This Must-Buy Aldi Frozen Dessert Is A French Classic In 4 Flavors (But Skip The Eclairs)

Aldi may be a German-born grocery chain, but it also offers classic French desserts under its Specially Selected brand. As a higher-end, premium-tier label, Specially Selected is dedicated to offering a more gourmet line of foods, which fits with fancy frozen French desserts. However, not all treats are hit. After reviewing which frozen desserts to buy (and which to avoid), we found that while Aldi's Specially Selected macarons are a classic that you should put in your cart, the frozen chocolate eclairs miss the mark.

The Specially Selected Mini Éclairs Dessert Pastries appear to be delectable, bite-sized desserts filled with silky cream, but the pictures on the box were deceiving. Not only were they misshapen and asymmetrical, they also had a disappointingly meager amount of cream filling. Worse still, what little cream there was tasted bland and forgettable. This French dessert may not be worth the money, but the macarons certainly are. Specially Selected Assorted Chocolate Macarons feature four different flavors, including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and mocha. We could differentiate the nuanced flavors of each macaron clearly, and they were all delicious. There was an ideal ratio of filling to shell, which also provided the perfect textural contrast between the crackly, crunchy, almond flour shell and the rich, creamy and chewy filling. In true Aldi fashion, this box of macarons is a steal at only $4.99, which is a price you certainly won't find at a fancy French pastry shop. The macarons don't require heating up, but they do need 45 minutes to defrost in the refrigerator to maintain their delicate integrity.

Customer reviews on social media agreed with our assessment of the Specially Selected Assorted Chocolate Macarons. One fan on Instagram gave them a respectable 7/10 rating, and was especially complimentary of the mocha flavor, which they said "had a nicely balanced coffee flavor." A reviewer on YouTube seconded this opinion about the mocha macarons having the strongest and most distinctive flavor, but was also a fan of the milk chocolate and thought the dark chocolate tasted like a brownie. Many thought Aldi nailed the delicate texture of these macarons, but a complaint for some was that half of the flavors were muted or not representative of the type of chocolate in question.

Still, we loved these macarons in all of their chocolate flavors and think you will, too. You can enjoy them as a snack with a cup of coffee, tea, or bold cold brew. As an elegant after-dinner dessert, you can pair them with Champagne or a crisp white wine. They'd also make a nice addition to a bowl of vanilla, chocolate, or coffee-flavored ice cream. If you want to think outside of the box, you could add these macarons to your next cheese board, as chocolate and cheese could just be the decadent duo you never knew you needed.