Hosts serving a larger group
If guests will return for another scoop, consider a 1.8–2 litre tub as the main dessert. Tesco, Waitrose and Asda list tubs in this size range; check how much freezer space you have before buying.
Who is choosing the dessert?
Hosts offering a choice of flavours
Two 900ml tubs let you offer different flavours without relying on one smaller tub for everyone. Check the capacity of each flavour rather than assuming all tubs contain the same amount.
Hosts accommodating dietary or allergy needs
Choose a separately labelled option for the relevant guest, then read the current pack’s ingredients and suitability warnings. A plant-based or vegan label does not, by itself, establish suitability for every allergy.
What matters when choosing a tub?
Decide which tub will provide the main dessert, then consider extra flavours and any separately labelled options guests need.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Enough dessert | Compare total tub capacity with the guest list and planned portions. Tesco and Waitrose list 2-litre tubs, while Asda lists a 1.8-litre Wall’s tub. Sainsbury’s describes its own 900ml Triple Chocolate tub as approximately nine servings; that figure applies to that product. | I want enough for the guests I expect, without treating a small additional flavour as the main dessert. |
| Flavour choice | Check whether one large flavour or several smaller tubs suit the spread. Tesco lists 900ml tubs as well as 2-litre options; Sainsbury’s lists a 900ml Triple Chocolate tub. | A choice between flavours matters more to my guests than serving everything from one large tub. |
| Outdoor serving | Read each pack’s frozen-storage and serving instructions. The M&S Plant Based Soy Joy product specifies storage at −18°C and says not to refreeze; Sainsbury’s also says not to refreeze its Triple Chocolate tub once defrosted. | I need freezer space for reserve tubs and a plan for bringing dessert out as it is served. |
| Dietary suitability | Check the exact product’s ingredients, allergen declarations and precautionary statements. M&S labels its Plant Based Soy Joy product vegan but also lists allergy and coeliac unsuitability warnings. | Someone avoiding dairy or managing an allergy needs an option checked against their specific requirements, not just a different flavour. |
What can go wrong?
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Assuming every tub is party-sized
Waitrose lists Häagen-Dazs tubs at 420ml and 650ml alongside a 2-litre Essential Vanilla Soft Scoop tub. Those sizes play different roles when serving a group.
Choose the main dessert by capacity first; treat a smaller tub as an extra flavour unless its size suits the number of guests.
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Treating vegan and allergy suitability as the same thing
M&S labels its Plant Based Soy Joy Cookie Dough product vegan, but its product information says it is unsuitable for people with several specified allergies and for coeliacs.
Ask guests which restrictions matter and check the current label of the exact dessert you intend to serve.
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Leaving all the tubs outdoors throughout the party
The M&S and Sainsbury’s products cited here instruct customers to keep them frozen and not to refreeze them after defrosting.
Follow each pack’s instructions, keep reserve tubs frozen and bring out dessert as it is needed rather than putting every tub on the table at once.
Brand and retailer references
These ranges illustrate different tub sizes and dessert styles; check the particular product and local assortment when making your choice.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label 2-litre and 900ml ice cream tubs, giving hosts a choice between a larger single tub and smaller flavour options.
- Its listing includes 2-litre soft-scoop and Cornish ice creams.
- Check the current assortment for the flavours and sizes you want.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists a 2-litre Essential Vanilla Soft Scoop tub, a 1-litre vanilla tub and smaller Häagen-Dazs flavours.
- The listed sizes allow a large vanilla base and an additional smaller flavour.
- A smaller flavour tub should not be counted as the same volume as the 2-litre option.
M&S Food
M&S describes a frozen-dessert range that includes ice cream tubs, Plant Kitchen options and sorbets.
- Its range offers different dessert types to consider for a mixed spread.
- Check the exact pack: its vegan-labelled Plant Based Soy Joy product carries separate allergy and coeliac warnings.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists a 900ml Triple Chocolate tub with an approximate nine-serving reference specific to that product.
- The product page provides ingredients, allergen information and frozen-storage instructions.
- It says the tub is unsuitable for customers with peanut or nut allergy due to manufacturing methods.
Asda
Asda lists a 1.8-litre Wall’s Soft Scoop Vanilla tub among its ice cream tubs.
- The stated size makes it a candidate for the main sharing tub.
- The Wall’s product lists milk as an allergen; check its current label before serving.
Häagen-Dazs
Waitrose & Partners lists Häagen-Dazs flavours in 420ml and 650ml tubs, sizes suited to consideration as an additional flavour.
- A smaller tub can add another flavour alongside a larger main dessert.
- Check its capacity before relying on it as the only tub for a larger group.
Joybuy frozen dessert options
These Joybuy tubs cover a two-tub dairy ice cream pack, smaller flavours and a plant-based option for a garden-party dessert spread. Choose quantities and check labels against the guests you are serving.
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Mackie’s of Scotland Traditional Real Dairy Ice Cream, 2 × 1 litre
The two separate tubs provide 2 litres in total and let you bring out one tub while keeping the other frozen. Check the current pack for milk, egg and precautionary nut and peanut information before serving.
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Windy Bank Triple Chocolate Gelato Ice Cream 900ml
This 900ml chocolate tub can provide another flavour alongside the main dessert. Check the current pack for milk, soya and precautionary nut and peanut information.
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Kulfi Ice Original Malai Tub 1L
The 1-litre malai tub offers a different dessert style as part of a wider spread. It contains milk; check the current pack label and plan portions before deciding whether one tub is enough.
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XO ICE Mango and Coconut Gelato, Plant Based, 473ml
This 473ml plant-based, dairy-free tub is a separately labelled option rather than the main dessert for a larger group. Its product information flags coconut and precautionary statements for other allergens; check the current pack against each guest’s requirements.
Questions about serving and suitability
What tub size should I use for a larger garden party?
Consider a 1.8–2 litre tub for the main dessert, then check the guest count and the portions you plan to serve. Tesco, Waitrose and Asda list tubs in that size range. Sainsbury’s states approximately nine servings for its particular 900ml Triple Chocolate tub, but that is not a serving rule for other products.
Can a smaller flavour tub be the only dessert?
It may suit a small gathering, but check its capacity against your planned portions. Waitrose & Partners lists Häagen-Dazs tubs at 420ml and 650ml alongside a 2-litre soft-scoop tub; a smaller flavour can instead accompany the main dessert.
How should I store tubs before serving?
Keep them frozen and follow the instructions on each pack. The cited M&S product specifies −18°C and says not to refreeze, while Sainsbury’s says not to refreeze its Triple Chocolate tub once defrosted. Plan freezer space for tubs you are not yet serving.
Is a vegan dessert suitable for every guest with an allergy?
No. M&S labels its Plant Based Soy Joy product vegan but also states that it is unsuitable for people with milk, nut, peanut or egg allergy and for coeliacs. Check the current label of the exact product against each guest’s requirements.