Hosts with frozen storage at the venue
If you can keep treats frozen until the hunt finishes, you can plan a separate hand-out afterwards rather than placing them among the hidden prizes.
Who is serving the treats?
Hosts checking dietary requirements
If guests have allergies or other dietary requirements, compare the exact packs you intend to serve. A vegan or gluten-free description does not establish that a cone is free from nuts or soya.
Hosts considering a bar instead of a cone
A stick or bar changes the eating format, not the need to keep the dessert frozen. Check its ingredients and pack count as you would for cones.
What should you check before buying?
Start with storage and serving time. Once those are settled, choose the format, check each guest’s requirements and count the portions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen storage | Read the pack’s storage instructions. Sainsbury’s Strawberry & Vanilla Cones say to keep frozen and not refreeze once defrosted; Magnum Classic specifies storage at -18°C. | I can keep the treats frozen until everyone is ready to receive one after the hunt. If I cannot, I’ll use a non-frozen prize for the hunt itself. |
| Eating format | Decide whether guests will receive a cone or a stick or bar. Both are frozen desserts in the product examples here; changing shape does not solve the storage question. | A cone is the treat I have in mind, or a bar is easier to fit into my post-hunt plan. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Compare the ingredient and allergen information on each exact pack, including precautionary statements. Sainsbury’s Cornetto Vegan & Gluten Free listing describes a soya-based ice cream with hazelnut pieces. | I need to check each guest’s requirements against the treat they will actually receive, rather than assuming every cone from a brand has the same ingredients. |
| Portion count | Count the treats in each pack against the expected guests. The listed Cornetto Classico pack contains six 90ml cones; Sainsbury’s Strawberry & Vanilla Cones contain four 110ml cones. | There should be a portion for each person I plan to serve, with any extra packs kept frozen until needed. |
Planning mistakes to avoid
-
Hiding a frozen cone with the eggs
Sainsbury’s Strawberry & Vanilla Cones must be kept frozen and must not be refrozen after defrosting. A cone left out during the hunt does not fit those instructions.
Keep frozen treats in suitable storage until the hunt ends, then hand them out promptly. Use a non-frozen item for the hidden prize.
-
Assuming a vegan or gluten-free cone suits every allergy
The Cornetto Vegan & Gluten Free product listed by Sainsbury’s contains soya and hazelnut pieces. Those ingredients still matter when allocating treats.
Check the ingredients and allergen statement on the exact pack for each guest’s requirements.
-
Counting packs instead of portions
The examples include four-cone and six-cone packs. One pack will not necessarily provide one treat for every participant.
Count expected guests, read the pack quantity and plan how the required packs will remain frozen.
-
Relying on another variant’s ingredient list
A cone and a bar, or two cones sold under the same brand, can contain different ingredients. The vegan Cornetto listing, for example, identifies soya and hazelnut pieces.
Keep the packaging for the treats being served so guests can inspect the relevant label.
Brand and retailer examples
These examples show how pack size, format and ingredients can change the choice; check the particular product rather than treating a brand name as an allergen guide.
Cornetto
Cone packs include Cornetto Classico and a separate Vegan & Gluten Free variant.
- ASDA lists Cornetto Classico as six 90ml cones.
- Sainsbury’s Vegan & Gluten Free listing describes soya-based ice cream with hazelnut pieces; check whether that specific variant suits your guests.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Strawberry & Vanilla Cones provide a four-cone pack option.
- The listed pack contains four 110ml cones, making the portion count clear for planning.
- Its instructions say to keep frozen and not refreeze once defrosted.
Magnum
Magnum Classic is a stick-shaped alternative to the cone packs.
- Magnum identifies its Classic product as a pack of six 100ml ice creams.
- Magnum instructs customers to store it at -18°C, so it is a post-hunt serving option, not a hidden prize.
Joybuy cones and bars for after the hunt
These cone multipacks and one bar multipack suit a planned hand-out after the hunt, provided you can follow each pack’s frozen-storage instructions. Choose by portion count, format and the ingredients on the pack you receive.
No image available
Cornetto MAX Pistachio Ice Cream Cones 4 x 90ml
For a post-hunt hand-out when you need four cone portions and can keep them frozen until serving.
Contains milk, wheat and pistachios; other nuts and cereals may be present. Check the exact pack label for each guest.
No image available
Cornetto Mint Ice Cream Cones 6 x 90ml
A six-cone option for serving after the hunt, rather than hiding during it.
Keep frozen. The product information lists milk, wheat or gluten and hazelnuts, with possible additional allergens; check the exact pack before serving.
No image available
Cadbury Flake 99 Cones 4 x 125ml
Four cone portions for a hand-out after the hunt, if they can remain frozen until then.
The product information lists milk, soya and wheat, and says mustard and nuts may be present. Check the exact pack before allocating treats.
No image available
Cornetto Classico Ice Cream Cones 6 x 90ml
A six-portion cone pack for serving once the hunt has finished.
Store at -18°C or below and do not refreeze once thawed. The product information lists milk, wheat or gluten and hazelnuts, with possible additional allergens; check the pack label.
No image available
Snickers Chocolate Peanut Ice Cream Bars 4 x 45.6g
A four-bar alternative when you want a bar rather than a cone for the post-hunt hand-out.
Store at -18°C. The product information lists milk, peanuts and soybeans; check the exact pack before serving guests with allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hide ice-cream cones around the garden?
Use them as a post-hunt dessert instead. Sainsbury’s Strawberry & Vanilla Cones say to keep frozen and not refreeze once defrosted, so keep frozen treats in suitable storage until you are ready to hand them out.
Does a vegan and gluten-free cone suit everyone with allergies?
No. Sainsbury’s listing for Cornetto Vegan & Gluten Free describes soya-based ice cream and hazelnut pieces. Check the ingredients and allergen statement on the exact pack against each guest’s requirements.
What should I keep available when serving the treats?
Keep the original packaging so guests can check the ingredients and allergen information for the particular treats being served. The Food Standards Agency says food businesses need to tell customers when a listed allergen is an ingredient in food they provide.