For a dessert break you can enjoy straight away, an individual ice lolly is more practical than a tub if you don’t have a spoon. Then choose according to what matters most to you — chocolate and coating, flavours and inclusions, or the number in the box — while checking allergens and storage instructions. An ice lolly is a frozen dessert, not a complete lunch in itself.
An ice lolly can be a lovely treat for a short break, as long as you can eat it quickly or keep it frozen until you get it into the freezer.
You’re looking for a shell, sauce or several coatings on your dessert. Carrefour highlights these features in its Magnum Double Chocolate recipe, although they’re not found in every ice lolly from the brand.
You want an individual portion you can eat without a spoon. If you’re not eating it straight away, make sure you can transport it safely with your frozen shopping: the DGCCRF points out that the cold chain must also be maintained on the journey home.
You compare the number of ice lollies, net weight, ingredients and allergens rather than relying on the word “premium” alone. The recipes featured by Carrefour and Nuii show why it’s important to check the specific product.
First, decide whether you’ll eat the ice lolly straight away. Then compare the recipes and pack sizes, and read the label of the product you choose.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate and textures | Check whether the recipe includes a coating, sauce or inclusions, then choose the flavours you like. | I’m mainly looking for the pleasure of a chocolate dessert with a mix of textures. Around 33% of consumers rank this type of recipe as their top priority. |
| Eating it straight away | Choose an individual ice lolly if you don’t have a spoon, and check how you’ll keep it cold after buying it. | My break is short and I want a portion I can eat without any preparation. This convenience comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the number of ice lollies and the net weight; make sure you can keep the rest of the pack in the freezer. | I want to choose a pack that suits the number of portions I plan to eat, without building up a stash of boxes. For around 25% of consumers, pack size is the deciding factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product. Check the nutritional information if you want to compare recipes. | I need to know what’s in it before choosing a flavour, especially if certain ingredients affect me. Around 17% of consumers make this their top priority. |
For frozen products, the DGCCRF states that allergens must be indicated in writing. A range name or photograph is no substitute for the information on the packaging. Where shown, Nutri-Score can help you compare products, but it doesn’t tell you everything about allergens or what makes up a lunch.
This term doesn’t tell you whether you’ll enjoy the flavours or whether the recipe suits your dietary needs. The ice lollies featured by Carrefour and Nuii have different ingredients depending on the product.
Start by choosing the flavour and texture you’re after, then read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’ve picked.
Two boxes with the same number of ice lollies can have different total weights. The number of items alone also won’t tell you whether the pack suits your needs.
Compare the net weight and number of ice lollies, then make sure you can store any remaining portions as instructed.
The DGCCRF states that the cold chain must be maintained during transport. An Auchan product page also says that a Häagen-Dazs vanilla, chocolate and macadamia ice lolly should be kept at −18 °C and not refrozen after thawing.
Pick up frozen food at the end of your shop, keep the journey as short as possible and use an insulated bag if you can’t get it into the freezer quickly. Follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
An ice lolly is best enjoyed here as a dessert or tasty treat. On its own, it doesn’t provide everything you need for a varied lunch. Manger Bouger recommends limiting foods that are high in fat and sugar.
If you need a meal, plan to have other food during your break rather than treating the ice lolly as your only option.
These ranges offer some recipe and pack-size ideas to compare. Their features vary from one product to another, so the packaging of the one you choose is what matters.
The brand offers ice lollies and tubs focused on chocolate, including Double recipes and a Signature collection it describes as inspired by haute couture.
The range includes a vanilla, milk chocolate and macadamia ice lolly, which the brand describes as combining ice cream with caramelised nuts.
Nuii offers combinations of flavours and inclusions. The Cold Brew recipe featured by Carrefour includes coffee, almond, milk chocolate and biscuit pieces.
This own-label range includes packs of four ice lollies in several recipes, including double chocolate, salted caramel, macadamia, pistachio and cookies, depending on the assortment shown by Carrefour.
ALDI’s ice cream and frozen dessert brand, Mucci includes a pack of four ice lollies with a double coating, as featured by the retailer.
These are frozen desserts on sticks, with chocolate, fruit and other flavour options. For a quick treat, start by choosing a flavour and pack size that suit you, then make sure you can keep the cold chain intact.
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Worth considering if you’d like an individual chocolate treat without needing a spoon.
The box contains four ice lollies, with a net weight of 284 g. Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for this product.
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Worth considering if you’re after a chocolate and hazelnut flavour for your dessert break.
The box contains four ice lollies, with a net weight of 276 g. If nuts are a concern for you, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a pack of two frozen desserts rather than a box of four.
The net weight shown for the pack is 110 g. Check the ingredients and allergens for this recipe, then follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
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Worth considering if you’re after a mango and coconut-flavoured ice lolly for your dessert break.
The box contains four ice lollies, with a net weight of 300 g. Check the packaging if you need to check allergens or storage instructions.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a red berry flavour to chocolate or hazelnut.
The box contains four ice lollies, with a net weight of 284 g. Check the allergen information on the packaging and follow the product’s storage instructions.
An ice lolly is better suited to a dessert break than a meal in itself. If you need a meal, plan to have other food during your break; Manger Bouger also recommends limiting foods that are high in fat and sugar.
Start with the flavour and texture you want, then compare the pack size, ingredients and allergens of the specific products. Carrefour describes a Magnum Double Chocolat recipe with sauce and coatings, while Häagen-Dazs features a macadamia ice lolly and Carrefour’s Nuii Cold Brew recipe includes coffee and almond. For Carrefour Sensation or Mucci, check each box rather than assuming all the recipes in the range are alike.
Read the information printed on the packaging of the product you’re buying. The DGCCRF highlights this requirement for frozen products. Depending on the recipes featured here, ingredients to check may include milk, nuts, wheat or soya. Also check for any “may contain” warnings if they’re relevant to you.
Keep the time out of the freezer to a minimum and put the products away quickly, following the instructions on their packaging. The DGCCRF notes that the cold chain must be maintained during transport; if you’re not travelling straight home, an insulated bag can help keep frozen food cold. Don’t refreeze a thawed product if the packaging says not to.