For a frozen treat after a charcuterie night, distinguish between an individual ice lolly and a product sold singly: the products mentioned here come in multipacks. A mini is a good choice if you want a small portion, while a standard lolly can serve as dessert. Choose a box of 12 if several people will want one. In every case, check the recipe, allergens and storage instructions.
After a generous spread of appetisers, you might prefer a smaller portion. Check the volume or weight of each lolly: “mini” describes the size of each ice lolly, not necessarily how many you have to buy.
If several people would like an ice lolly, compare the number in each box. If you’re also buying some for later, make sure you have room in the freezer for any that are left over.
If you need to check for milk, soya or nuts, the ingredients matter more than the flavour or size of the lolly. Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product you plan to serve.
First, choose the portion size you want to serve, then work out how many ice lollies you’ll need. Finally, check the exact recipe: an assorted box may contain products with different ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | The volume or weight of each lolly, followed by the number of flavours in the box. | After the appetisers, I’d like a small ice lolly rather than a more substantial dessert. Portion size is thought to be the top priority for around 44% of consumers. |
| Number of portions | The number of ice lollies in the box and the freezer space needed to store any that are left. | If several people want an ice lolly, I’m looking for enough to go round without ending up with too many left over. Quantity is thought to come before other considerations for around 33% of consumers. |
| Recipe and allergens | The ingredients list and any “may contain” warnings for each recipe you plan to serve. | Before offering an ice lolly to someone with an allergy, I need to check its exact ingredients. Around 23% of consumers are thought to make this their top priority. |
An ice lolly is served as an individual portion, but the products mentioned by Carrefour France, Magnum France and Auchan come in multipacks. If you’re buying for one person, you may have some left to store.
Before buying, check how many are in the box and how they’re sold, as well as the size of each lolly.
Ingredients vary between products. Magnum France, for example, lists almonds and soya in its Vegan Amande recipe, so “Vegan” doesn’t mean it’s free from these allergens.
Read the label on the box you’re going to serve, including any warnings about possible traces of other ingredients.
Time spent out of the freezer matters even if you won’t be serving the lollies until after the meal. The DGCCRF recommends keeping transport time to a minimum and preferably using an insulated bag.
Pick up frozen food last when you’re shopping, store it promptly according to the pack instructions and only take out the portions you’re ready to serve.
The range includes Classic in a box of 4 × 100 mL, a Mini assortment of 6 × 55 mL and Vegan Amande in a box of three.
The retailer’s French range includes ice lollies and frozen bars in different pack sizes.
Auchan’s range includes vanilla ice lollies in boxes of 12 under its Auchan and POUCE brands.
ALDI France offers a MUCCI box of four ice lollies with a double coating, weighing 288 g.
Depending on the location, this retailer offers groceries via drive-through collection, pedestrian collection or delivery.
Lidl France lists ice cream among its frozen products.
These boxes contain mini ice lollies and mini sorbet lollies, ideal for serving individual portions after the appetisers. To choose between them, check the number in the box, the recipe and the stated size of each lolly.
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An assortment to consider if your guests would like a choice of mini flavours.
Box of six ice lollies, 254 g in total. Check the allergens for each recipe before serving; a multipack doesn’t mean they’re sold individually.
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A mini sorbet option if you’d like to offer lemon and raspberry flavours instead of a chocolate-coated ice cream.
Eight lollies are listed. Check the net weight and weight per lolly on the pack before comparing portion sizes.
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Worth a look if you’d like Classic lollies in a smaller size, without a stated assortment of flavours.
The box contains six ice lollies, each 55 ml. Check the allergens on the pack before serving them to your guests.
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This box of six mini ice lollies is handy for serving several portions, if the recipe suits your guests’ tastes.
The box is listed as weighing 282 g. Check the size of each lolly and the allergens on the pack.
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A mini caramel option to consider if you’re planning to serve several small portions of the same flavour.
The box contains six ice lollies and weighs 330 g. Check the size of each lolly and the allergen information before serving.
No. “Individual” can mean one portion per lolly, even when several are sold in the same box. For example, Carrefour France lists Magnum Classic in a box of four, while Magnum France offers a Mini assortment of six. Check how it’s sold if you only want one.
Choose the portion size you’d like to serve: a mini is ideal if you fancy a small ice lolly, while a standard size could be dessert in itself. For these specific products, Magnum France lists its Mini lollies at 55 ml each, while Carrefour France lists its Classic at 100 ml each.
Not necessarily. Magnum France lists almonds and soya in its Vegan Amande recipe, as well as warnings about the possible presence of other allergens. Always check the label on the specific product you plan to serve.
Keep transport time to a minimum and preferably use an insulated bag, as recommended by the DGCCRF. Put them in the freezer promptly, following the temperature shown on the pack, and follow the instructions about defrosting.