When choosing ice lollies to share at Christmas, start by working out how many portions you need. A pack of 8 to 12 lollies may be enough for a small group if everyone has one, while a larger gathering may need more lollies or several packs. An assortment gives you a choice of flavours, but check the ingredients in each recipe and plan how you’ll keep the frozen treats cold on the way home.
If you’re serving an individual dessert to 6 to 12 people, count the lollies and then decide whether to stick to a familiar flavour or offer a few options. Auchan and Carrefour offer different pack sizes, which you can compare according to the number of guests.
If ice lollies are one of the desserts on offer for a large group, the number of lollies in each pack makes it easier to plan portions. E.Leclerc, for example, offers an assortment of 20 ice lollies. Remember to check how much freezer space you have, too.
If any of your guests need to avoid certain ingredients, check the exact product before buying. Magnum France product pages show that ingredients and allergen information vary between recipes.
For a dessert to share, start with the number of portions you need, then compare pack sizes based on your guests’ tastes and the ingredients in each recipe.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count your guests and the portions you plan to offer each person, then compare the number of lollies and, if stated, the size of each one. | If I’m serving ice lollies to everyone, I want to know whether one pack will be enough, rather than relying on its weight alone. Around 40% of consumers would put portion numbers first. |
| Choice of flavours | Check which flavours or coatings are actually in the pack and how many lollies there are of each variety. | If I don’t know my guests’ preferences, I’d rather offer a choice of flavours than just one. Around 40% of consumers would make variety their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, declared allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings for each recipe in an assortment. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I need to be able to check every variety before serving. Around 20% of consumers would put ingredients ahead of other criteria. |
Two packs of a similar weight won’t necessarily contain the same number of ice lollies. A pack of 6 and an assortment of 20 won’t serve the same size gathering.
Check the number of lollies first, then the amount in each one if it’s listed.
Recipes in the same pack may have different ingredients and allergen information. Magnum France product pages, for example, show differences between chocolate-based products.
Check the packaging of the product you buy and the ingredients in each variety before serving anyone with an allergy.
A long journey or a wait before putting frozen food back in the freezer can make it harder to maintain the cold chain.
Anses recommends buying frozen food at the end of your shop and using an insulated bag to carry it home.
The products available can vary between shops, online grocery services and seasons. Seeing a product in an online listing doesn’t guarantee it’ll be available when you do your Christmas shopping.
Check that the product is available at your chosen shop or for your selected delivery slot before finalising the menu.
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate-coated mini ice lollies to serve as individual desserts.
Ranges to explore if you want to compare packs with different numbers of ice lollies at Carrefour.
A retailer to check for assorted mini ice lollies and individual portions.
An option to look into if you need a pack with more lollies for a larger gathering.
A retailer with ice cream in its frozen food range; check what’s available at your usual shop.
These packs of ice lollies, ice pops and sorbet lollies contain 4 to 12 portions. For a Christmas dessert to share, compare the number of portions, flavours and ingredients in the product you choose. An ice pop or sorbet lolly isn’t the same as a chocolate-coated ice lolly.
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Consider this if you’d like to offer a choice of flavours. The pack contains 12 pieces and weighs 1,200 g in total. The product page advises that it’s not suitable for people at risk of an allergic reaction. Check the exact packaging before serving it to any guests with allergies.
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This pack gives you 12 portions if the orange and cherry flavour suits your group; it isn’t a choice of two separate flavours. The product page says to freeze the ice pops before eating and warns that they may contain traces of gluten, peanuts, soya, milk and nuts. Check the packaging if any of your guests need to avoid these ingredients.
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Consider this for eight individual portions if everyone likes melon; the pack contains just one flavour. The product page lists milk and the colour E102, along with a warning about children’s activity and attention. Check the label before serving.
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This pack covers six individual portions in strawberry and vanilla flavours. You’ll need to plan for more packs if you’re serving a larger gathering. The product page lists milk and warns that it may contain traces of nuts and peanuts. Check the packaging if any guests need to avoid these ingredients.
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This sorbet pack provides four portions if everyone wants mango; you’ll need several packs to serve more people. The product page says it’s made in a facility that also handles nuts, milk, soya and peanuts. Check the packaging if any of your guests need to avoid these ingredients.
Start with the number of guests and how many portions you’d like to offer each person. If ice lollies are just one of several desserts, one per person is a good starting point. Allow for more if you’d like guests to have the option of going back for another or trying a different flavour.
An assortment is useful if you’re not sure what your guests like, while a single-flavour pack can work well if you know their preferences. Auchan offers assorted mini ice lollies, but check how many of each recipe are in the pack and what their ingredients are.
Read the ingredients, declared allergens and warnings about possible traces on the packaging of the pack you buy. If it’s an assortment, check each recipe. Magnum France product pages show that ingredients vary by product, so the flavour or appearance of an ice lolly isn’t enough to confirm that it’s suitable for a guest with an allergy.
Pick up frozen food at the end of your shop and carry it home in an insulated bag, as recommended by Anses. Then put it in the freezer as soon as possible to help maintain the cold chain.