To round off your drinks party with an individual frozen dessert, choose ice lollies that you can keep in the freezer until serving. If you’d rather put out chocolates to share or give a gift box, choose an assortment and store it according to the instructions on the box: it isn’t used in the same way as ice cream. In either case, check the allergens for the specific product you buy before offering it to your guests.
You’d like to serve an individual dessert at the end of your drinks party and can keep the ice lollies frozen until then. Mini lollies make it easy to give each guest a portion, while an assortment lets you offer a choice of flavours.
You want to transport and give a gift box without relying on a freezer. An assortment of chocolates is suited to this, as long as you follow the storage instructions.
You’ll need to check the ingredients and precautionary statements before choosing something for the group. Depending on the product, the ice creams and chocolates featured here contain milk or nuts, among other allergens; some boxes also list other allergens.
Choose these if: you’re planning an individual frozen dessert to serve straight from the freezer.
Bear in mind: transport, storage and serving arrangements all need to maintain the cold chain.
Choose this if: you want to serve chocolates to share or give a gift without serving a frozen dessert.
Bear in mind: a gift box isn’t a substitute for a frozen dessert and should be stored according to the label.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and flavours | Count the individual portions and check whether the box contains one flavour or an assortment. Carrefour lists Magnum Mini Classic in a box of 6 × 55 mL; the assorted Magnum format includes three flavours. | If I want to serve everyone without cutting anything up, I need enough portions and, if tastes differ, a choice of flavours. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise individual portions and variety. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and the “contains” and “may contain” statements on each box: the flavour alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for a guest with dietary restrictions. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I have to choose based on the label for the specific product being served. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Storage and serving | For ice cream, plan for frozen transport and storage. The Ministry of Agriculture gives −18 °C as the reference temperature for frozen storage; also follow the instructions on the box. | If dessert needs to wait until the end of the drinks party, I need to be able to keep it under the required conditions. Around 21% of consumers would put these arrangements first. |
| How much to share | Compare the number of pieces and the total weight or volume with the number of guests. For a gift box, check how many chocolates it contains if everyone is to receive a set portion. | With several guests, I want to make sure there are enough portions without mistaking the weight of a box for the number of pieces inside. Around 14% of consumers would put this calculation first. |
Both may contain chocolate, but ice cream lollies need to stay frozen, while Lindt Création chocolates should be stored in a cool, dry place, according to their respective instructions.
Decide whether you want to serve a frozen dessert or put out chocolates, then compare the formats that suit that occasion.
Ice cream requires suitable transport and space in the freezer until it’s time to serve.
Depending on the box, the assortments reviewed contain milk, nuts, soya or cereals containing gluten. A variety of flavours doesn’t guarantee that they’ll suit every guest.
Check the ingredients and any “may contain” statements on the product you actually buy. If someone has a known allergy, provide a separate option with ingredients that are suitable for them.
The total weight alone doesn’t tell you how many people can have a chocolate or an ice lolly.
Check the number of pieces where it’s stated, then work out how many boxes you’ll need for your guests. Don’t treat an ice lolly and a gift-box chocolate as interchangeable portions.
Mini ice cream lollies for individual servings: Carrefour lists Mini Classic in a box of 6 × 55 mL, while Auchan offers an assortment of Classic, Almond and White Chocolate.
Carrefour lists Extra mini ice lollies in vanilla, chocolate and almond flavours, as well as a 450 g box of Classic' chocolate and vanilla-chocolate lollies.
ALDI France lists, among other options, a 429 g box of 12 MUCCI mini ice lollies and a 288 g pack of 4 double-coated lollies.
The 173 g Création gift box featured by Joybuy contains an assortment of six recipes and should be stored in a cool, dry place. It’s suited to gifting or serving as chocolates, not as a frozen dessert.
These Joybuy products include chocolates to serve or give as a gift, as well as frozen portions to enjoy at the end of a drinks party. First, consider whether you can keep the ice lollies frozen, then check the number of portions, flavours and listed allergens.
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A sharing assortment to serve without needing to keep it frozen. The tin contains ten varieties; storage instructions recommend keeping it in a cool, dry place, between 15 °C and 18 °C.
Contains milk and hazelnuts and may contain other nuts. If you need to provide one piece per guest, check the number of pieces on the tin.
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Serve an individual frozen dessert with three flavours to choose from. The box contains six mini ice cream lollies and should be kept at −18 °C or below until serving.
Contains milk and may contain nuts. Check the statements on the box against your guests’ dietary requirements.
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Give these chocolates as a gift or serve them without needing a freezer. The assortment includes milk, dark and white chocolates with different fillings; store in a cool, dry place.
Contains hazelnuts, milk, lactose, almonds, soya and barley, among other ingredients; may contain wheat, eggs and other nuts. Check the number of pieces if you’re planning one portion per guest.
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Serve four individual dark chocolate frozen portions. The lollies are individually wrapped; the storage instructions say to keep them at −18 °C and not to refreeze after thawing.
Contains milk and soya. If you have any dietary requirements, check the label and its information about other allergens.
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Serve five individual frozen portions if you can keep them in the freezer until serving. The storage instructions say to keep them at −18 °C and not to refreeze after thawing.
Contains peanuts and milk; may contain almonds, hazelnuts and soya. Check the label against your guests’ dietary requirements.
Yes, as long as you can keep them frozen until it’s time to serve each portion. Anses recommends buying frozen food at the end of your shop to minimise disruption to the cold chain. You should also plan suitable transport and follow the storage instructions on the box.
A gift box is a good choice if you’re looking for a present or chocolates to serve, but it doesn’t serve the same purpose as a frozen dessert. The Lindt Création gift box featured by Joybuy should be stored in a cool, dry place, while its Magnum mini ice cream lollies need to stay frozen.
Check the ingredients for each product, as allergens vary between boxes. Carrefour and Joybuy listings flag milk and nuts in the Magnum ice creams featured here; the Lindt Création gift box featured by Joybuy also contains soya and cereals containing gluten. Always check the label on the product you buy, including any precautionary statements.
Don’t refreeze the Magnum mini ice lolly assortment after it has thawed: this is the instruction for this product on Joybuy. To plan your serving, keep the box frozen until the last moment and follow the specific instructions for other products.