate Chunk Cookie ($0.89)
Score: 10/10
Still warm when I bought it! The cookie was crisp on the edges, chewy in the center, and the chocolate had a surprisingly complex flavor for its price point. It was also well seasoned with a nice amount of salt to help all the flavors shine. Loved.
Lemon Poppyseed Scone ($0.89)
Score: 10/10
Scones can be really hit or miss, and this one was a hit. Crisp and sturdy on the outside, moist in the center, and even had some layering indicating that the fat was incorporated nicely. The lemon flavor was very pleasant, if a bit mild. It’s a limited-time-offer item, but I would go back to Lidl just for this.
Tomato Olive Focaccia Bread ($1.99)
Score: 2/10
Not my favorite. When I think of focaccia, I think of a wide-open crumb that is springy and doused in olive oil. This was none of the above. The texture was closed, the bread was dry, and the toppings were just kind of there. It tasted like they had extra pizza dough and wanted to make something else with it.
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Butter Croissant ($0.49)
Score: 7.5/10
For being less than a dollar, pretty good. The thing that stood out to me most was how it tasted strongly of real butter. (Turns out, that’s because it is made with real butter.) Graded on a curve I’m giving it a solid 7.5, although if they baked it a few minutes longer, it could have been an 8. So close. If you’re using croissants to make something (like my ham and cheese croissant bake), these are a fantastic, economical option.
Pain au Chocolate ($0.99)
Score: 8/10
The buttery flavor still knocked my socks off, and the little chocolate batons were perfectly placed. Once again could have benefited from a few more minutes in the oven, and I wish it had been a little taller. But at less than a dollar, I’m not complaining.
Where should I go next? Which supermarket do you love for baked goods? Let me know in the comments.