KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PIES...
WHO IS SERVING UP BEST MINCE PIES THIS CHRISTMAS? TRICIA PHILLIPS PUTS THE FESTIVE FAVOURITE TO THE TEST
IRRESISTIBLE ALL BUTTER PASTRY LUXURY MINCE PIES (6)
£2.25, Co-op Rich, buttery and crumbly pastry that’s the perfect thickness and packed with a delicious fruity filling with just the right hint of booze. ★★★★★
LUXURY ALL BUTTER MINCE PIES (6)
£2, Iceland Pretty with lots of filling. Pastry was crumbly and the perfect thickness but not much flavour. Mincemeat had a nice citrus flavour and the tiniest hint of booze. ★★★☆☆
EXTRA SPECIAL EXTRA INDULGENT MINCE PIES (4)
£2.50, Asda A boozy rich pie with extremely moist fruit encased in a rich, silky pastry. A little overflavoured with the spices after the first two bites but an OK pie overall. ★★★☆☆
COLLECTION MINCE PIES (6)
£2.50, Marks & Spencer Pretty, simple and packed with mouth-watering filling – lots of plump fruit and a zesty and boozy hint but not overpowering, just delightful. ★★★★★
DELUXE ALL BUTTER MINCE PIES (6)
£1.75, Lidl Perfectly formed, looked like a work of art. Pastry is crumbly and rich and just the right thickness. Filling was a little runny but tasted delish. ★★★★☆
THE BEST DEEP FILLED MINCE PIES (6)
£2.25, Morrisons Looked homemade with chunky pastry that was a little too thick, but tasted good. Filling was moist, very fruity but needed a pinch more spice and booze. ★★★☆☆
TASTE THE DIFFERENCE GINGERBREAD & WHITE CHOCOLATE BLONDIE PIES (4)
£2.25, Sainsbury’s
Festive, cute gingerbread person finish. Tasty pastry with a touch of ginger, filled with a gooey caramel layer and white chocolate and sweet almond layer.
★★★★☆
SPECIALLY SELECTED MILLIONAIRE MINCE PIES (6)
£2.29, Aldi
Oozing with chocolate, salted caramel and hazelnut filling this is a seriously sweet morsel. Packed to the brim and the buttery shortbread is a delicious mouthful.
★★★☆☆
THE BEST STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING MINCE PIES (4)
£2.25, Morrisons
A good pastry with generous amount of filling. Lower mincemeat layer was lovely and juicy, nutty topping was good but sponge layer tasted strange.
★★☆☆☆
TASTE THE DIFFERENCE FRANGIPANE MINCE PIES (4)
£2.25, Sainsbury’s
A perfect treat for almond lovers who don’t like too much mincemeat in their pies. The frangipane topping works really well with the mincemeat layer.
★★★★☆
THE BEST BILLIONAIRE’S CHOCOLATE TARTS (4)
£2.25, Morrisons
A flavour twist that really works with the filling mix of mincemeat, salted caramel and chocolate butter cream. A treat for the taste buds. Chocoholics will love it.
★★★★★
HESTON PEAR & FIG MINCE PIES IN TRIPLE CHEESE PASTRY (6) £3.50, Waitrose
Expensive but divinely different and a treat for those in the family who don’t like traditional mince pies. The cheesy pastry works perfectly with the pear and fig which resembled a sweet chutney.
★★★★☆
COOKIE CUP MINCE PIES (4)
£2.50, Marks & Spencer Plate up and you could pass off as homemade with the chunky top. Pastry is sweet, chewy, crunchy and very moreish. Good, juicy and spicy filling.
★★★★☆
EXTRA SPECIAL IRISH CREAM LIQUEUR MINCE PIES (6) £2.25, Asda
A creamy topping is the dream partner for the luscious fruit. The Irish Cream flavour isn’t overpowering, and they are not too sweet. They are so moreish it is just as well Christmas only comes once a year.
★★★★★
IRRESISTIBLE GOLDEN CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT TARTLETS (4)
£2.50, Co-op Dinky little pies with yummy chocolate pastry that’s light, crispy and filled with a melt in the mouth chocolate delight with crunchy nut topping.
★★★★☆
FINEST CHOCOLATE ORANGE CRUMBLE TOPPED MINCE PIES (6)
£2.25, Tesco
For non-pastry lovers and the younger members of the clan. Not the prettiest, a bit like a squashed Rice Krispie cake, but get past that and it’s a chocolatey delight.
★★☆☆☆