For filling small compartments, start with individually wrapped mini ice lollies, provided you can keep the calendar in the freezer at the temperature stated on each pack. Larger lollies take up more space, while mini tubs need deep compartments and a spoon. Before buying, count how many days you plan to include a frozen treat and check the allergens in each recipe.
If you can keep the calendar in the freezer until each compartment is opened, mini ice lollies are a good starting point for portioning. Make sure you have a stable storage solution and check that each lolly, including its wrapper, fits in the compartment.
An assortment lets you alternate between recipes from day to day. Check which flavours are actually in the box, then look at the ingredients for each one: a single assortment may contain products with different allergen information.
If someone receiving a treat needs to avoid an ingredient, check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the product you buy before assigning them a portion. Products listed by Carrefour, Auchan and E.Leclerc may, for example, contain or mention traces of milk, soya, nuts or eggs.
First, choose a storage solution that meets the ice cream’s storage instructions. Then decide on the format based on the space available, the number of compartments to fill and which recipes the recipients can eat.
Choose these if: you want smaller portions and a choice of flavours in suitably sized compartments.
Bear in mind: the 6-piece Magnum and 8-piece Auchan assortments featured by Auchan will require several boxes for a calendar with more days featuring frozen treats.
Choose these if: the compartments can fit the lolly in its wrapper and you’d prefer a larger portion than the mini formats you’re considering.
Bear in mind: measure the compartments before buying; the range name alone won’t tell you the dimensions of the wrapped product.
Choose these if: your freezer storage has deep compartments and you’re happy to eat your treat with a spoon.
Bear in mind: a tub needs a different-shaped compartment from an ice lolly. Also make sure you’ll have a spoon to hand when you give it as a gift.
| Priority | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer storage | Check the required temperature on the packaging and make sure the compartments will stay in the freezer until they’re opened. | I want to prepare my compartments in advance without leaving the ice creams in a calendar kept in a room. Around 36% of consumers would rank this storage option as their top requirement. |
| Portions and flavours | Count the individual portions and flavours, and decide how many days you plan to include an ice cream; also compare portion sizes with the compartments. | If I’m filling several days, I want enough portions without serving the same flavour every time. Around 29% of consumers would consider this a priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information for each recipe, not just the name of the assortment. | When I’m preparing a compartment for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to identify the exact recipe. Around 21% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Number of boxes and leftovers | Compare the number of portions in each box with the number of days you plan to include a frozen treat, and check you have room to store any portions left over. | I’d rather plan how many boxes I need than end up with too many portions to store after filling the calendar. Around 14% of consumers would put this need first. |
A decorative calendar left in a room won’t keep ice creams at their required storage temperature. The DGCCRF warns that a rise in temperature encourages microbial growth; the Magnum Mini product featured on Joybuy must be stored at −18 °C or below.
Prepare compartments or a container that can stay in the freezer, and only take out each portion when you’re ready to give it or eat it.
The Magnum and Auchan mini ice lolly assortments featured by Auchan contain 6 and 8 portions respectively, so one box won’t fill a 24-day calendar entirely with ice creams.
Decide how many days will feature an ice cream, then work out how many boxes you’ll need based on the number of portions in each product.
Recipes in an assortment may differ. Product information published by Auchan and Carrefour mentions milk, soya or nuts, for example, depending on the product and flavour.
Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the pack you buy before assigning each portion to someone.
The SMICY mini tubs featured by E.Leclerc are individual portions, but their shape calls for a deep compartment and a spoon.
Measure your freezer storage before buying; only use tubs for compartments that can fit them without removing their packaging.
These products show some formats you could compare for this project. Their inclusion here doesn’t guarantee they’ll be available at your shop or fit your compartments.
The mini ice lolly assortment featured by Auchan contains 6 portions of 55 ml in Classic, Almond and White Chocolate flavours.
The mini ice lolly assortment featured by Auchan contains 8 portions, with different chocolate coatings depending on the portion.
The product featured by E.Leclerc contains 6 mini ice cream tubs, 300 g in total. It’s better suited to deep compartments than slots for ice lollies.
ALDI France lists a 12-piece pack of mini ice lollies in its MUCCI range. It’s worth considering if the number of compartments you need to fill is your main deciding factor.
These ice lollies and frozen portions could be used to fill compartments that are kept in the freezer. They’re not all mini ice lollies, so compare the number of portions and check the dimensions of each wrapped product, as well as its storage instructions, before preparing your storage solution.
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Worth considering if you want to spread a variety of flavours across different days. The box contains 12 ice lollies, so plan separately for any other days featuring a frozen treat and check that the wrapped portions fit your compartments.
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A good option for compartments designed for smaller portions and a choice of flavours. According to Auchan’s listing for this product, each of the 6 mini ice lollies is 55 ml; the Joybuy product information states that it should be stored at −18 °C or below. One box only covers 6 days featuring an ice cream, so also check the size of the wrapped portions and the information about milk and nuts.
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A box of 12 portions to consider if you’re planning to fill several compartments with frozen treats. Check how much room each wrapped portion needs and read the allergen information on the box you buy before sharing them out.
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For a calendar with some compartments set aside for a melon-flavoured ice lolly. The 8 portions of 70 ml won’t be enough on their own for a 24-day calendar. Check their size in the wrapper and read the label, including the information about milk and the warning about the E102 colour.
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A coconut-flavoured ice lolly option for a few compartments. The box contains 4 portions, so you’ll need other boxes or treats for a longer calendar. Measure the compartments and check the exact packaging for ‘may contain’ allergen information.
No, not if the ice creams are left in the calendar at room temperature. They must be stored according to the instructions on their packaging: the Magnum Mini product featured on Joybuy requires storage at −18 °C or below. The DGCCRF warns that a rise in temperature encourages microbial growth.
Keep the packaging if it contains information you need to identify or use the portion, particularly allergen information and storage instructions. Make sure the compartments are large enough to hold the portions without removing this information.
First count how many days you want to offer an ice cream, then divide that number by the portions in each box and round up to the next whole number. For 24 days with a frozen treat every day, you’d need four boxes of 6 or three boxes of 8, provided you have enough freezer space.
The chocolate flavour alone isn’t enough to tell you. The Magnum Almond recipe featured by Carrefour contains almonds and carries warnings about the possible presence of other nuts. Check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information for the exact product before choosing a portion for someone with an allergy.