The great mince pie taste test! FEMAIL tries out 27 festive pastries from supermarkets across the UK to find the best treat – and a VERY surprising variety comes out on top

• FEMAIL tried pies from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Alid, Lidl and more to see the best 
• READ MORE:  The great Christmas sandwich taste test

There’s a chill in the air, snowdays are afoot and the radio is filled with Michael Buble and Mariah Carey, the countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun.

And nothing makes the start of the festive season more than the first bite of a mince pie.

But with supermarkets offering more options every year, how do you know which is a tasty treat and which is a festive flop? 

From ultra luxury all-butter pies, to the quirky alternatives made from cherry and chocolate – there’s dozens of treats to tempt your tastebuds.

Waitrose have seen mince pie sales up 46 per cent compared to the same time last year, with people more keen than ever to get a festive bite.

Here, FEMAIL tastes 27 mince pies to reveal which are worth a spot of the Christmas table, and which are best left on the shelf… 

Best mince pies (in supermarkets) 

Sainsbury’s Free From Mince Pies 

£2.00 for four 

Rating:

These mince pies boast impeccable pastry, topped with a generous dusting of sugar. 

The filling was indulgently rich and bursting with flavour. Dangerously moreish!  – Rebekah Absalom 

Sainsbury’s Free From Mince Pies was the best on the list with five stars

Waitrose Duchy Organic 4 All Butter Mince Pies

£3.25 for four 

Rating:

This one is absolutely perfect and elegantly distils everything that makes a good mince pie. 

The filling is spiced but not overbearingly fragrant and the pastry is perfectly contained – soft and crumbly without losing its structure.

It also has the perfect ratio of mincemeat to pastry, making it for the perfect contained bite. – Elmira Tanatarova

Both Waitrose All Butter Mince pies and gluten free mince pies were branded perfect

Waitrose Free From Milk & Gluten Free Mince Pies

 £2.75 for four

Rating:

The crème de la crème of gluten-free mince pies! 

The sugar-dusted pastry has a soft consistency, but isn’t overly crumbly, while the filling strikes the perfect balance between vine fruits, cranberries, cinnamon and orange peel. Utterly irresistible  – Rebekah Absalom

Aldi Luxury All Butter Mince Pies 

£1.69 for six 

Rating:

These mince pies are delicious and feel very upmarket. The pastry is soft and crumbly without falling apart and the mincemeat feeling amount is ideal – enough to pack a flavourful punch without being too fragrant and heavy. –  Elmira Tanatarova

Aldi Luxury All Butter Mince Pies were called ‘very upmarket’

Morrisons Tiramisu Tart 

£2.50 for four 

Rating:

I’m not a mince pie fan which is why I loved this Morrisons take on the festive staple – the tiramisu tart with a coffee sponge and gooey chocolatey centre was an indulgent treat for sure, and it was topped with a sweet wine buttercream – Zeenia Naqvee 

The Tiramisu tart was called an indulgent treat by Zeenia

OMV! Crumble Top Mince Pies Plant-based by ASDA

£2.00 for four 

Rating:

It’s difficult to craft good vegan pastry and these do a great job of it. 

The cinnamon and ginger crumble give the pie a special touch that doesn’t overwhelm the mincemeat mix and is the perfect size for an after-dinner sweet treat.  – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said the cinnamon and ginger crumble give these pies a special touch

Aldi Specially Selected Millionaire’s Crumble Mince Pies

£2.49 for six 

Rating:

These were absolutely delectable and moreish – I ate three of them in a row. 

They have the same deliciously coca-powdery flavour Coco Puffs have, accentuated with a lovely, fragrant mince mix. 

The pastry also held up very well, and the crumble added an extra sweet touch.

Elmira said these were absolutely delectable and moreish, she  ate three of them in a row

Tesco Spiced Rum Mince Pie

£2.50 for four 

Rating:

The filling was amazing and definitely had a big hit of rum, was rather alcoholic but I liked that. 

However pastry was a bit thick, which made it a bit dry. – Kirsten Murray

Kirsten said ‘definitely had a big hit of rum’ in these pies

Aldi Ballycastle Mince Pies 

£2.49 for six 

Rating:

Has a very nice Bailey’s-like cream filling, although it could be a bit too sweet for some. Better suited to the most serious of mince pie connoisseurs. – Sean O’Grady 

A classic. It has the perfect balance of pastry with mince and the sugar on top makes for a satisfying finish.  -Sean O’Grady

Sean said: ‘It has the perfect balance of pastry with mince’

Aldi Holly Lane Puff Pastry Mince Pies

 £1.99 for six

Rating:

A classic. It has the perfect balance of pastry with mince and the sugar on top makes for a satisfying finish.  – Sean O’Grady

Sean said these alternatives had a ‘satisfying finish’

Waitrose No.1 4 Crumble Top Mince Pies with Cranberry & Orange 

£3.75 for four 

Rating:

This is a perfectly delicious mince pie but it doesn’t strictly deliver what it promises – I tasted no detectable flavours of orange or cranberry. 

It’s a perfectly tasty treat and the crumble on top adds a fun take on a classic Christmas staple. 

However, it’s an otherwise regular pie that tries to claim it’s more than it is. – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said: ‘This is a perfectly delicious mince pie but it doesn’t strictly deliver what it promises’

Waitrose Free From Milk & Gluten Free Mince Pies  (star topped)

£2.60 for two 

Rating:

Ideal for those who favour a heartier filling-to-pastry ratio, these giant mince pies are packed with a rich blend of vine fruits, cranberries, cinnamon and orange peel. 

However, they might be a touch too sweet for some palettes. -Rebekah Absalom

Rebekah said these pies  ‘might be a touch too sweet for some palettes’

Waitrose All Butter Mince Pies

£2.60 for six 

Rating:

Individually, the elements of this are perfect- the mincemeat tastes great and the pastry is buttery and rich.

However, it feels like it’s too soft to hold in the quite plentiful filling so ends up falling apart in your hands. Perfect if you’re happy to eat it with a fork on your plate.  – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said these pies were ‘too soft to hold in the quite plentiful filling’

LIDL Deluxe – Brandy Crumble Mince Pies

£2.49 for six 

Rating:

These were fun and flavourful, and the crumbly pastry on top was deliciously sweet without making the whole thing taste too dry. 

The mincemeat was lightly accented with the brandy in way that didn’t feel too intense and they were a very manageable moreish size that keeps you coming back! – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said: ‘These were fun and flavourful, and the crumbly pastry on top was deliciously sweet’

Co-op All Butter Mince Pies

£2.75 for six 

Rating:

These mince pies live up to their name. The buttery pastry is the star of the show- it’s rich and delicious just as the branding describes.

I found the mince filling slightly to alcoholic for my liking, which is why I’ve knocked one star off the rating. Overall, I would buy these again. – Alanah Khlosa

Alanah said these were ‘slightly too alcoholic’

Sainsbury’s Mince Pies with All Butter Pastry, Taste the Difference

£1.75 for six 

Rating:

These were fine, but didn’t hit the spot. The pastry was incredible but the mincemeat – which is meant to be the star of the show – fell flat.

‘It was underwhelming and lacked the spiciness and punch it needs to bring. – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said: ‘It was underwhelming and lacked the spiciness’

Co-op Irresistible 4 Black Forest Mince Pies 

£2.65 for four 

Rating:

These are delicious and fun – but just a little bit too boozy! As a fan of fun twists on the traditional recipe, this hit the spot between bringing a fun and equally festive flavour and also complementing the tangy mincemeat. 

However, the kirsch is overwhelmingly heavy and takes over the whole thing. The textures are fun, with the soft pastry going perfectly with the slightly hardened frosting and chewy filling.  – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said these were ‘slightly hardened frosting and chewy filling’

Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Crumble Topped Mince Pies 

Rating:

Separately, all the elements of this were good. The crumble was nice, the salted caramel was perfectly balanced and the pastry and mince were perfectly fine – however, all together, these flavours and textures clashed too much. 

‘They were all competing for flavour dominance instead of settling into harmony.  – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said these were ‘competing for flavour dominance’

Worst mince pies (in supermarkets) 

M&S Made Without Mince Pies

£3 for four 

Rating:

The pastry crumbled after the first bite – a big letdown. The filling had a distinct orange flavour that was reminiscent of marmalade. 

They were tasty but didn’t quite capture the  essence of traditional mince pies.– Rebekah Absalom 

‘The pastry crumbled after the first bite – a big letdown’ Rebekah said

ASDA Extra Special 6 Chocolate & Cherry Crumble Mince Pies 

£2.75 for six 

Rating:

The texture and chocolatey pastry of these pies were lovely, but the cherry filling didn’t mesh well with the mincemeat. 

The cherry’s sweet acidity was stripped away by the intensity of the filling and just added a strange texture that didn’t elevate the offering. – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said: ‘The cherry’s sweet acidity was stripped away by the intensity of the filling’

Morrisons Cherry Bakewell Mince Pies

£2.50 for four 

Rating:

These mice pies are nice, and you definitely get the cherry flavours with a hint of mice pie. But it’s a little bit too dry and the ration of fruit cake isn’t even as there’s too much cake.

‘Nice idea, especially because cherry Bakewell’s are my favourite, but this didn’t quite work overall. – Krsitin Murray

Kristen said: ‘Nice idea, especially because cherry Bakewell’s are my favourite, but this didn’t quite work overall’

Aldi Specially Selected Frangipane Mince Pies 

£2.49 for six 

Rating:

These pies braved an experimental combination of flavours, but it sadly didn’t work out. 

The frangipane rather overwhelmed the mince and was too dry, feeling heavy in the mouth.

It didn’t taste bad, but it didn’t really taste like a mince pie!  – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said: ‘The frangipane rather overwhelmed the mince and was too dry’

Lidl – Salted Caramel Crumble Mince Pies

Rating:

For the fun-flavour mince pie enthusiast, this sadly won’t hit the spot.

The frangipane rather overwhelmed the mince and was too dry in the mincemeat. The mincemeat also overwhelms the caramel so much that you only really end up tasting a salty mix of currants.

 However, if you do happen to like the flavours, it’s structurally very sound and the crumbly texture is the perfect crisp topping to the soft pastry. – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said: ‘The frangipane rather overwhelmed the mince and was too dry’

Lidl, All Butter Mince Pies

£2.19 for six 

Rating:

As a lover of the colder time of year and the seasonal treats it brings, I was pleasantly surprised with this mince pie – having been my first time trying it. 

Aesthetically, I enjoyed the look of these mince pies as they were decorated with a delightful star on top and sprinkled with icing sugar. They would certainly make a festive addition to any Christmas day dining table. 

There was quite a lot of pastry with these ones, however, I didn’t mind this too much as it wasn’t too dry and had a decent amount of seasonal flavour. 

As for the filling, I personally found this too citrusy for my liking and would have enjoyed a better balance with its sweet and sour accents. Overall, I can see why this mince pie might be a nice treat for sharing with friends and family throughout the Christmas period, however, I’m not too sure if this one I would reach for.  -Ffion Haf 

Ffion thought the flavour was ‘too strong’ in citrus

Aldi Caramelised Apple Crumble Mince Tarts 

£2.49 for six 

Rating:

 This one is more on the average side. It doesn’t have enough mince for a mince pie and the almond topping is on the dry side. – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira said these were ‘on the dry side’

Essential Shortcrust Mince Pies 

£1.60 for six 

Rating:

These feel hefty and bulky to eat. The mincemeat mix is lovely but isn’t complemented by a soft buttery flavour that Waitrose’s other selections offer. 

However, these will likely be a good pick for anyone who finds mince pie pastry too sweet. – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira thought these were too sweet

M&S Collections Chocolate & Hazelnut Mince Pies 

£4 for four 

Rating:

Traditionalists avert your eyes, for this collision of chocolate, hazelnuts and mincemeat takes things off piste. 

It’s not that all the ingredients aren’t individually delicious – there’s plenty of buttery pastry in a deep case, a generous portion of nuts, a tasty milk chocolate filling and the M&S Collection mincemeat is high quality. 

It’s just sandwiching it all together doesn’t quite come off – mostly because the thick chocolate and the mincemeat just end up feeling a bit claggy. Put simply, the flavours work, but the texture doesn’t. – Joanna Tweedy

Jo said these flavours don’t mesh together

Coop Merry Mince Pies

£1.25 for four 

Rating:

These were simply – awful. 

There is zero structural integrity to the pastry, which crumbled apart all over me as I bit into it, and the mincemeat was absolutely flavourless.

 I couldn’t even stomach a full pie. – Elmira Tanatarova

Elmira called these mince pies ‘simply awful’

Morrisons Free From Mince Pies 

£2 for four 

Rating:

The pastry was hard and the filling left much to be desired. – Rebekah Absalom

‘The pastry was hard and the filling left much to be desired’ said Rebekah

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