M&S has done it again. Just when I thought we’d reached peak Big Daddy, the supermarket has only gone and turned its cult chocolate bar into a frozen dessert.
If you’ve somehow managed to avoid the Big Daddy phenomenon so far, allow me to bring you up to speed. What started as a god-tier chocolate bar has become one of M&S’s must-buy treats. I’m seemingly unable to walk past a store without throwing one in my basket.
For me, it’s not far off Colin or Percy territory now in terms of confectionary status. Big claim. And the latest incarnation might just be our favourite yet.
The new Big Daddy Pistachio Frozen Dessert costs £15 for 681g and it takes everything that makes the chocolate bar so good and gives it the Viennetta-but-better treatment. Granted, it’s not cheap, but they reckon it will serve 10 people. Good one, guys.
Inside, you get layers of pistachio semifreddo, ribbons of oozy salted caramel and pistachio pieces, all topped with a seriously generous layer of milk chocolate. Honestly, it’s divine.
Timing is key with this and you’ll need a little patience to ensure you eat it at peak deliciousness. Go in too soon and that thick milk chocolate will be hard as nails, but give it five minutes and suddenly the spoon cracks through the shell, getting into the creamy, nutty innards.
And look, I appreciate it’s getting a bit chilly now – after all, it was only yesterday I was singing the praises of Marks & Spencer’s new hot dessert range – but having one of these safely stashed in the freezer for when I need a little sweet-treat pick-me-up is really getting me through these darker nights.
For die-hard fans, M&S has also launched a £12 Advent calendar. Behind each of the 24 doors are peanut and pistachio bites, followed by a 36g Little Big Daddy peanut bar for Christmas Day. And, remarkably, it’s still available. Run, don’t walk.
Sorry, Viennetta, it’s been fun, but it’s Big Daddy’s world now.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk