Chocolate and crunchy-piece fans
You’re after a contrast of ice cream, coating and crunchy pieces. Magnum Signature La Pistache and Intense Dark show two ways to put pistachio or dark chocolate centre stage.
Who are these ice lollies for?
Curious about less familiar flavours
You’d like to compare combinations such as pistachio and chocolate, or vanilla, cranberry and white chocolate. The ingredients list matters just as much as the flavour name when comparing these recipes.
Households looking for the right pack size
You’re choosing a multipack and want to know how many portions it contains, its net weight and whether your preferred flavour is available at your chosen shop.
What should you look for before choosing?
If you’re having an ice lolly as an occasional breakfast treat, start with the flavour you fancy, then compare the portion size, nutritional information and allergens on the pack you’re thinking of buying.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate and texture | The type of coating and whether the specific product contains sauce or crunchy pieces. | If I’m choosing an ice lolly as a treat, I want to know whether the chocolate and crunchy pieces are what I’m looking for; around 33% of consumers put this first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Ingredients, allergens, portion size and nutritional information; Nutri-Score, if shown. | Before choosing a flavour, I want to know what’s in a portion and spot any ingredients I need to avoid; around 42% of consumers put this check first. |
| Pack size and local availability | Number of lollies, net weight and whether the flavour is available at your chosen shop or for your delivery area. | When I’m buying a box for several people, I need enough portions and a flavour I can actually get; around 25% of consumers prioritise this. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Judging the ingredients from the flavour name alone
“Dark chocolate”, “pistachio” or “premium” describes part of a recipe, not its overall nutritional value. For example, the cocoa content of a coating doesn’t tell you how much sugar is in the whole lolly.
Compare nutritional information on the same basis, per 100 g or per portion, and check the ingredients for the exact product.
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Assuming a fruity flavour suits every dietary restriction
The NUII Scandinavian vanilla and cranberry lolly described by Auchan combines cranberry with dairy ingredients, among other things. A fruity flavour alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the product.
Read the ingredients and allergens on the box you buy. Don’t assume anything about a product’s suitability based on its flavour or brand.
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Confusing the number of lollies with the amount of ice cream
Two boxes containing four lollies each can have different net weights. The number of pieces alone doesn’t tell you the portion size.
Check both the net weight and the number of lollies to choose a pack size that suits everyone who’ll be eating them.
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Letting your ice lollies warm up on the way home
The DGCCRF points out that a rise in temperature shortens the shelf life of affected foods and can encourage microbial growth.
Pick up frozen foods last, keep the journey as short as possible and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Brands to know
Magnum
The brand offers classic, mini, Signature and Intense lollies, with recipes featuring a range of coatings and inclusions.
- Magnum France describes Signature La Pistache as having a chocolate coating with caramelised pistachio pieces; Auchan says the coating on Intense Dark contains 70% cocoa.
- These descriptions refer to different products. Magnum recommends checking the packaging for the latest information about ingredients and gluten.
NUII
The brand offers lollies with flavour combinations such as the Scandinavian vanilla and cranberry recipe featured by Auchan.
- This product combines mascarpone ice cream, cranberry sauce and a white chocolate coating with cranberry pieces.
- Check the ingredients, including dairy, for this specific recipe before you buy.
Carrefour Sensation
This own-label range includes lollies in flavours such as double chocolate, salted caramel and pistachio-chocolate.
- Carrefour’s range includes boxes of four lollies, making it easy to spot the pack size you’re looking for.
- Check the ingredients and net weight for each flavour; the range varies by shop.
MUCCI
ALDI’s own brand has a range of frozen desserts, including lollies with a double coating.
- ALDI offers boxes of four double-coated lollies in flavours including chocolate, caramel and raspberry.
- Check whether a particular flavour is available at your chosen shop when you’re ready to buy.
Auchan
The retailer lets you browse several brands of ice lolly and different pack sizes in one place.
- Its range includes Magnum and NUII products, as well as Auchan own-brand lollies.
- Check the range at your chosen shop or for your selected delivery before settling on a particular flavour.
Indulgent ice lollies on Joybuy
These lollies reflect the chocolate, biscuit, pistachio and fruit flavours mentioned above. The recipe name can help you choose a flavour; check the packaging to compare ingredients and portion sizes.
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Magnum Double Gold Caramel 284 g
An option if you’re looking for a caramel ice lolly.
Net weight shown in the name: 284 g. Check the number of lollies, portion size and allergens on the box.
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Magnum White Chocolate & Cookies, 3 lollies, 270 g
Worth considering if you’d like to combine white chocolate and biscuit.
The box is listed as containing three lollies and weighing 270 g. Check the packaging for portion size, ingredients and allergens.
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POPELINO Sicilian Pistachio, white chocolate coating, 4 lollies, 312 g
A recipe to consider if you prefer the combination of pistachio and white chocolate.
The listed pack contains four lollies and weighs 312 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the box you buy.
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Magnum White Chocolate & Strawberry, 4 lollies, 324 g
An option if you’d like a strawberry flavour paired with white chocolate.
The box is listed as containing four lollies and weighing 324 g. A fruity flavour is no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergens.
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Côte d’Or Vanilla, milk chocolate and hazelnut, 4 lollies, 260 g
Worth a look if you’re after a combination of vanilla, milk chocolate and hazelnut.
The listed pack contains four lollies and weighs 260 g. Check the allergens and nutritional information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Can an ice lolly make up breakfast on its own?
Don’t rely on an ice lolly to make up breakfast on its own; think of it as an occasional treat instead. Manger Bouger recommends limiting foods that are high in fat and sugar, including many ice creams, and suggests using Nutri-Score to compare processed products when it’s shown.
How can I check the allergens in an ice lolly?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging you buy. Magnum says that not all of its ice creams are gluten-free; a NUII vanilla and cranberry recipe described by Auchan contains dairy ingredients, among other things. Neither the brand nor a fruity flavour tells you what applies to every product.
How should I transport ice lollies after shopping?
Pick up frozen products last and follow the storage instructions on the packaging as soon as you get home. The DGCCRF points out that a rise in temperature can shorten the shelf life of affected foods; an insulated bag can help keep them cool on the journey.
Are the same flavours available in every shop?
No, don’t assume a flavour you’ve spotted in one shop’s range will be available at yours. Magnum says availability varies by location and shop size, so check the specific product at your chosen shop or for your selected click and collect or delivery option.