To round off your Christmas meal, start by choosing a recipe to suit your guests’ tastes rather than relying on a simple ‘luxury’ claim on the packaging. A caramel and biscuit recipe, a chocolate-focused ice lolly or a selection of flavours will suit different preferences. Then check the allergens, number of portions and storage instructions.
Sauce, inclusions and contrasting textures can matter more than the word ‘premium’. The Magnum Double Gold Caramel Billionaire and Côte d’Or recipes, described by Magnum France and Auchan respectively, illustrate two different styles: caramel and biscuit in one, milk chocolate and crisp pastry in the other.
If one flavour might not suit everyone at the table, check which flavours are in each box. Carrefour, for example, lists a selection of eight Magnum ice lollies in Classic, Almond and White Chocolate flavours.
If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, the ingredients list on the product you buy matters more than its flavour or presentation. You also need to transport the ice lollies without breaking the cold chain, then put them in the freezer promptly, as the DGCCRF advises.
Start with your guests’ tastes and how many people you’re serving, then check the label and plan how to transport the ice lollies. An appealing recipe won’t necessarily suit everyone at the table.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recipe | Check the flavours, sauce, coating and inclusions of the specific product, rather than judging it by its packaging alone. | If I want to serve a dessert with varied textures, I need to know whether my guests prefer caramel and biscuit or a more chocolatey recipe; around 33% of consumers put the recipe first. |
| Portions and flavours | Count the ice lollies and check their flavours, as well as the stated weight or volume of each pack size. | When several guests are sharing dessert, I need to plan enough portions without making everyone have the same flavour; for around 27% of consumers, variety and pack size come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging of the product you’re buying. | If a guest has an allergy, I need to check the ingredients of the specific product before choosing a flavour; this is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Storage | Pick up frozen products at the end of your shop and follow the storage temperature shown on the packaging. | If I need to plan the journey before the meal, I need to be able to transport the ice lollies and put them away promptly; around 13% of consumers put this first. |
The caramel, biscuit and pecan in Magnum Double Gold Caramel Billionaire will suit different tastes from the vanilla, milk chocolate and crisp pastry in the Côte d’Or ice lolly listed by Auchan.
Compare the actual recipes and, if your guests have different preferences, consider a box with a selection of flavours.
Ingredients and warnings about possible traces vary between products. Liking a particular coating doesn’t mean that an ice lolly is suitable for a guest with an allergy.
Read the label on the box you’ve bought for each flavour you’re serving. ANSES reminds consumers that ingredients which can cause allergies or intolerances are highlighted in the ingredients list.
Your journey home and any stops after buying them also affect the cold chain. The DGCCRF recommends keeping transport time for frozen products to a minimum and following the storage instructions.
Put the ice lollies in your basket towards the end of your shop, use an insulated bag if needed and put them in the freezer promptly, following the instructions on the packaging.
Worth considering for ice lollies where chocolate is paired with sauce or inclusions, depending on the recipe.
Consider this brand for a recipe combining vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate and chocolate crisp pastry.
The range listed by ALDI includes double-coated ice lollies and mini ice lollies, so it’s worth considering if you’re looking for a particular size.
These products offer individual portions in caramel, fruity or chocolate and hazelnut styles. Compare the recipe and number of pieces with your guest list, then check the label and storage instructions on each box.
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Worth a look if your guests enjoy caramel and biscuit in an individual dessert.
Check how many ice lollies are in the box before planning portions. The description lists milk and possible traces of soya and nuts; check the label on the box you buy.
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For guests who enjoy salted caramel and the crunch of almonds.
The box contains three frozen bars. The description lists milk and peanuts, and says it may contain traces of nuts and soya. Check the packaging if you’re serving anyone with an allergy.
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An option to consider if your guests like strawberry paired with white chocolate.
The box contains four frozen bars. The description lists milk and says it may contain almonds or pistachios; check the label on the product you buy.
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Worth considering if five caramel and peanut portions will suit your guests.
The description lists peanuts and milk, and says it may contain traces of almonds, hazelnuts and soya. Check the packaging before serving.
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For four guests who enjoy the combination of vanilla, milk chocolate and hazelnut.
This product contains hazelnuts, so don’t confuse it with the Côte d’Or ice lolly with crisp pastry mentioned above. The description also lists milk and soya, and says it may contain traces of other allergens; check the packaging you buy.
Check the ingredients and highlighted allergens on the packaging of the specific product you plan to serve. ANSES stresses the importance of this labelling; don’t assume one flavour has the same ingredients as another product from the same brand.
Follow the temperature shown on the packaging of the product you buy. The Auchan product information for the Côte d’Or ice lolly mentioned in this article specifies storage at −18 °C. The DGCCRF also recommends keeping transport time to a minimum and maintaining the cold chain until the ice lollies are put in the freezer.
A box with more ice lollies can make serving a group easier, as long as the flavours suit your guests. The Magnum selection listed by Carrefour contains eight 95 mL portions in three flavours; a box of four portions may be enough for a smaller gathering where everyone prefers the same recipe.