I was in ALDI buying the Christmas Turkey the other day when I took the opportunity to scour the party food freezers as I walked towards the till. Now I really shouldn't be buying more ice cream seeing as we could open a gelateria from our utility room, but I spotted these curious Ice Cream Chocolates for less than a pound and didn't resist. Is there any alcoholic drink more festive than Irish Cream? Yes, OK, Mulled Wine. Still, Christmas Day is the ultimate excuse to crack open the Bailey's, comfort our food babies and indulge in the knowledge that we won't need to move from the sofa all evening. Until then, ALDI's Irish Cream Ice Cream Chocolates would serve to whet my appetite for the slick liqueur due to hit my tastebuds next Sunday.
"Irish cream flavoured ice cream with a chocolate flavoured centre, chocolate flavoured coating and amaretti pieces."
The box contained ten 10ml ice creams on a gold chocolate box-esque platter, which I thought was a lovely touch. They were dinky little barrels that would have looked perfectly at home nestled amongst the Thornton's selection.
The chocolates were extremely soft straight from the freezer, and the middle was more mousse like than ice cream which made them a little messy to eat. There was a definite Bailey's kick to them though. I shared the 10 with my other half and didn't tell him what flavour they were until he looked disgusted at me when biting into them (he's tee-total). Sorry Bert. I really couldn't distinguish the 'chocolate flavoured centre' against the Irish cream, and only know it existed thanks to the photo evidence.
As for the chocolate casing, it wasn't particularly thick or of great quality, but then I didn't expect it to scream indulgence given that the ice creams are part of ALDI's 99p party range. The amaretti biscuits studded in the chocolate were tasty however and they added a welcome crunchiness, as well as a little almond to the flavour mix.
I wouldn't rush out to buy these Irish Cream Ice Cream Chocolates again, but I also wouldn't refuse a few if offered at Christmas.
6/10
I mustn't be the only person who does this- who buys Christmas food meant for the day itself (or Boxing Day in this case) but who gives into temptation ahead of time? No? Well, I'd bought some party food with the best of intentions, and I swear these mini brownies called to me from the freezer "Eat me! Eat me!"
So, with only a few days to go, the Brownies got opened. I bought them from Sainsbury's frozen range as part of their 3 for £5 party food deal.The packet advises that you can eat them cold or hot, but why not have them warm and gooey? Handily, they come in individual cases so you can microwave one (or more) at a time. I popped 4 in the microwave for the stated 25 seconds, but they came out tepid and -as I was eating them with ice cream- I nuked them for a further 10 seconds.
The brownies offered an intense dark chocolate burst, and despite the extra microwaving, maintained a small but undeniably gooey centre. They were as as squidgy as any good home-made brownie, however they are only tiny, so even the two I ate didn't touch the sides!
If you're looking for sweet, inexpensive party food nibbles, and are a chocolate fiend like myself then I recommend these mini melt-in-the-middle brownies from Sainsbury's.
8/10
