Supermarkets have launched their own takes on the classic mince pie this festive season (Image: Getty)
There’s a lot to consider when stocking your kitchen for Christmas, from prices to the quality of the food, to what will fit your guests’ diets and preferences. One staple of the festive season is mince pies, and with each supermarket offering its own take on this delicious Christmas treat, it’s hard to know which ones to choose.
Ahead of the festivities arriving at full speed, I opted to try some of the mince pies available at popular British supermarkets, including Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury’s. From traditional mince pies to gingerbread flavours and even a limoncello option, there’s something for everyone this Christmas. But not all of them can be the best of the best.
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Tesco has a number of mince pies on offer this Christmas (Image: Isobel pankhurst)
Tesco
Tesco shoppers are spoiled for choice this year, with the supermarket offering a range of different mince pies — including two of my favourites — the Snowy Mince Pies (£2) and the Tesco Finest Brandy Butter Mince Pies (£3.50).
Both of these offered a delicious, but different, take on the classic pie. The snowy pies are reminiscent of a Bakewell tart, with brandy butter which tastes delicious whether you’re enjoying them hot or cold.
For those looking for a more traditional mince pie, Tesco also has you covered with the Tesco Finest All Butter Pastry Mince Pies (£3). Made with French Brandy and Port, these are certainly a delicious choice, but they were also the most alcoholic-tasting of all the pies — so if this isn’t something you’re looking for, then you may want to pick a different option.
Snowy Mince Pies: 4.5/5
Brandy Butter Mince Pies: 5/5
All Butter Pastry Mince Pies: 3.5/5
Sainsbury’s mince pies are perfect straight from the oven (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Mince Pies (£1.25) are the perfect, and affordable, choice for anyone who enjoys a warm mince pie with a hot mug of mulled wine or cider. However, if you’re someone who prefers to eat their mince pies cold, then this may not be the best option, as they just weren’t quite as delicious and were a little soggy.
Sainsbury’s Mince Pies: 3/5
Asda
Asda’s Exceptional Luxury Mince Pies (£1.42) are yet another budget-friendly option that will allow you to enjoy these festive treats without putting too much stress on your wallet. These pies had a rather milder flavour than those from other supermarkets, but were still tasty nonetheless.
Alongside these, I also tried Asda’s Caramel Florentine Mince Pies (£2.98). Despite liking both Florentines and mince pies, I was initially sceptical of the pairing; however, I was pleasantly surprised and actually quite enjoyed this rather unique take on this classic Christmas treat.
Luxury Mince Pies: 3/5
Caramel Florentine Mince Pies: 3/5
Morrisons mince pies are are delicious, but perhaps aren’t the most budget-friendly (Image: Isobel Pankhurst)
Morrisons
Morrisons Best Signature Collection Mince Pies (£2) were certainly one of the most fruity-tasting of the bunch (only Waitrose’s Limoncello pies had them beat), making them a great choice for anyone looking for a less alcoholic-tasting pie.
However, at £2 for two, they definitely aren’t the cheapest option, and perhaps aren’t the best choice for those hosting big gatherings this festive season.
Morrisons Mince Pies: 3/5
Waitrose
Waitrose’s All Butter Mince Pies (£2.25) were my overall favourite of the basic mince pies and were everything you could want from this festive treat, whether you opt to have them hot or cold. Another of my favourites was their Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac (£3), which were another perfect treat straight from the oven.
This year, Waitrose also has a rather unique take on the mince pie in the form of their Golden Limoncello Mince Pies (£3), and I really wasn’t sure what to expect. While they weren’t my favourite speciality mince pie, they were still nice enough — although I would perhaps be disappointed if someone were to offer me a mince pie and give me a Limoncello one with no warning.
All Butter Mince Pies: 5/5
Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac: 4/5
Limoncello Mince Pies: 3/5
Co-op
Although they weren’t my favourite overall, I did find that Co-op’s Merry Mince Pies (£1.50) had my favourite pastry, both when compared to the other basic pies and the speciality ones.
These pies also have the benefit of being vegan, yet just as great as other non-vegan options, so you won’t have to buy multiple packs of different pies if you have any vegans visiting this Christmas.
Co-op’s Gingerbread and Maple Mince Pies (£2.85) were another speciality pie that knocked it out of the park, combining multiple festive flavours together in one delicious treat.
Co-op’s Merry Mince Pies: 4/5
Gingerbread and Maple Mince Pies: 3.5/5
The Verdict
My favourite of the basic mince pies was Waitrose’s All Butter Mince Pies, which are perfectly buttery and full of festive fruits, with a taste that just feels like Christmas.
While my favourite speciality option was Tesco Finest’s Brandy Butter Mince Pies, which I will certainly be purchasing again once my local branch has them back in stock.
All prices are correct at the time of writing.
