Hosts looking to add variety to dessert
If you’re already planning an Epiphany dessert, an ice lolly can offer an individual portion with a different flavour or texture. Auchan’s pistachio and chocolate recipe is one example.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone serving several guests
The number of ice lollies matters just as much as the flavour if everyone is to have a portion. Carrefour, for example, lists a box of eight Magnum Classic ice creams, while the Trium packs listed by E.Leclerc vary depending on the recipe.
People who pay close attention to ingredients
Before choosing for a group, make sure you can check the ingredients and any allergen information for milk, almonds, pistachios or other nuts on the box in question. Recipes aren’t interchangeable when it comes to ingredients.
What should you look for?
If you’re choosing something to serve alongside your Epiphany dessert, start by considering how many people you’re serving and which ingredients to avoid. Then choose a flavour and format from the suitable options.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and texture | The specific flavour, inclusions and coatings listed for the product you choose. | If I want to offer a frozen treat that’s different from the main dessert, I’ll choose a flavour or texture my guests will enjoy. Around 45% of consumers would prioritise this individual touch. |
| Number of portions | The number of ice lollies and the total weight or volume of the box. | To serve several people without running short, I check how many are in the box before choosing a recipe. Around 33% of consumers would put this first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the box you buy. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I check the exact recipe before serving it. Ingredients would be the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a more indulgent recipe will suit everyone
The Magnum Classic and La Pistache products listed by Carrefour and Auchan contain milk; the pistachio recipe also contains pistachios. A more elaborate coating or flavour is no substitute for checking the ingredients.
Read the ingredients list and any trace warnings on each box. If a guest needs to avoid milk or nuts, choose another option whose label meets their needs.
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Confusing box size with the number of portions
Pack sizes vary between products: a box of four ice lollies won’t serve as many people as a box of eight, even if the recipes seem similar.
Count your guests, then compare the number of ice lollies and the weight or volume listed for each product.
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Planning around one product without checking it’s available
The range of frozen desserts can change depending on the retailer and the time of year. So a product you’ve spotted in advance isn’t guaranteed to be available on the day.
Check availability and the collection or delivery options before adding it to your menu.
Brands and retailers to know
These brands and retailers offer useful reference points for comparing recipes and pack sizes. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean that these products are available on Joybuy.
Magnum
The brand offers ice creams in a range of recipes and pack sizes, including Classic and La Pistache. Magnum describes its Signature collection as being inspired by haute couture: this is the brand’s positioning.
- Auchan’s Magnum La Pistache listing details a recipe with pistachios, pistachio pieces and chocolate.
- Ingredients and nut warnings vary between products, so check the box you choose.
Trium
E.Leclerc lists several ice lolly flavours under this brand, including vanilla and almond, dark chocolate, pistachio and speculoos.
- The range of recipes gives you several flavours and pack sizes to compare.
- Check the pack size and ingredients for the specific product you choose: they aren’t the same across the range.
Mucci
ALDI’s Mucci range includes frozen desserts such as double-coated ice lollies and mini ice lollies.
- These formats give you different options for choosing portion sizes.
- The range may change, so check the recipe and format actually on offer.
Carrefour
Carrefour is a retailer in this context, including for boxes of Magnum Classic; it doesn’t make these ice creams.
- The Magnum Classic listing specifies a pack of eight 100 ml ice creams.
- Check the ingredients and pack size on the listing for the box you choose.
Auchan
Auchan sells products including Magnum La Pistache and lists details for this product, but it isn’t the manufacturer.
- The La Pistache listing describes four 90 ml ice creams and details the recipe.
- These ingredients and this pack size apply to La Pistache, not to every Magnum product.
Ice lollies and sorbet on Joybuy
These frozen treats come in a range of flavours and pack sizes to serve alongside an Epiphany dessert: chocolate, mint chocolate, vanilla and almond, or coconut sorbet. Compare the number of ice lollies with the number of guests, and check the ingredients on the box you choose.
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MIKO Donut Chocolate & Cookies, 4 × 62 ml
An individual option to consider if you’d like to serve a chocolate and biscuit flavour alongside dessert. The box contains four 62 ml ice creams. Check the label if a guest needs to avoid milk, wheat or soya.
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MAGNUM Double Chocolate, 4 ice cream sticks, 284 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for an individual portion with a focus on chocolate. The box contains four ice creams and weighs 284 g. Check the packaging for milk and nut warnings before serving.
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MAGNUM Mint Chocolate, 3 ice cream sticks, 234 g
The mint chocolate flavour could be a good choice if you’d like to offer a different taste at the table. The pack contains three ice creams and weighs 234 g. It contains milk; also check for nut warnings.
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MAGNUM Vanilla Almond, 8 ice cream sticks, 600 g
The pack of eight may suit a group of guests who enjoy vanilla and almonds. The box weighs 600 g. The recipe contains milk and almonds and may contain other nuts, so check the label before serving.
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POP FRUIT Coconut, 4 sorbet lollies, 280 g
This coconut sorbet offers a different kind of frozen dessert from chocolate ice creams. The pack contains four portions and weighs 280 g. Check the packaging for allergen trace warnings; the listing also says the product is not suitable for children under 36 months.
Frequently asked questions
Pistachio or vanilla and chocolate: which should you choose for Epiphany?
Choose according to your guests’ tastes and how many portions you need. Auchan’s listing describes Magnum La Pistache as a box of four 90 ml ice creams, while Carrefour lists Magnum Classic in a box of eight 100 ml ice creams. Check the allergens in the recipe you choose.
Which allergens should you check in these ice creams?
Check for milk and nuts on the exact product you’re buying. Carrefour and Auchan’s listings for Magnum Classic and La Pistache both flag milk, while La Pistache also contains pistachios. In France, the DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the labels of prepacked food. Also read any ‘may contain’ warnings on the box you buy.
How should you store an ice lolly before serving?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Auchan’s Magnum La Pistache listing says to store it at −18 °C. Check the storage instructions for any other product you choose.