Hosts looking for a fruity or iced finish
After moules-frites, you’d rather offer a fruity, lemony or iced flavour than a chocolate dessert. It comes down to personal taste, though, and doesn’t guarantee anything about the dessert’s ingredients.
Who are you catering for?
Smaller groups with different appetites
You want everyone to choose their own portion without having to cut a cake. Individual desserts, macarons and petits fours offer a range of serving options; count the pieces before you buy.
Hosts who prefer a dessert to share
You’d like to serve a tart, charlotte or gateau in the middle of the table. Compare the stated number of portions with your guest list, and allow time for any preparation listed on the packaging.
What should you look for?
For this final course, start by choosing the flavour and serving style you want, then check that the format and packaging instructions suit your table.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour for the end of the meal | Compare fruity, lemony, iced and chocolate recipes to suit your group’s tastes; the dessert’s name alone doesn’t tell you what’s in it. | After moules-frites, I’d particularly like a change of pace with a fruity flavour or an iced sensation; around 33% of consumers would rank this contrast as their top priority. |
| Portions and serving style | Compare the number of portions or pieces with your guest list, then check the serving instructions. | If people have different appetites, I want to serve everyone without cutting anything or having to offer set portions. This would be the priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| A dessert to share | Check the stated number of portions and any preparation needed for a tart, charlotte or gateau. | For a dinner around the table, I’d rather bring out a dessert to cut and share than serve separate portions; around 20% of consumers would prefer this presentation. |
| Ingredients and storage | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, along with its storage and usage instructions. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I check the recipe first and make sure I can also store the dessert as instructed. This would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing the box size instead of checking the number of portions
Picard, Auchan and E.Leclerc catalogues feature everything from individual portions to desserts made for sharing. The size of the box doesn’t tell you how many people it will serve.
Compare the stated number of portions or pieces, the total weight and the number of guests you’re expecting.
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Assuming a “premium” dessert is bound to be suitable
Elegant presentation won’t tell you whether your guests would prefer a fruity, iced or chocolate dessert after moules-frites.
Start by choosing the type of dessert you want, then compare the recipes and their ingredients.
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Forgetting the journey from the shop to the freezer
The DGCCRF warns that a rise in temperature can speed up microbial growth in food.
Pick up frozen food at the end of your shop, keep the journey as short as possible and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
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Guessing the allergens from the flavour alone
An iced or chocolate dessert can contain several allergenic ingredients. The exact recipe matters more than its category or appearance.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose, especially if you switch to a different recipe or format.
Retailers to explore
Picard
Picard offers frozen patisserie, individual desserts and desserts to share, as well as iced desserts.
- Its catalogue includes a range of formats, making it easy to compare individual portions, cakes with several servings and assorted petits fours.
- Check the number of portions and serving instructions for the product you choose.
Auchan
Auchan’s frozen patisserie and specialities range includes macarons, mochi and desserts to share.
- Different types of dessert let you compare individual servings with options designed to be served at the table.
- Compare the recipe, weight, number of portions and allergens for the specific product, rather than relying on the range alone.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
E.Leclerc’s ranges include frozen macarons, tarts and soft-centred cakes.
- The formats listed, including a 500 g lemon meringue tart and 154 g macarons, make it easier to compare pack sizes.
- Check the format and recipe available at your store or for your chosen collection option.
Carrefour
Carrefour offers iced desserts, while Carrefour Traiteur also makes gateaux to order, which are bought in a different way.
- Iced desserts are worth considering if you’d like to serve something cool after the meal.
- Make sure you distinguish between a frozen product to keep at home and a gateau ordered through the catering service.
Frozen desserts on Joybuy
These iced treats can be served without cutting, making them a good option if you’re looking for a cool finish to your meal. Compare the flavour and stated quantity, and check the storage instructions before working out portions.
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Binggrae Melona, melon ice bars, 8 × 70 ml
Worth considering if you’d like to serve melon-flavoured treats in individual portions after the meal.
The pack contains 8 × 70 ml. Check the packaging for milk and the E102 colourant before serving; follow the storage instructions and do not refreeze after thawing.
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Buono Mochi Ice Assorted Flavours, 6 pieces, 156 g
Consider this if a choice of flavours and individual portions would suit your group better.
The pack contains 6 pieces and weighs 156 g. Check the allergen information, including the sesame listed for this product, and follow the storage and serving instructions.
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BUONO Lychee Mochi Ice Sorbet HL, 156 g
Worth considering if you’re after lychee-flavoured iced mochi rather than a cake to cut and share.
The pack weighs 156 g. Check the number of pieces on the packaging so you can plan how to serve it, and follow the storage instructions.
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SOFT Vanilla Strawberry Ice Cream Cups, 140 ml
A good option if your guests prefer vanilla and strawberry ice cream served in individual cups.
The stated size is 140 ml. Check how many cups are in the pack and look for allergen information, including the milk listed for this product.
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BUONO Mochi Ice Vanilla, 156 g
Worth considering if you’d like to serve vanilla iced mochi rather than a fruity dessert to share.
The stated size is 156 g. Check the number of pieces and follow the storage instructions; do not refreeze after thawing.
Frequently asked questions
What size should I choose for four to six people?
Choose individual portions if tastes or appetites vary, and count how many pieces you’ll actually serve. If you’d like to place a dessert in the middle of the table, check that the stated number of portions for the tart, charlotte or cake matches your guest list.
Should you avoid chocolate after moules-frites?
No, not if your guests would like a chocolatey end to the meal. If you’d prefer a contrast of flavours, compare fruity, lemony or iced recipes instead. It’s a matter of your group’s preferences, not a nutritional rule.
What should you check on the label of a frozen dessert?
Check the product name, ingredients, allergens, quantity and storage and usage instructions for the pre-packed product. The DGCCRF states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list; always check the packaging for the recipe you’re going to serve.
How can you keep a frozen dessert frozen until dinner?
Pick it up at the end of your shop, keep the journey as short as possible and put it in the freezer promptly, following the instructions on the packaging. The DGCCRF warns that a rise in temperature can speed up microbial growth, so follow the manufacturer’s thawing and serving instructions too.