When sharing ice lollies at Epiphany, start by counting how many people you’re serving. An assortment of 8 to 12 minis gives you several portions and, depending on the box, a choice of flavours; a pack of four suits a smaller group. Before choosing, check the size of each lolly, the allergens in every recipe and the storage instructions.
If everyone wants a different flavour, look at what’s in the assortment as well as how many lollies it contains. Auchan, for example, lists a 10-piece Magnum mini assortment featuring Classic, Almond and White Chocolate; Carrefour Extra and Auchan also offer assortments of eight minis.
Individually wrapped lollies can be handed out at snack time or saved for another occasion. In this case, the number of pieces matters more than a single, larger portion: ALDI France, for example, lists a 12-piece MUCCI mini lolly pack.
With an assortment, check the recipes in the box you’re planning to serve. Carrefour, for example, lists milk, soya and almonds among the ingredients in its Extra mini lollies; this information shouldn’t be applied to other products.
For an Epiphany dessert, work out how many portions you need, then compare the boxes by flavour selection, the size of each lolly and the needs of the people you’re serving.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the lollies rather than relying on the overall weight of the box. Set aside the ones you’ll be sharing and those you want to keep. | When several guests want a lolly, I want to be sure there are enough, rather than judging by the apparent size of the box. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise the number of portions. |
| Choice of flavours | Check the recipe details: the word ‘assortment’ doesn’t tell you which flavours are included. | If people around the table have different tastes, I’d rather offer a choice than serve everyone the same flavour. Variety would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Individual size | Compare the number of lollies and the quantity stated for each one, if that information is shown on the box. | For a small group, I might prefer fewer lollies if each one is a better fit for the dessert I have in mind. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise portion size. |
| Allergens and storage | Check the ingredients on the exact box and its storage instructions; make sure you can transport frozen products appropriately. | If someone needs to avoid an ingredient, or it’s a long journey home after shopping, I need to sort that out before choosing flavours. These considerations would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
The total weight doesn’t tell you how many lollies are inside: the pack sizes listed by Auchan and ALDI France include everything from packs of four to assortments of ten or twelve.
If you’re sharing, count the pieces first, then check the amount in each one if you’re deciding between minis and lollies in another size.
Ingredients can vary from one recipe to another. Carrefour lists milk, soya and almonds for the Extra product featured here; another assortment may have a different composition.
Before serving someone with an allergy, read the label on the box you’ve actually bought, including the information for each flavour.
A long journey outside the storage conditions stated on the packaging can make ice lollies difficult to transport safely.
The DGCCRF advises keeping transport time to a minimum, using an insulated bag if possible and putting products in the freezer as soon as you get home.
The box on offer may vary by shop, collection method and time of year. Seeing a product listed in a range doesn’t replace checking the one you intend to buy.
Before setting off for Epiphany, check the product at your chosen shop, then read the information on its packaging.
The brand offers mini lolly assortments. Auchan, for example, lists a 10-piece, 423 g box featuring Classic, Almond and White Chocolate; Magnum also offers a Mini x6 assortment.
Carrefour lists an assortment of eight mini lollies, each weighing 32 g.
Auchan lists an own-brand assortment of eight mini lollies, weighing 258 g in total.
ALDI France, for example, lists a 12-piece, 429 g MUCCI mini lolly pack, as well as packs of four lollies.
These multipacks include ice lollies, water ices and sorbet lollies, with between four and 64 pieces per pack. For Epiphany, consider the number of portions separately from the actual choice of flavours: a box with lots of pieces isn’t necessarily an assortment.
Image unavailable
For a group that wants a choice of flavours, this box contains 12 lollies and lists five flavours.
If anyone has an allergy, check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the exact packaging before serving.
Image unavailable
The 64-piece pack is ideal when you need plenty of portions to hand out, but the number alone doesn’t indicate a choice of flavours.
Before serving, check the packaging for instructions on how to prepare and store these water ices.
Image unavailable
This pack of 12 lollies can be shared between several people. The name mentions orange and cherry, but doesn’t confirm that the pack contains two distinct recipes.
If anyone has an allergy, read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information on the exact box. Also follow its storage instructions.
Image unavailable
These four coconut sorbet lollies are suited to a small number of portions, and the pack doesn’t offer a choice of flavours.
The product information carries a warning for children under 36 months; check the label and allergen information before serving.
Count how many people would like one, then add any portions you want to save for another occasion. A pack of four may be enough for a small group; assortments of eight to twelve minis give you more portions. Adjust your choice if you’re also serving a galette or another dessert.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact box, taking each recipe in the assortment into account. For example, Carrefour lists milk, soya and almonds for its Extra mini lollies; this doesn’t describe the ingredients in other assortments.
Keep transport time to a minimum and put the products in the freezer as soon as you can. The DGCCRF recommends using an insulated bag if possible; also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.