Muffin vs Croissant: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Croissants have higher protein at 8.2 g, while muffins are lower in calories at 375. Croissants contain 406 calories per 100 g.

Muffins and croissants are popular baked goods, each with distinct flavors and textures. Understanding their nutritional profiles can help in making informed dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Muffin and Croissant?

A muffin is a small, baked product that is often sweet and can contain various ingredients such as fruits or nuts. They are typically denser than cakes and have a bread-like texture. A croissant is a buttery, flaky pastry made from layered yeast-leavened dough. It is known for its crescent shape and is often enjoyed as a breakfast item.

Muffin vs Croissant: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional values of muffins and croissants.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Blueberry muffin	Butter croissant
Calories	375 kcal	406 kcal
Protein	4.5 g	8.2 g
Carbs	53 g	45.8 g
Sugar	31.5 g	11.3 g
Fat	16.1 g	21 g
Fiber	1.1 g	2.6 g
Sodium	336 mg	384 mg

Which Is Better, Muffin or Croissant?

For weight loss: Muffins have 375 calories, while croissants have 406 calories. Choosing muffins may be better for those focused on calorie reduction.

For muscle and protein: Croissants contain more protein at 8.2 g compared to muffins' 4.5 g. This makes croissants a better option for those seeking higher protein intake.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Muffins have 53 g of carbs and 31.5 g of sugar, while croissants have 45.8 g of carbs and 11.3 g of sugar. Croissants are lower in both carbohydrates and sugar.

How to Track Muffin and Croissant Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when enjoying baked goods like muffins and croissants. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Croissants have 8.2 g of protein, while muffins have 4.5 g. Therefore, croissants contain more protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Muffins have 375 calories, while croissants have 406 calories. Muffins are lower in calories.

What is the sugar content in muffins?

Muffins contain 31.5 g of sugar per 100 g. This is significantly higher than that in croissants.

What is the fiber content in croissants?

Croissants have 2.6 g of fiber per 100 g. This is higher than the fiber content in muffins.

How much fat is in muffins?

Muffins contain 16.1 g of fat per 100 g. This is lower than the fat content in croissants.

What is the sodium content in muffins?

Muffins have 336 mg of sodium per 100 g. This is lower compared to the sodium content in croissants.

Key Takeaways

• Muffins have 375 calories per 100 g.
• Croissants have 406 calories per 100 g.
• Muffins contain 4.5 g of protein.
• Croissants contain 8.2 g of protein.
• Muffins have 31.5 g of sugar.
• Croissants have 11.3 g of sugar.