Fans of intense dark chocolate
You’re looking for a bold cocoa flavour and want to know which part of the lolly a stated percentage applies to, rather than relying on the word ‘dark’ alone.
Who are these options for?
Candlemas hosts catering for different tastes
You’re serving several desserts after pancakes and can’t decide between individual ice lollies, a milk and dark chocolate selection, or a tub to serve by the scoop.
Shoppers mindful of allergens
Before serving the ice creams, you need to check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings, particularly for milk, soya, peanuts or tree nuts.
What should you look for?
To serve with pancakes, first decide what matters most to you: the chocolate flavour, the ingredients, the number of portions or whether you can find the product at your local shop.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate intensity | Check which part of the product the cocoa percentage refers to, and read the description of the ice cream beneath the coating. | If I’m after a strong dark chocolate flavour, I want to tell the shell apart from the ice cream inside; around 36% of consumers would put this first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the box you choose. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I can’t tell what’s inside from the word ‘dark’; ingredient suitability would come first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Pack size and portions | Compare the number of ice lollies with the number of guests, or choose a tub if you need to adjust portion sizes. | After pancakes, I’d rather decide whether everyone gets a whole lolly or a scoop-sized portion; around 21% of consumers would prioritise this choice of format. |
| Local availability | Check whether the product is available at your selected shop and, if needed, what collection options are offered. | To plan a meal around shopping I can actually collect, I need to find the product at my local shop; this would be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Pitfalls to avoid
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Assuming a ‘dark’ ice lolly is made entirely with dark chocolate
The description may refer to the coating only: according to Auchan, Magnum Intense Dark has a dark chocolate shell around milk chocolate ice cream. A cocoa percentage only describes the part of the product it refers to.
Read the product description and ingredients list, and check exactly which chocolate any stated percentage applies to.
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Guessing the allergens from the flavour description
Auchan and Carrefour product listings flag ingredients and possible traces that vary between ice lollies, including milk, soya, peanuts and tree nuts.
If a guest has an allergy, check the information on the packaging of the box you’re going to serve.
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Choosing a box without counting the portions
Magnum Intense Dark and Ferrero Rondnoir are sold in boxes of three and four ice lollies respectively, while MUCCI’s tub can be served by the scoop.
Count your guests and decide whether everyone will have a whole lolly or whether you’d like to adjust the portions after pancakes.
Brands to know
Magnum
Intense Dark is an individual ice lolly that puts its dark chocolate coating centre stage.
- According to Auchan, this product’s dark chocolate shell contains 70% cocoa.
- The ice cream is milk chocolate; the product listing states that it contains milk and soya, and may contain almonds.
Ferrero
Rondnoir combines cocoa ice cream, a dark chocolate coating and cocoa pieces.
- Auchan lists four ice lollies weighing 200 g in total, and states that the recipe contains 32.6% dark chocolate.
- The ingredients list includes milk and soya; the product listing also warns that it may contain traces of wheat, egg and tree nuts.
Carrefour Sensation
This selection of four ice lollies combines milk and dark chocolate to suit different tastes around the table.
- Carrefour lists the pack size as 284 g.
- The recipe contains 26.8% milk chocolate and 9.9% dark chocolate. It contains peanuts, milk and soya, and may contain traces of gluten, egg and tree nuts.
MUCCI
The dark chocolate ice cream tub listed by ALDI is served by the scoop rather than as individual ice lollies.
- ALDI describes a 500 g tub with dark chocolate pieces, so you can adjust portions as you serve.
- If ingredients or allergens will affect your choice, check the information on the packaging of the tub you buy.
Ice lollies and mini sorbets on Joybuy
These two individual options suit different cravings after pancakes: a chocolate ice lolly or a fruit mini sorbet paired with dark chocolate. A mango and passion fruit sorbet won’t be a substitute for chocolate ice cream if that’s what you’re after.
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POPELINO Intense Dark Chocolate Ice Lollies, x4, 312 g
Worth considering if you’d like to serve individual chocolate ice lollies after pancakes. The pack contains four lollies and weighs 312 g; if a guest needs to avoid milk or soya, or may be affected by traces, check the information on the box.
The word ‘dark’ on its own doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage of the coating.
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PopFruit Mini Sorbet Sticks mango, passion fruit and dark chocolate, x6, 282 g
Worth considering if you’d prefer small, fruity portions with dark chocolate rather than chocolate ice cream. The pack contains six mini lollies and weighs 282 g; check the ingredients list and any trace warnings on the packaging before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Does a ‘dark’ ice lolly contain only dark chocolate?
No: the description may refer to the shell rather than the whole ice lolly. According to Auchan, Magnum Intense Dark contains milk chocolate ice cream beneath its dark coating; read the product description and ingredients to find out what each part contains.
Which allergens should you check before serving these ice creams with pancakes?
Check the ingredients and any trace warnings on the packaging for each product, paying particular attention to milk, soya, peanuts and tree nuts. Auchan and Carrefour listings show that the information varies between ice lollies; the DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list of prepacked food.
How should you store the ice lollies before serving?
Follow the storage instructions on the box of the product you buy. Auchan’s listings for Magnum and Ferrero ice lollies, along with Carrefour’s listing for the Sensation selection, state that they should be stored at −18 °C; Carrefour also advises against refreezing a defrosted product.