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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I tried supermarket versions of Magnums… 38p per treat winner was packed with first-class flavour & chunky chocolate
LICKALIKES I tried supermarket versions of Magnums… 38p per treat winner was packed with first-class flavour & chunky chocolate Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAGNUM lollies have long been a favourite summer treat but they're even more popular since Brat pop star Charli XCX was spotted with one at Cannes this month. However, stocking up on them can be expensive as they cost around £3.50 for a pack of three. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Charli XCX was spotted with a Magnum ice cream at the recent Cannes film festival Credit: Splash Last week Aldi launched new flavours of its own dupes for around £2.49 a pack. But how do they compare on taste? Laura Stott put stores' own versions to the test and rated them out of five. Classic Magnum, 3 x 100ml, £3.50, Tesco 9 I found the original Magnums to be surprisingly lacking in flavour Credit: Damien McFadden ORIGINAL Magnums – which are made by big-name brand Wall's – are famous for their thick and delicious choccie coating and they don't disappoint on this front. When you unwrap and tuck in, the shell shatters and snaps in the most satisfying way but the shards of choc I found surprisingly lacking in flavour, with none of the creaminess you'd expect considering the generous amount you get. The vanilla ice cream was tasty, nice and thick and it didn't melt too quickly so I had both ice cream and coating on my stick all the way to the bottom of this eat. There is nothing wrong with what you'll find in this box and they are a best-seller for a reason, but that comes at a price. 3/5 Amour Choc Mint, 3 x 110ml, Morrisons, £2.25 9 Morrisons minty ice creams are fresh but have some room for improvement Credit: Damien McFadden LIKE the classic after-dinner nibble but in ice cream form, if you love fresh flavours these will be a good buy. Inside you find three minty ice creams with a thick texture, so it doesn't drip if you want to savour it and eat slowly. 'survey reveals what your ice cream eating habits could say about your personality' Nice chocolate around the outside but despite having decent ingredients this perfectly pleasant lolly just lacked a little something to make it really spark. The ice cream perhaps needs a bit more mint coming through and the chocolate on the outside was noticeably thinner than on some of the others. The price is excellent, however, and you get a big lolly. If you like mint they are certainly worth a go. 3/5 Gianni's Pink Lemonade, 3 x 90ml, Aldi, £2.49 9 The combination of lemon ice cream and raspberry sorbet will go down a treat Credit: Damien McFadden ALDI'S new Gianni's Luxury Pink Lemonade Chocsticks cost £2.49 for three lollies, which shouldn't cause as much of a meltdown at the till as buying a packet of genuine Magnums. These certainly look rather flashy, with a fun appearance which is bound to go down well with the kids if you stick a pack in the freezer when doing the family shop. The combo inside of lemon ice cream and raspberry sorbet with an exterior coated in thick white chocolate and pieces of popping candy is good fun and has some serious 'by the beach and on holiday' vibes. This was a very sugary-tasting lolly and the citrus flavour of the ice cream middle gets a bit lost with all the competing tastes. But as a warm weather treat it's a bit different and very jolly. Rather like an ice cream sundae on a stick. 4/5 Almond Sticks, 3 x 75g, M&S/Ocado, £2.40 9 I thought the Marks & Spencers ice cream was very bland and thin Credit: Damien McFadden VERY good value from M&S but these own-brand ice cream options were a little disappointing when it came to flavour, despite looking and smelling delicious. More of a short and chunky choc ice on a stick but they did seem rather fun-sized compared to some of the other own-brand whoppers and it was hard not to feel a little short-changed when they came out of the box. The taste is inoffensive but I thought the ice cream was very bland and thin, with none of the creamy vanilla richness I was hoping for. A bit of a choc ice of two halves however, as the choccie coating was delicious, with a great flavour and rammed with nutty nibs. A better ice cream filling would be a real game-changer here. 3/5 Chocolate and Caramel, 3 x 110ml, £1.19, Tesco 9 This pack from Tesco was great value for money and a delicious taste Credit: Damien McFadden A WARM weather bargain from Tesco. This box of three lollies was a winner at the till, coming in at an incredible 38p per ice which is a summer steal, and almost a third of the price of buying the big brand. Flavour-wise I thought they were first class and in the box you get three massive licks which should satisfy the whole family. Each has tasty caramel flavour ice cream in the middle, which is coated with a chunky layer of milk choc, enhanced with Crunchie-style honeycomb pieces. The choccie outer was the best part of this bite, thick enough to ensure you get that lovely snap if you like to nibble off shards to eat first, like I do. There wasn't a huge amount of the honeycomb pieces which some might find disappointing but, for me, any more would have been too sickly, so I was very happy. Great value for money, and a tasty treat. Winner - 5/5 Double Dip Choc Raspberry, 3 x 88ml, £3.25, Sainsbury's 9 The Double Dip Choc Raspberry from Sainsbury's are a real grown-up treat and delicious Credit: Damien McFadden THESE are very fancy choc and fruit-flavoured ice creams which will bring a touch of luxury to your freezer and work just as well as a dessert or garden eat. Inside you get yummy raspberry ice cream which has a thick, creamy flavour and tastes just as delicious and decadent as any posh tub you might buy. There's a double-thickness milk chocolate layer on the outside which delivers the satisfying shatter you want, and to cut through all that richness there's a sparky and zingy raspberry sauce sandwiched in the middle. These are a real grown-up treat and delicious, but the cost is rather high. And considering the price tag, the lollies themselves are a bit too dinky. 3/5 Chocolate Almond Coated, 3 x 110ml, Asda, £2.10 9 Asda's chocolate treat was high quality and felt like good value for money Credit: Damien McFadden A WELL-PRICED own-brand choc treat that works well as a keep-everyone-happy summertime snack. More classic in taste than some others, so what you find on your stick is a scrummy vanilla ice cream dipped in a coating of milk choc with tasty roasted almond nibs. For the price I thought these were super quality and you also get a lot for your money as they are very substantial. The vanilla whippy-style middle tasted enjoyable, with an ice cream van- style soft texture, and roasting the nutty nibs gave enjoyable additional taste as well as texture. The choc was a little thin and the lolly did start to separate and melt too fast, but that didn't stop me scoffing the lot and then licking my fingers! 4/5 Gelatelli Double Caramel, 4 x 85ml, Lidl, £4.49 9 Lidl's ice cream was messy to eat and it felt like there was too much going on Credit: Damien McFadden I WAS surprised at the steep price of these own-brand licks from Lidl, which were the second-costliest I tried after the Wall's original Magnums. That said, they are pretty fancy lollies with a lot of flavours packed on to the wooden stick. Inside the chunky milk choc outer you'll find it crammed with nutty nibs, then a thick layer of caramel sauce, ice cream with biscuit, more nut flavours and then more white chocolate, plus biccie pieces. There's an awful lot going on here, which is generous – and if you love a toffee-style ice cream cone you'll probably think these are fab. I found them a bit messy to eat, and the stick was almost too small for all the goodies attached to it. But if you have a sweet tooth you'll be in heaven. They're overpriced though, and paying less for a more streamlined ice will keep everyone just as happy.
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I tried all the supermarket chilli-infused honeys – the £2.80 winner is sweet, spicy and packs powerful heat
Scroll down to find out which is the best brand for summer barbecues HOT STUFF! I tried all the supermarket chilli-infused honeys – the £2.80 winner is sweet, spicy and packs powerful heat WHATEVER would Winnie the Pooh have thought of the latest, newfangled honey – infused with chilli. He may or may not have fancied dipping his paw in, but foodies cannot get enough of the stuff this summer. 9 Laura Stott has tested all the supermarket chilli-infused honeys Credit: Damien McFadden Whether for marinading, dipping or drizzling, it is top of the dollops. Most big stores are in on the act, after Aldi recently joined the party. Here, Laura Stott tastes their offerings and rates each out of five. Bramwells Hot Honey - 340g, £1.69, Aldi 9 This is sweet to the taste but not the spiciest Credit: Bramwells THERE'S no doubt what this should taste like, as it packs 99 per cent honey and one per cent chilli flakes. I liked that the sweet infusion doesn't contain any unnecessary additives or flavours, so it delivers exactly what a hot honey should. The squeezy bottle made it easy to distribute exact amounts – ideal if you're using it to glaze meats or even top a pizza. This is quite a runny honey so a little goes quite a long way, which also saves cash. Very nice added to a salad dressing for a bit of a kick, and would also be good with a bacon sarnie. Family's horror discovery as colony of almost 200,000 BEES found in ceiling after children heard buzzing Sweet to the taste, and not the spiciest so won't leave your mouth on fire – but delivers a gentle buzz. Rating: 4/5 The Best Hot Honey Chilli Sauce - 310g, £2, Morrisons 9 Morrison's offering has a surprisingly low honey count but lots of sugar and glucose-fructose syrup Credit: Damien McFadden PERHAPS akin to a sweet chilli sauce you may already own, this is made with Spanish honey and bird's eye chillies – famed for extra punch – as well as dried red peppers and garlic. The packaging claims it can add heat to stir-fries, chicken and pizza, but it would also make a useful dip for chips or crackers and a great glaze for barbecuing or grilling. Despite containing some of the punchiest peppers you can buy, though, this tastes rather mild – it's very sweet and while I was braced for watering eyes, what I actually got was a tiny tingle. There is also a surprisingly low honey count – just three per cent – but lots of sugar and glucose-fructose syrup. A dash of normal honey and some plain chilli would be just as good – and probably better for you. Rating: 2/5 Sauce Shop Honey Sriracha - 190g, £2.80, Tesco 9 This one is sweet, spicy and packs powerful heat Credit: Damien McFadden IF you want to awaken the tastebuds, this potent party piece should do the trick. Made with 35 per cent honey and a whopping 28 per cent aged jalapeno chilli peppers, along with vinegar, salt, sugar and garlic, it is nicely balanced. You can see the chilli seeds – famed for being the fiercest part of the pepper – running through the mix and it more than delivers in the mouth. It's sweet, spicy and packs powerful heat – so if you love hot, this won't disappoint. A smooth texture, it pairs perfectly with pretty much anything. This honey went beautifully with scrambled eggs but would also be delicious in sarnies, on pasta, to dunk fries into – or even in a Bloody Mary. Spicy, but you do still taste the honey. Rating: 5/5 Hilltop Hot Honey - 340g, £3, Iceland 9 This one's mild flavour makes it an interesting addition to puds such as ice cream Credit: Damien McFadden CONTAINS 99.98 per cent honey and 0.02 per cent chilli extract so should be categorised as lukewarm honey rather than hot. But if you are new to the flavour, or not a big fan of chilli, it's a good way to give this new foodie trend a try. While it doesn't really taste that spicy, it's good honey – thick and runny with a golden sheen. The mild flavour makes it an interesting addition to puds such as ice cream. Or drizzle on to fruit and yoghurt, or even pancakes, to liven up your brekkie. It would also be fun to use when baking. Although my personal preference would be for something a little punchier, this would be a useful addition to your kitchen cupboard – and it's quality nectar. Rating: 3/5 Hot Honey - 250g, £2.25, Sainsbury's 9 This is rather thick in texture so would be great as a glaze or dripped on to dough Credit: Damien McFadden QUITE a pricey option considering how little you get for your money. The label says the honey has been combined with bird's eye chilli, which should deliver a decent hit of heat, but I would probably describe the warmth level as moderate. This product could easily be used for enhancing any dish, either sweet or savoury. It's rather thick in texture so would be great as a glaze or dripped on to dough. But it wouldn't overwhelm sweeter flavours, either, should you wish to try. Nice enough, but more heat and a lower price tag would maybe help to win me around. Rating: 2/5 Bramwells Honey Sriracha Hot Sauce - 155ml, £1.39, Aldi 9 This would be fabulous for adding to meat or fish before it's cooked over charcoal on the barbecue Credit: Damien McFadden ANOTHER hot honey offering from Aldi, at another great price, but this one comes in a much smaller bottle so may not last long. Concocted with 40 per cent honey, it's infused with a selection of spicy friends that should make your tastebuds sizzle. With ten per cent pickled chillies, and habanero puree, there is no shortage of zing in this sauce and there's also a nice hum of paprika for an interesting smoky note Would be fabulous for adding to meat or fish before it's cooked over charcoal on the barbecue. Or use it to liven up some roasted vegetables or dipping chips. Full of spice and really rather nice. Rating: 4/5 Hot Honey - 250g, Tesco, £1.75 9 Tesco's offering is mild enough to add to almost anything you want to perk up with a touch of heat Credit: Damien McFadden THIS smallish bottle of liquid gold is at least rather pleasingly priced. The honey and chilli-extract combo tastes remarkably similar to Sainsbury's offering but will set you back a lot less at the till. At this price, it's a useful addition to spice up your weekly shop, whether you simply fancy trying something different or want to see what the hot-honey buzz is all about. Again, it's mild enough to add to almost anything you want to perk up with a touch of heat, from dressings to stir-fries, or just drizzled on toast. If you like more chilli taste than this delivers, you could add some real-deal red peppers for more of a kick. Rating: 3/5 Groovy Food Company Hot Agave Nectar - 150ml, £3.25, 9 This is perfect on a posh wood-fired pizza or added to pretty much anything you are cooking on the barbie Credit: Damien McFadden IF you want artisan flavour but at a decent price, this lively little number could be a sweet addition to your condiments collection. The real difference here lies in the honey itself – this agave nectar really does taste a cut above the usual. Smooth and delicious, with a gorgeous amber hue, it smells sensational and there's a proper sting in the tail from the red jalapeno puree and additional capsicum extract. Perfect on a posh wood-fired pizza or added to pretty much anything you are cooking on the barbie. Not cheap – but if you take your chilli and honey seriously, get stuck right in here. Rating: 4/5 Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Business Mayor
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
I tried ice creams & lollies with boozy twist… the best was a £1.70 spritz on a stick but top brand was a frozen flop
WHAT could be better than a refreshing ice lolly on a hot summer's day? How about one with an added measure of your favourite booze? 10 A refreshing ice cream or lolly is perfect for a hot summer's day Credit: Getty 10 Laura Stott tastes and rates a range of adult-only frozen puds Credit: Damien McFadden Supermarket Aldi has just introduced a range of 'hard' desserts in the form of vodka and rum-laced cocktail-flavour sorbet pots. And if that's not enough to make you feel merry in the freezer aisle, the good news is that they aren't the only alcoholic afters available. From feisty, funky ice pops to sloshed sorbets, here Laura Stott tastes and rates a range of adult-only frozen puds. Carte D'Or Rum & Raisin 825ml, £4.50, Morrisons 0.18% rum – 1/5 LIKE a hint of alcohol but not too much of the real thing? This ice cream, which contains only the tiniest amount of rum, might hit the perfect frozen spot for you. 10 Carte D'Or Rum & Raisin scored 1 out of 5 Credit: Damien McFadden There are a few rum-flavoured components, including the chocolate sauce and the raisins themselves, but the tipple taste is barely detectable. The ice cream itself was okay, but for this high price I think it could and should be a lot better – it was more of a 'whippy'-style vanilla with a light, aerated texture, and no taste or sight of the black flecks of the real bean. It also melted quickly as it's very thin. The chocolate sauce was poor quality and the cake pieces scattered over the top were dry and tasteless. You'd be better having a scoop of a decent vanilla and pouring a shot of your preferred rum over the top. Major UK airline unveils new limited edition 'snail and garlic' ice cream for holidaymakers Shuda Passion Fruit Martini Flavour Alcoholic Sorbet 250ml, £1, Iceland, 4% vodka – 3/5 PORNSTAR martini fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of slurping these boozy, slushy cocktails that are delivered in a frozen pouch. The pre-mixed sachets come as a liquid and you have to freeze them for a few hours, then cut them open and squeeze gently to enjoy a slushy sorbet-style vodka-laced fruity glugger. 10 Pornstar martini fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of slurping these boozy, slushy cocktails Sitting somewhere in the middle of a sorbet and a boozy, iced punch, it feels more like you're sipping a drink than eating a dessert but is no less enjoyable as a result. It has a nice fruity flavour but I did find them rather sweet and quite messy. They also seemed to melt rather quickly. I think they'd be best squeezed out into a bowl and slurped up that way – with an extra shot of booze added should you fancy one. Tipsies Cocktail Pops 12 x 70ml, £19.99, 5% rum, vodka and others – 3/5 IF you loved ice pops as a kid then these are the intoxicating adult equivalent. The alcohol-laced 5% abv freezer pops aren't called Tipsies for nothing. 10 Tipsies Cocktail Pops scored 3 out of 5 Each box of 12 contains a cocktail menu selection including mojito, passion fruit martini and pina colada, so you can pick your tipple and enjoy in frozen form. Details of the exact percentage of spirits included in each squiffy suck aren't given but all come in at 5% abv and are made with the real spirit the drink equivalent is based on. My favourite was the zesty and refreshing mojito flavour, which had a real kick of rum and vanished far too fast! Jude's Rum & Raisin Ice Cream 460ml, £5, Sainsburys, or £3, 4% rum – 5/5 YO ho ho and a bottle of . . . ice cream? If you want to round off your meal with a scoop or two of something that will make you feel merry then this is definitely the ice cream to opt for. 10 Jude's Rum & Raisin Ice Cream scored full marks Containing 4% rum, this pirate-friendly pud offered the second most generous measures of neat booze of all the drunken desserts I tried, and it's not subtle either – you really can taste and smell the spirit in every spoonful of this potent frozen pud. Booze aside, this is also a wonderful tasting tub. Made with fresh cream there's a melt-in-the-mouth richness that certainly tastes a cut above, and that's before you savour the masses of juicy raisins and yet more rum and raisin sauce. Watch out if you scoff the lot as you might be unable to walk straight afterwards. Baileys Ice Cream 825ml, £4.50, most supermarkets 0.21% Baileys – 2/5 BAILEYS fans will be in pudding paradise with this ice cream laced with the Irish cream liqueur. The idea of turning the famous tipple into a dessert makes a lot of sense as the sweet, rich and creamy choc and vanilla-flavoured glug – served in a glass with lots of ice – is already as good as a pud for many sippers. 10 Baileys fans will be in pudding paradise with this ice cream laced with the Irish cream liqueur Freezing it and putting it in a tub to eat with a spoon seems a logical next step. Flavour-wise the results are mixed, however. What you end up with is essentially Baileys vanilla ice cream, decorated with dark choc flakes on top and throughout. The main component giving you the liqueur flavour is the 22 per cent caramel sauce, and there is an awful lot of this gloopy mix – which is great if you enjoy the toffee taste. I personally found it rather sickly, but in fairness it is precisely what a lot of Baileys fans will want. Read More Global Counsel cleared of failing to disclose Qatari work Gianni's Cocktail Mini Pots 4 x 110ml, £2.99, Aldi 1% vodka or rum – 3/5 DON'T be fooled by the innocent appearance of these frozen cocktail pots from Aldi. They are small but the 1% booze in each tiny tub means they pack a pretty powerful punch. 10 Gianni's Cocktail Mini Pots scored 3 out of 5 Each box contains two different flavours of frozen drinks – passion fruit martini and mojito. The former contains a shot of 1% vodka and the latter 1% rum, making them a refreshing option for a warm day that will also give you a bit of a buzz. Tipsy qualities aside these mini-tipple treats are also rather tasty. My favourite was the smooth, mellow passion fruit flavour which slipped down a treat. Scoff too many of these and you might start to feel a bit squiffy. Remeo Malfy Spritz Sorbetto Lolly 3 x 70ml, £5, 5% Prosecco, 2% gin – 5/5 IF your idea of bliss is glugging an Aperol spritz or a similar bitters-themed boozy refresher in the sunshine then this aperitif on a stick should be a must in your freezer this summer. The lolly equivalent of sipping something sharp and refreshing while nibbling on some olives, this sophisticated abv sucker is classy, grown-up and really rather chic. 10 Remeo Malfy Spritz Sorbetto scored full marks For such a simple little eat with minimal ingredients, the flavours are fabulous, concentrated and extremely potent. It's made with 45 per cent blood orange along with a whopping 5% Italian sparkling wine and an added 2% orange flavour gin on top. If you love the drink you can't go wrong. Considering how much booze you get, they are great value too. Tiramisu Gelato 380g, £4.50, Sainsburys 0.5% Marsala Wine – 4/5 WITH thick coffee sauce, mascarpone ice cream, a thick cocoa dusting and a strong waft of sweet wine, merely looking at this gorgeous gelato for grown-ups was enough to make my mouth water. If you thought tiramisu – the classic Italian pud made with sponge, chocolate, coffee, soft cheese cream and Marsala wine – couldn't be beaten then you haven't tried it as an ice cream yet. 10 Tiramisu Gelato scored 4 out of 5 This drool-worthy tub doesn't just look incredible. When you get your spoon into it, the flavours are just as good too. The gelato is smooth and creamy, the thick layer of chocolate powder on top isn't too sweet and there's just enough kick from the 0.5% marsala wine. Shame you don't get much in the container.
Scottish Sun
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I tried ice creams & lollies with boozy twist… the best was a £1.70 spritz on a stick but top brand was a frozen flop
WHAT could be better than a refreshing ice lolly on a hot summer's day? How about one with an added measure of your favourite booze? 10 A refreshing ice cream or lolly is perfect for a hot summer's day Credit: Getty 10 Laura Stott tastes and rates a range of adult-only frozen puds Credit: Damien McFadden Supermarket Aldi has just introduced a range of 'hard' desserts in the form of vodka and rum-laced cocktail-flavour sorbet pots. And if that's not enough to make you feel merry in the freezer aisle, the good news is that they aren't the only alcoholic afters available. From feisty, funky ice pops to sloshed sorbets, here Laura Stott tastes and rates a range of adult-only frozen puds. Carte D'Or Rum & Raisin 825ml, £4.50, Morrisons 0.18% rum - 1/5 LIKE a hint of alcohol but not too much of the real thing? This ice cream, which contains only the tiniest amount of rum, might hit the perfect frozen spot for you. 10 Carte D'Or Rum & Raisin scored 1 out of 5 Credit: Damien McFadden There are a few rum-flavoured components, including the chocolate sauce and the raisins themselves, but the tipple taste is barely detectable. The ice cream itself was okay, but for this high price I think it could and should be a lot better – it was more of a 'whippy'-style vanilla with a light, aerated texture, and no taste or sight of the black flecks of the real bean. It also melted quickly as it's very thin. The chocolate sauce was poor quality and the cake pieces scattered over the top were dry and tasteless. You'd be better having a scoop of a decent vanilla and pouring a shot of your preferred rum over the top. Major UK airline unveils new limited edition 'snail and garlic' ice cream for holidaymakers Shuda Passion Fruit Martini Flavour Alcoholic Sorbet 250ml, £1, Iceland, 4% vodka - 3/5 PORNSTAR martini fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of slurping these boozy, slushy cocktails that are delivered in a frozen pouch. The pre-mixed sachets come as a liquid and you have to freeze them for a few hours, then cut them open and squeeze gently to enjoy a slushy sorbet-style vodka-laced fruity glugger. 10 Pornstar martini fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of slurping these boozy, slushy cocktails Sitting somewhere in the middle of a sorbet and a boozy, iced punch, it feels more like you're sipping a drink than eating a dessert but is no less enjoyable as a result. It has a nice fruity flavour but I did find them rather sweet and quite messy. They also seemed to melt rather quickly. I think they'd be best squeezed out into a bowl and slurped up that way – with an extra shot of booze added should you fancy one. Tipsies Cocktail Pops 12 x 70ml, £19.99, 5% rum, vodka and others - 3/5 IF you loved ice pops as a kid then these are the intoxicating adult equivalent. The alcohol-laced 5% abv freezer pops aren't called Tipsies for nothing. 10 Tipsies Cocktail Pops scored 3 out of 5 Each box of 12 contains a cocktail menu selection including mojito, passion fruit martini and pina colada, so you can pick your tipple and enjoy in frozen form. Details of the exact percentage of spirits included in each squiffy suck aren't given but all come in at 5% abv and are made with the real spirit the drink equivalent is based on. My favourite was the zesty and refreshing mojito flavour, which had a real kick of rum and vanished far too fast! Jude's Rum & Raisin Ice Cream 460ml, £5, Sainsburys, or £3, 4% rum - 5/5 YO ho ho and a bottle of . . . ice cream? If you want to round off your meal with a scoop or two of something that will make you feel merry then this is definitely the ice cream to opt for. 10 Jude's Rum & Raisin Ice Cream scored full marks Containing 4% rum, this pirate-friendly pud offered the second most generous measures of neat booze of all the drunken desserts I tried, and it's not subtle either – you really can taste and smell the spirit in every spoonful of this potent frozen pud. Booze aside, this is also a wonderful tasting tub. Made with fresh cream there's a melt-in-the-mouth richness that certainly tastes a cut above, and that's before you savour the masses of juicy raisins and yet more rum and raisin sauce. Watch out if you scoff the lot as you might be unable to walk straight afterwards. Baileys Ice Cream 825ml, £4.50, most supermarkets 0.21% Baileys - 2/5 BAILEYS fans will be in pudding paradise with this ice cream laced with the Irish cream liqueur. The idea of turning the famous tipple into a dessert makes a lot of sense as the sweet, rich and creamy choc and vanilla-flavoured glug – served in a glass with lots of ice – is already as good as a pud for many sippers. 10 Baileys fans will be in pudding paradise with this ice cream laced with the Irish cream liqueur Freezing it and putting it in a tub to eat with a spoon seems a logical next step. Flavour-wise the results are mixed, however. What you end up with is essentially Baileys vanilla ice cream, decorated with dark choc flakes on top and throughout. The main component giving you the liqueur flavour is the 22 per cent caramel sauce, and there is an awful lot of this gloopy mix – which is great if you enjoy the toffee taste. I personally found it rather sickly, but in fairness it is precisely what a lot of Baileys fans will want. Gianni's Cocktail Mini Pots 4 x 110ml, £2.99, Aldi 1% vodka or rum - 3/5 DON'T be fooled by the innocent appearance of these frozen cocktail pots from Aldi. They are small but the 1% booze in each tiny tub means they pack a pretty powerful punch. 10 Gianni's Cocktail Mini Pots scored 3 out of 5 Each box contains two different flavours of frozen drinks – passion fruit martini and mojito. The former contains a shot of 1% vodka and the latter 1% rum, making them a refreshing option for a warm day that will also give you a bit of a buzz. Tipsy qualities aside these mini-tipple treats are also rather tasty. My favourite was the smooth, mellow passion fruit flavour which slipped down a treat. Scoff too many of these and you might start to feel a bit squiffy. Remeo Malfy Spritz Sorbetto Lolly 3 x 70ml, £5, 5% Prosecco, 2% gin - 5/5 IF your idea of bliss is glugging an Aperol spritz or a similar bitters-themed boozy refresher in the sunshine then this aperitif on a stick should be a must in your freezer this summer. The lolly equivalent of sipping something sharp and refreshing while nibbling on some olives, this sophisticated abv sucker is classy, grown-up and really rather chic. 10 Remeo Malfy Spritz Sorbetto scored full marks For such a simple little eat with minimal ingredients, the flavours are fabulous, concentrated and extremely potent. It's made with 45 per cent blood orange along with a whopping 5% Italian sparkling wine and an added 2% orange flavour gin on top. If you love the drink you can't go wrong. Considering how much booze you get, they are great value too. Tiramisu Gelato 380g, £4.50, Sainsburys 0.5% Marsala Wine - 4/5 WITH thick coffee sauce, mascarpone ice cream, a thick cocoa dusting and a strong waft of sweet wine, merely looking at this gorgeous gelato for grown-ups was enough to make my mouth water. If you thought tiramisu – the classic Italian pud made with sponge, chocolate, coffee, soft cheese cream and Marsala wine – couldn't be beaten then you haven't tried it as an ice cream yet. 10 Tiramisu Gelato scored 4 out of 5 This drool-worthy tub doesn't just look incredible. When you get your spoon into it, the flavours are just as good too. The gelato is smooth and creamy, the thick layer of chocolate powder on top isn't too sweet and there's just enough kick from the 0.5% marsala wine. Shame you don't get much in the container.
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I tried all the supermarket pains au chocolat – winner cost just 45p each and was FULL of yummy choccie
Which are best to eat on the go? NO PAIN, NO GAIN I tried all the supermarket pains au chocolat – winner cost just 45p each and was FULL of yummy choccie Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OOH la la. When it comes to pastries, it seems many people are opting for a taste of France, as pains au chocolat fly off the shelves in supermarkets. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Laura Stott has tested all the supermarket pains au chocolat Credit: Damien McFadden 10 Pains au chocolat are flying off the shelves in supermarkets Credit: Getty Buttery, flaking and traditionally filled with two tunnels of dark cocoa, chocolate croissants have enjoyed an eight per cent rise in sales. But whether you enjoy them for breakfast, brunch, or simply with a cup of coffee as a treat, which own-brand versions give you the best taste for your dough? Laura Stott tastes a selection and rates them. Pains Au Chocolat (4) Morrisons, £1.80 (45p each) 10 These are so good you might even fool yourself that you bought them at a bakery in France Credit: Damien McFadden AN all-butter packet of pains au choc for this price means you are getting super quality for your money – and they did not disappoint on flavour. The high-grade ingredients are similar to those in costlier packets. Made in the traditional French style, these pastries look inviting, with thick wodges of dark chocolate running through the middle that ooze out of each end. The outer layers are lovely, flaky and dark golden. The dough crumbles as you bite in to enjoy the rich and yummy taste. There is loads of choccie in every mouthful, which is incredibly satisfying. Trying the largest and most expensive pain au chocolat in Paris Good warmed up, or tasty munched cold. You might even fool yourself that you bought them at a bakery in France. Rating: 5/5 Pains Au Chocolat (6) Sainsbury's, £1.60 (27p each) 10 These are individually wrapped, which makes them ideal for eating on the go Credit: Damien McFadden THE pastries in this multi-pack are individually wrapped, which makes them ideal for popping into bags to eat on the go. Enjoy them for brekkie on your commute or just saving a bit of cash when you pop out for coffee. The flavour is good, especially for the price. Made with proper butter and 14 per cent chocolate, they looked a bit squashed and sad but tasted better than I expected. The pastry is quite dense and very filling owing to a heavier texture. But it's not too stodgy, and on the plus side this did make them more substantial. A nice soft dough means these also tasted good even when eaten cold. Ideal for tucking into with a cup of coffee while sitting in the sunshine. Rating: 3/5 Finest Pains Au Chocolat (4) Tesco, £2.40 (60p each) 10 These treats from Tesco have the best dark chocolate inside Credit: Damien McFadden TRES bon, Tesco. These tasty treats had the best dark chocolate inside of all those I tried. With 18 per cent per pastry, it's a decadent and delicious dark filling that would be good enough to eat on its own if it came as a bar. Encase it in crumbling, flaky, all-butter pastry and it tastes even better. Nice, fluffy dough with lots of pastry layers and not dry at all. These are so moist and rich they taste fine if munched straight from the packet. But I'd still warm them for a few minutes in the oven or air fryer to get the gorgeous aroma and golden crispiness. Very generous pastries. Divine with a cup of coffee, and the perfect way to start a lazy weekend. Rating: 4/5 Bon Appetit Pains Au Chocolat (8) Aldi, £1.49 (19p each) 10 The chocolate is very good in these considering what great value for money they are Credit: Damien McFadden THE packet says these were baked in France – and while they might have lost a bit of their je ne sais quoi on the journey across the Channel, they don't taste bad at all for a supermarket effort. The chocolate is very good, considering what great value for money they offer with eight per pack. You get 12 per cent cocoa, which has an intense flavour. The two smooth runs of dark choc are evenly distributed through each croissant, so there is plenty to keep you happy. Lovely once warmed up, and the aroma is very appetising. The pastry, while golden and crumbly, tasted extremely sweet, and there is no butter listed in the ingredients, which does affect the texture. Rather oily when heated, too. Perfect for snacking, or as an anytime treat, and super value for money. Rating: 4/5 Pains Au Chocolat (4) M&S or £3 (75p each) 10 Marks and Spencers' offering are the biggest but also the priciest Credit: Damien McFadden WITH only four in the packet, they might be a bit pricier per croissant. But these are absolute whoppers, easily the biggest and bounciest pastries of those I tried. They are delicious, made with all-butter pastry that gives them a flaking, rich outer. It crumbles all over your chin when you bite in. The genuine French dark chocolate inside is top notch. It is thick and chunky and there is plenty of it packed into the middle, so you get the taste on every bite and don't feel short-changed. Warm these up and they taste so good you could have bought them from a Paris boulangerie. A shame they are so expensive. Rating: 3/5 Rowan Hill Pains Au Chocolat (8) Lidl, £1.29 (16p each) 10 These are cheap but you don't get much for your money Credit: Damien McFadden WHILE unbeatable on price, these were not the most enjoyable pastries I tried. The ingredients say each one contains 12 per cent chocolate, but the filling seems very mean. You do get two strips layered though the pastry but these were very thin. I found the pastry dry, chewy and unpleasantly soft, with an odd vanilla scent and flavour. Tasted more like a soft bread roll than a traditional French treat. They are a bargain, and being individually wrapped makes them useful for a grab-and-go eat. But I'd rather spend a few pence more for a better pain, or just have a piece of chocolate with my cuppa. Rating: 1/5 Bakery Pains Au Chocolat (4) Co-Op, £2.35 (59p each) 10 Co-op's offerings are better eaten warmed up Credit: Damien McFadden THESE are somewhat smaller croissants and their ratios overall seem rather unbalanced. Despite being more compact, they were generous on the chocolate filling, with double portions of tasty cocoa that's bitter and authentically French tasting, not overly sweet. Very thick pieces, too, which were satisfying to scoff. The chocolate adds good moisture to the pastry, which is needed as, despite containing 17 per cent butter, the dough outers were pale and tasted rather dry. Also, the bottoms were thick and bread-like. Better once warmed up but be careful not to burn your mouth as there's so much liquid filling inside they get oozy. Rating: 2/5 Bakery Pains Au Chocolat (8) Asda, £1.98 (25p each) 10 These have a nice hint of sweetness that's not overdone Credit: Damien McFadden SUPER value for money, and the pains au choc in this packet looked and smelled deliciously fresh. Like the Sainsbury's croissants, these offerings from Asda have a denser-tasting pastry outer, probably due to the inclusion of some rye flour, which also gives them a darker colour. Made with butter so they taste nice and rich, this also gives the flakes a lovely softness when you bite in, which I really enjoyed. A nice hint of sweetness that's not overdone. Lovely chocolate, and plenty of it. A little flat to look at and not the biggest pains on the block, but they puffed up beautifully in the oven, so you don't feel disappointed. Very tasty and a super price. Would pair well with a hot chocolate. Rating: 4/5 Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
