For a summer picnic, first choose ice lollies you can keep chilled until serving time: a delicious recipe won’t make up for unsuitable transport. Then compare recipes by their ingredients and coatings, and check the number of portions and the allergens listed on the box you choose.
If you’re serving ice cream outdoors, make sure you transport it chilled and take it out just before serving. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that the cold chain also applies when food is being transported.
Compare the coatings, sauces and inclusions in each product: Magnum, for example, offers Double Chocolate, while other recipes combine vanilla, chocolate and almonds. The brand name alone doesn’t tell you what an ice lolly contains.
Count your guests before choosing a box. The number of ice lollies and the net weight help you distinguish a small pack from a multipack, even when the recipes look similar.
First, plan how you’ll keep them chilled. Then choose a recipe to suit your guests and the number of portions you need.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping them chilled | Take a cool box or insulated bag, and read the storage instructions on the packaging. | If there’s no freezer at the venue, I need to be able to keep the ice lollies chilled until serving time; around 33% of consumers would put this first. |
| Recipe | Compare the flavour, coating and inclusions of the specific product. | If I’m looking for a chocolatey treat to finish the meal, I mainly want to know what coating it has or what pieces are included; this would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the exact packaging. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I check the composition before choosing a flavour; around 20% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Number of portions | Check the number of ice lollies and the net weight shown on the box. | If I’m serving several people, I want to know how many portions to take without relying on the apparent size of the pack; around 20% of consumers would put this first. |
A double coating or sauce doesn’t remove the need to keep ice lollies chilled. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that the cold chain also applies during transport.
Get your insulated container ready, buy the ice lollies last and take them out just before serving.
You’ll also need an insulated bag or cool box and, depending on what you have, ice packs.
Two ice lollies with similar flavours can have different ingredients and ‘may contain’ information. Magnum, for example, states that its Vegan Almond product contains almonds and may contain milk, soya and other nuts.
For each guest this applies to, check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the box you’ll be serving.
Pack sizes are shown in grams on some products and millilitres on others. The look of the pack doesn’t tell you how many people will get an ice lolly.
Count the individual ice lollies and check the net weight before choosing a pack size for your group.
A recipe shown in a retailer’s catalogue may not be available in the shop or for the online grocery order you’re planning to use.
Check that the specific product is available from your shop before planning your picnic dessert.
These ranges offer a useful way to compare recipes and pack sizes. Always check the specific product you’re thinking of buying.
The brand offers several chocolate-coated ice lolly recipes, including Double Chocolate, Almond and Vegan Almond.
Available at E.Leclerc, this brand includes a vanilla ice lolly coated in milk chocolate and roasted almonds.
The retailer offers, among other options, white chocolate ice lollies in a box of four.
ALDI includes MUCCI double-coated ice lollies in its range of frozen desserts.
These Magnum products let you choose from several recipes and individual pack sizes for your picnic dessert. Whichever ice lolly you choose, plan to keep it chilled in transit and check the packaging for allergen information.
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This box contains three individual portions, making it a good choice for guests who like the combination of white chocolate and biscuits.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the box before serving.
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This chocolatey recipe is a good option if you want to serve four individual ice lollies.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the box you choose.
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The box of eight makes it easy to serve individual portions to a group who enjoy the combination of vanilla and almond.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, especially if a guest needs to avoid nuts.
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This box of eight portions is ideal for a group looking for a recipe that combines almond and white chocolate.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the box before serving it to any guests this applies to.
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If you’d like to serve a caramel recipe, check how many ice lollies are in this box before planning portions for your group.
Also check the packaging for ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions.
Use a suitable container to keep them chilled rather than transporting them without protection. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that the cold chain also applies during the journey and recommends using a cool box for a picnic. Buy the ice lollies last and take them out just before serving.
Follow the instructions on the packaging and don’t refreeze a product if its label says not to. The product information for Auchan white chocolate ice lollies explicitly says never to refreeze a product once it has thawed.
Don’t assume it is from the recipe name alone. Magnum states that its Vegan Almond product contains almonds and may contain milk, soya and other nuts. Check the information on the exact packaging before serving it to someone with an allergy.
First count how many portions you need, then compare the number of ice lollies and the net weight of each box. For your picnic, also check that your insulated container can fit all the ice lollies and keep them chilled until serving time.