If you’re looking for a clearly stated cocoa percentage, Magnum Intense Dark gives the clearest indication among the products featured here: according to Auchan’s product information, its dark chocolate coating contains 70% cocoa. Other ice lollies combine dark chocolate with cocoa ice cream or almonds, but their chocolate percentages refer to the proportion of chocolate in the product, not its cocoa content. For an Advent calendar, also check the allergens and number of lollies, and make sure you have enough freezer space to store them at −18 °C.
If the word ‘dark’ isn’t enough, look for a cocoa percentage that applies specifically to the chocolate. Auchan’s product information for Magnum Intense Dark states that its coating contains 70% cocoa, not that the whole ice lolly does.
If you’re spreading portions across several days, count the ice lollies in each box and make sure you can store them in the freezer at −18 °C. Calendar compartments kept at room temperature aren’t suitable for ice cream.
Check the labels on the boxes you actually buy. Auchan’s product information for the Magnum, Ferrero and Côte d’Or products mentions milk and soya; almonds and ‘may contain’ warnings vary by recipe.
For a dark chocolate ice lolly Advent calendar, first check what the stated percentage measures. Then plan the portions in your freezer, taking everyone’s dietary requirements and tastes into account.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa intensity | Look for a cocoa percentage attributed to the chocolate; don’t confuse it with the proportion of dark chocolate in the ice lolly. | If I want a pronounced cocoa flavour, the words ‘dark chocolate’ alone don’t let me compare recipes. Around 40% of consumers put this specific information about the cocoa at the top of their list. |
| Pack size and freezing | Count the lollies needed for the days you have planned and make sure they can be stored at −18 °C. | If I’m giving out one ice lolly each day, I need to be able to keep every portion frozen rather than leaving them in a calendar on a shelf. Pack size and storage are the top priorities for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on every box you’re considering. | If someone receiving the calendar needs to avoid certain ingredients, I’ll choose a suitable recipe before deciding on a flavour or pack size. This check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Variety of recipes | Distinguish the flavour of the ice cream inside from the ingredients in the coating and any crunchy pieces. | If I want to mix things up, I might choose cocoa, vanilla or fruit ice cream, without assuming they’ll all have the same chocolate flavour. Around 10% of consumers prioritise this variety. |
The figures in product information don’t all measure the same thing. According to Auchan, the 70% for Magnum Intense Dark refers to the cocoa in its coating, whereas the 36% for Côte d’Or and 32.6% for Ferrero Rondnoir refer to the proportion of dark chocolate in each product.
Before comparing the stated intensity, check which ingredient and measurement each percentage refers to.
A calendar kept at room temperature can’t store ice lollies at −18 °C. Anses highlights the importance of maintaining the cold chain.
Keep the products in the freezer and number the portions or their places instead. Limit the time they spend out of the cold during transport and when handing them out.
The recipes featured may contain milk, soya or almonds, and ‘may contain’ warnings vary. Dark chocolate doesn’t mean the whole ice lolly is free from milk or nuts.
Check the label on every box intended for the calendar. Don’t rely on the flavour name instead.
A box containing a mix of milk and dark chocolate may give you the number of portions you need, but it might not suit someone who wants dark chocolate every day. Carrefour Sensation’s product information, for example, states that its recipe contains 26.8% milk chocolate and 9.9% dark chocolate.
Check the exact ingredients before setting aside lollies for someone who loves dark chocolate.
Intense Dark combines chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating, in a box of three ice lollies.
Rondnoir combines cocoa ice cream, dark chocolate and cocoa pieces, in a box of four.
This product pairs vanilla ice cream with a dark chocolate shell and roasted almonds, in a box of four.
This box of four ice lollies combines milk chocolate, dark chocolate and peanuts.
These two formats are handy for preparing frozen portions for your calendar: one pairs fruit sorbet with dark chocolate, while the other is a chocolate ice lolly. If the cocoa percentage matters to you, check the figure for the chocolate in the product you choose; the word ‘dark’ in a name doesn’t tell you this on its own.
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Worth considering if you’d like to add variety to your calendar with a fruit sorbet and dark chocolate, rather than chocolate ice cream.
Box of six mini ice lollies, 282 g. Store at −18 °C and check the allergen information on the packaging for the person who’ll be receiving them.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a chocolate ice lolly for the calendar rather than a fruit sorbet.
Box of four ice lollies, 312 g. Keep them at −18 °C and check the allergens and cocoa percentage on the packaging if these will influence your choice.
No. Ice lollies need to stay in the freezer, and Auchan’s product information for the products featured here specifies storage at −18 °C. Number the portions in the freezer rather than leaving the lollies in compartments out of the cold.
No. Check what the percentage refers to. According to Auchan, Magnum Intense Dark’s coating contains 70% cocoa, while the 36% stated for Côte d’Or and 32.6% for Ferrero Rondnoir refer to the proportion of dark chocolate in those products.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on every box you buy. Auchan’s product information for Magnum, Ferrero and Côte d’Or products mentions milk and soya in particular; some also mention almonds or possible traces of other allergens.
With one ice lolly a day, you’ll need eight boxes of three or six boxes of four. Adjust this calculation to the number of portions you’ll actually need, and make sure you can store all the boxes at −18 °C.