CAKES AND PIES

Nothing says Christmas like a rich, dark, boozy cake and a spicy fruit mince pie covered in melt-in-the-mouth pastry

IT’S FREE AND FAIR

Taste is a subjective thing, we know, and when you gather a group of people together as we did with Sunday Times readers and ask them to blind-taste a range of readymade Christmas cakes and mince pies from four retailers, there are winners and losers. The tasters were asked to rate the two items according to price, appearance, taste and fruitiness - and pastry for the mince pies. Auditor Morne Kok oversaw the event, tallied the scores and gave the tasting his stamp of approval.

CHRISTMAS CAKES AND MINCE PIES

Whatever your religion, Christmas cakes and mince pies are an integral part of the festive season, steeped in tradition — and fruit. If you don’t have time to make your own, see what an invited panel of 42 tasters — including two professionals — thought of the cakes and mince pies.