MINCE PIES/MULLED WINE

WINNER Tesco Finest 6 Mince Pies 82/100 £2 for 6 Everything a mince pie should be. An attractive, light-gold pastry topped with a festive snowflakeshaped lid, sprinkled with sugar. We loved the mouthwatering Christmassy aroma of mincemeat and mixed spices. These pies tasted delicious, too – juicy mincemeat infused with cognac and port for a subtle alcoholic kick. The balance between sweet and tart is spot on.

RUNNERS-UP

Iceland Luxury 6 Mince Pies

81/100 £1.50 for 6 A freshly baked tasting, all-butter pastry case deeply filled with flavoursome vine-fruit mincemeat, complemented by an appetising aroma of cinnamon, cloves and brandy. We loved the luxuriously spiced, juicy raisins and thick shortbread pastry. Tasters adored the charming star design finely

dusted with icing sugar.

Gail’s Mince Pies 76/100 £1.50 for 1 or £8 for 6; Gailsbread.co.uk A classic with a twist. The sugar-encrusted pastry lid is a well-baked, golden brown with uneven edges for a rustic, home-made look. We enjoyed the caramelised aroma and the boozy spiced notes from the filling. A punchy tasting mince pie – the strong orange, citrus and blackberry-like flavours added a sharpness that divided tasters: while some loved it, others would have preferred a little more sweetness.

Lidl Deluxe Luxury Mince Pies

74/100 £1.49 for 6 This mince pie was praised for its sweet, nutty flavour. The addition of almond and walnuts married well with juicy fruit in a cognac-laced, gooey filling. We loved the mix of nutmeg and cloves with cinnamon. An embossed star tops a light-coloured pastry with golden crimped edges, sprinkled lightly with sugar. While we enjoyed the buttery pastry, the texture was a little dry.

Marks & Spencer Collection Mince Pies

73/100 £2.50 for 6 Worth tucking into, this sweet treat is the perfect balance of booze and Christmassy spice. The crumbly, buttery pastry is dusted with icing sugar and filled generously with brandy-soaked raisins, clementines and glacé cherries for a jammy, sweet, zesty filling, and finished with a pretty snowflake-topped star design. Some testers loved the refreshing citrus kick, while others found it too acidic.

Top your warm mince pies with a dollop of Greek yoghurt and some toasted almonds for a healthier alternative to brandy butter.