Crunch time: Eight nutty ice creams put to the test
Lots of ice creams with nuts in the shops led us to this survey of chocolate ice creams with a crunch, writes .
Nuts are healthy, right? Indeed, but the sprinkling we find in these products doesn’t quite justify thinking we are getting any decent amount of secondary protein. They have fats too!
We looked at many brands to come up with our Top 8 (no shortage of volunteers this week). We also tasted a nutty dairy-free version — Tesco Finest creamy coconut lollies (€2.25/56c each). While not coated in chocolate like the others, the mix of coconut water, coconut milk and grape juice with some added sugar was interesting. Too sweet for one taster, without milk, protein is very low at 0.4% so don’t expect it to satisfy ing the appetite, but as dairy-free goes, a good alternative. We also liked Swedish Glace smooth vanilla, (€4.80/96c each) made with dairy-free soy and suitable for vegans. Creamy and delicious, the chocolate coating is made from fat-free cocoa powder and works well.
As usual with ice cream, due to the sugar and fat content, we need to keep it for occasional treats. These samples have 250-300 calories (not a perfect measurement, but a useful guideline) and 2,000 and 2,500 is our daily recommended allowance.
Avoid more fat and sugar in the form of butter, cakes and biscuits on this treat day. It’s about balance.
Häagen-Dazs vanilla caramel almond 210g/240ml €4.99 (€1.66 each)
Three 70g lollies have 5% almonds and 21% chocolate, a relatively decent amount of protein of 5.2% (to keep hunger a bay longer) and average sugars of 24.7%. The caramel appears as a silky, sweet stream through the vanilla. Rich and delicious was the overall verdict, but also not too sweet, and even refreshing, one taster said. For special treats. Expensive, but tasters agreed it was their number one.
Marks & Spencer Dessert menu milk
chocolate & peanut 237g/300ml €3.90 (€1.30 each)
Three vanilla ice creams have a gentle toffee ripple throughout and are coated generously in 31% good quality chocolate and 3.5% tasty roasted peanuts. The creamy ice cream is well balanced and the chocolate has a nice snap to it. Tasters of all ages liked the clean aftertaste. Sugars are a high 32.3%, protein a relatively high 5.7%. Vied for number one spot.
Magnum chocolate & hazelnut praliné 486g €4.91 (€1.63 each)
This three pack has a well balanced combination of chocolate and nuts. Tasters liked the decent 3.5% of rich hazelnut pieces on the 31% chocolate outer coating. More hazelnuts are found in the paste throughout the inside adding a little more protein amounting to 4.2%. Sugars at 27% are higher than many and there was a slightly sugary aftertaste which two tasters noticed. Delicious, but expensive.
Toblerone 300ml/198g €4 (€1.33 each)
In a Christmas tree shape, these three chocolate ice creams have vanilla and honey ice cream with honey and nougat pieces throughout, and the 33% chocolate coating is studded with more pieces. “This will be hard to beat”, said one taster before tasting the rest, but she ate her words. Sugars are high at 34%, with protein medium to low at 3.8%. After a few bites, some tasters found this a little too sweet and cloying, though chocolate lovers loved it.
Tesco chocolate & almond ice creams 440ml €2.50 (62c each)
Four vanilla ice creams are coated in chocolate flecked with toasted almonds. With higher protein than some at 4.5%, sugars at 26.1% are average. Tasters were happy with the taste and liked the creamy texture of the ice cream and the 29% chocolate and 5% almond contrast. A point was added for good price.
Aldi G Almond 360ml €1.15 (38c each)
Three vanilla flavoured ice creams made by Gianni are coated in 27% milk chocolate and 6% chopped almonds. Sugars at 31% and protein 4.7% are average and tasters liked this as much as the other eight markers and thought the price very good.
Dunnes Stores Belgian chocolate & almond 360ml/255g €2 (66c each)
Three ice creams have vanilla ice cream coated in 27% chocolate and 6% almonds. Tasters noted no difference between this one and Aldi’s. At 28%, there are slightly less sugars here and the 4.3% protein is marginally less. Price dictated the marking here to provide a good score.
Lidl Gelatelli almond 720ml €2.29 (38c each)
Six ice creams have 6% of nicely toasted nuts embedded in 28% chocolate which has a fattier mouthful than other samples and tasters liked it just a little less. Still, the nuts seemed nuttier and the ice cream creamy, and with sugars a relatively low 20.9% and protein an average 4.1% there were no other negatives. Very good price.
