When choosing “dark” ice lollies for a birthday, distinguish the cocoa content of the dark chocolate from the amount of dark chocolate in the lolly: these percentages measure different things. According to Auchan product listings, Magnum Intense Dark has a dark chocolate coating made with 70% cocoa, but the ice cream inside is milk chocolate. When putting together an assortment, also consider the ingredients, allergens and number of lollies in each box.
If the word “dark” isn’t enough for you, look for information specifically about the chocolate coating. Auchan’s listing for Magnum Intense Dark states that its dark chocolate is made with 70% cocoa; this figure does not describe the whole ice lolly.
For guests with different tastes, you can compare chocolate or vanilla centres, caramel recipes or cocoa pieces, then count the lollies. The products listed by Auchan and Magnum include boxes of three or four ice lollies, as well as a pack of six mini lollies.
Before choosing several flavours for your group, check the ingredients and “may contain” warnings on each box. Auchan and Carrefour listings include recipes containing milk or soya; some also contain almonds, Brazil nuts or peanuts.
For a birthday party, start by deciding on the flavours you want and checking your guests’ dietary requirements. Then see how many portions each box will provide.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate | Check what the percentage refers to: the cocoa content of the dark chocolate or the proportion of dark chocolate in the recipe. Also check the flavour of the ice cream inside. | I want to choose an ice lolly with a clearly stated cocoa content for its dark chocolate, without assuming the whole lolly has the same profile; around 36% of consumers put this detail at the top of their list. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and “may contain” warnings on the box you buy, particularly for milk, soya, peanuts and tree nuts. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I prefer to choose each box based on its ingredient list; for around 29% of consumers, this is their main consideration. |
| Portions and variety | Compare the number of lollies, their size and the flavours. The total weight of the box alone does not tell you how many portions it contains. | I want to offer a choice of flavours without confusing mini lollies with larger portions; around 21% of consumers prioritise planning their assortment in this way. |
| Local availability | Check that your chosen product is available at your selected shop, and plan how to keep it frozen until you serve it. | When I’m preparing dessert for a particular date, I want to be able to find the boxes I’ve planned for and store them properly; this is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
According to Auchan’s listings, the 70% for Magnum Intense Dark refers to the cocoa content of the dark chocolate coating. The 36% shown for Côte d’Or refers to the proportion of dark chocolate in the ice lolly; Ferrero Rondnoir and Nuii also state the proportion of dark chocolate in their recipes.
If cocoa content is your priority, look for a figure that explicitly refers to the dark chocolate itself. Use coating percentages to understand what each ice lolly contains, not to rank how intense they are.
Auchan’s listings show that Côte d’Or ice lollies contain almonds and Nuii ice lollies contain Brazil nuts. Ferrero Rondnoir, meanwhile, carries warnings that it may contain traces of several tree nuts.
Ask your guests about any known dietary requirements, then check the ingredients and “may contain” warnings on every box you plan to serve.
The format affects how you serve dessert: Auchan’s listing for Magnum Intense Dark shows three 100 ml ice lollies, while Magnum’s Mini Double Chocolat comes in six 60 ml portions.
Count the individual lollies and check their size, especially if you’re planning other desserts or several flavours.
The listings for the ice lollies featured here state that they should be stored at −18 °C. Carrefour advises not to refreeze a product once it has thawed.
Buy frozen products last, follow the storage instructions on the packaging and plan how you’ll transport them to the freezer.
Intense Dark is a good choice if you’re looking for a stated cocoa content for the dark chocolate coating, while Mini Double Chocolat offers smaller portions.
Ice lollies combining vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate and almonds, for anyone who enjoys this contrast of flavours.
Rondnoir combines cocoa ice cream, dark chocolate and cocoa pieces in a box of four ice lollies.
A chocolate ice cream and caramel recipe with a dark chocolate coating and Brazil nuts.
A box of four ice lollies combining milk and dark chocolate, rather than a recipe focused solely on dark chocolate.
These two formats suit different birthday cravings: chocolate ice lollies to share in a pack of four, or mango and passion fruit sorbet mini lollies dipped in dark chocolate for a fruity alternative.
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A chocolatey ice lolly option, with four individual lollies in the assortment.
Box of four ice lollies, 312 g. If the cocoa content of the dark chocolate is important to you, check the percentage stated on the packaging.
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A fruity alternative in smaller portions, with dark chocolate rather than chocolate ice cream.
Box of six mini ice lollies, 282 g. Check the packaging if you’re looking for a specific cocoa content or need to check for allergens.
No: check what each figure refers to. According to Auchan’s listings, the 70% stated for Magnum Intense Dark refers to the cocoa in the dark chocolate coating, while the percentages shown for Côte d’Or, Ferrero Rondnoir and Nuii refer to the proportion of dark chocolate in their recipes.
Read the ingredients and “may contain” warnings on the boxes you’re planning to serve. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list of prepacked foods sold in France; Auchan’s listings include almonds in Côte d’Or ice lollies and Brazil nuts in Nuii ice lollies.
Count the lollies in each box based on the number of guests, the portion size you want and any other desserts you’re serving. Auchan’s listings show three 100 ml ice lollies for Magnum Intense Dark and several products in boxes of four; Magnum’s Mini Double Chocolat comes in six 60 ml portions.
Follow the temperature and storage instructions on each pack. The listings for the ice lollies featured here state that they should be stored at −18 °C, and Carrefour advises not to refreeze a product once it has thawed.