If you’re planning to serve an ice lolly to most of your guests, start by counting the individual lollies: packs of 16 or 20 are better suited to this than an assortment of six. For a small gathering or a dessert buffet, a mini assortment may be enough and gives you a choice of flavours. In every case, check the allergens and make sure you store the ice lollies according to the pack instructions.
If ice lollies are the planned dessert for most of your guests, start by counting the lollies. Carrefour lists a SIMPL pack of 16, while E.Leclerc stocks a Smicy assortment of 20 sticks. These quantities make it easier to work out how many packs you’ll need.
For a small gathering or dessert buffet, a mini assortment lets you offer several recipes in one pack. Auchan, for example, stocks an assortment of eight mini lollies with different chocolate coatings. Check the ingredients of each variety before serving.
If your guests’ dietary needs affect your choice, check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact pack you buy. Also plan how you’ll transport the ice lollies and make room in the freezer so they stay at the stated temperature until serving.
For a Christmas party, first decide whether everyone should be able to have an ice lolly or whether they’ll be served alongside other desserts. You can then compare pack sizes by the number of lollies, the assortment and the serving requirements.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the people you’re serving, then check how many lollies are in each pack. The total weight doesn’t tell you how many individual portions there are. | If ice lollies are the dessert for most of my guests, I want to be able to offer one to everyone without running short. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise the number of portions. |
| Choice of flavours | Check which varieties are included and, if it matters for serving, how many of each there are. | With several flavours at the table, I’d rather offer a choice of different coatings than just one recipe. Around 40% of consumers would put variety first. |
| Allergens and storage | Check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you’re buying, and follow its transport and storage instructions. | If any guests have allergies or the journey could make it difficult to keep the lollies cold, I need to be able to serve them safely. Around 20% of consumers would put these precautions first. |
Two packs of different weights won’t necessarily serve a proportionate number of guests. A pack of six mini lollies only provides six individual portions if everyone has one.
Work out how many people you’re serving, then compare the number of lollies shown on the packs. If the ice lollies are the main dessert, check the portion size separately.
Ingredients can vary from one lolly to another. Product information from Carrefour and Auchan indicates that some products or recipes contain milk, soya or nuts.
Check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you’ve actually bought, and keep the packaging handy while serving.
The DGCCRF notes that a rise in temperature reduces the shelf life of food and encourages microbial growth. If you’re buying several packs, you’ll need to be able to transport and store them as directed.
Use an insulated bag for the journey, check you have enough freezer space and only take out the lollies you’re about to serve. Follow the pack instructions on defrosting and refreezing.
The range includes chocolate-coated mini lollies, including a Mini Classic x6 with each lolly weighing 55 ml, listed by Magnum.
Carrefour lists a pack of 16 vanilla and chocolate lollies, each weighing 33.5 g. It’s worth considering if the number of portions is your priority.
Auchan stocks an assortment of eight mini lollies weighing 258 g, with different chocolate coatings.
The E.Leclerc catalogue lists an assortment of 20 sticks weighing 850 g, worth considering if lots of guests want an ice lolly.
ALDI lists a Mucci assortment of 12 mini lollies weighing 429 g, with several chocolate-coated varieties.
These products offer a few different ways to serve ice lollies at Christmas: small assortments to add to a dessert buffet, packs of 12 and a larger multipack. Water ice lollies and chocolate-coated assortments offer different recipes, so choose according to the flavours you want, the number of portions you need and each product’s instructions.
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Worth considering if you want 12 water ice lollies to serve, with a choice of flavours. The pack is listed as containing 12 pieces, five flavours and 1 200 g. If any guests have allergies, check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging.
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Worth a look if you’d like to serve water ice lollies in orange and cherry flavours. The pack is listed as containing 12 pieces and weighing 444 g. Check the flavour split and allergen information on the packaging before serving.
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This assortment of frozen jelly bars could be a way to add fruity variety to dessert for a small group. Before relying on it to serve every guest, check the number of pieces, net weight and preparation instructions on the product.
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This pack of six mini lollies is better suited to a small gathering or a dessert buffet with other options than to serving a large group. The assortment lists Classic, Almond and White Chocolate varieties. Check how many of each are included if you want every guest to have a choice, and check the allergens on the packaging. The Joybuy product information states that it should be stored at −18 °C or below.
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The listed pack of 64 may appeal to hosts planning to serve a large group. Before choosing it for Christmas, check the flavours, preparation method and storage instructions on the packaging. Make sure you have enough room for the lollies that need to be served frozen.
Count the lollies according to how many people want one. If most guests should have an ice lolly, the packs of 16 or 20 listed by Carrefour and E.Leclerc provide more portions than an assortment of six mini lollies. If you’re serving other desserts too, a smaller pack may be enough.
Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging of the product you’re serving, including those for each variety in an assortment. The DGCCRF notes that in France, allergens must be highlighted on the labels of prepacked foods. Don’t assume that two recipes from the same brand have the same ingredients.
Follow the storage instructions for each product during transport, storage and serving. Use an insulated bag and make room in the freezer. The DGCCRF points out that a rise in temperature speeds up microbial growth and reduces the shelf life of food.
Check its availability with the shop or delivery service you plan to use before making your choice. Products on offer can change, so have another pack size in mind and check its number of pieces, ingredients and storage instructions.