With just a few weeks to go until Christmas, mince pie season is well and truly here and all the supermarkets are launching their offers.
Some have opted for classic ground beef recipes, while others have opted for more experimental variations, but in all cases, the holiday spirit is in the air with every bite.
And which consumer group? We’ve commissioned a panel of experts to give their verdict on which ones you should include in your shopping cart and which ones are best left on the shelf.
The judging panel was made up of four baking experts: Bake Off: The Professionals 2022 winner Nathan Rave, Great British Bake Off 2010 winner Edd Kimber, award-winning baker and food writer Dan Lepard and pastry chef and author Shaheen Peerbhai.
This year, they were responsible for awarding Which?’s Best Buy and Great Value endorsements, which are only awarded “to the best products, according to their independent testing.”
Natalie Hitchins, which one? Head of Home Products and Services, said: ‘For many of us, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a mince pie. There’s nothing like that buttery, fruity flavor to get you in the holiday spirit.
“Our experts tested premium mince pies from the UK’s biggest supermarkets to find out which ones could make this festive season that little bit more special without stretching the budget too far.”
Looking at the cakes, the culinary experts wanted ones with an attractive golden appearance and a rich, buttery, well-baked dough. A flavorful filling with a good balance of fruits and spices was also desired.
Here, FEMAIL looks at how the supermarket selection fared this year…
WHICH? BEST BUY RECOMMENDATION
Waitrose No.1 Brown Butter Mince Tarts with Cognac
£4 for six, 67p per pie
The winning selection from this year’s blind taste test for Which?’s expert panel It was a Waitrose deal and got a Best Buy recommendation.
“The winning pies impressed with a delicious pastry, a tempting aroma and a generous filling of nuts, spices and citrus, with a subtle alcoholic warmth,” the consumer group said.
“They also had a traditional home look that the experts appreciated.”
The Waitrose website says: ‘Our number one cognac brown butter mince pies are a luxurious take on the traditional treat.
“The brown butter gives the dough a delicious nutty flavor that perfectly complements a rich mince made with glazed Amarena cherries, almonds and apricots, and dressed with cognac.”
WHICH? GREAT VALUE BACKUP
aldi Specially selected minced meat pies
£2.29 for six, 38p per cake
These “impressed the judges with their big buttery flavor, snowflake design, and tasty filling packed with fruit and spices.”
The pastries are “infused with brandy, dry cider and ruby port for a rich, deep flavor.”
‘At £2.29 for a six or 38p for a cake, they were one of the cheapest in the test and are an affordable crowd-pleaser this Christmas, winning a Which? Great Value endorsement,” the consumer group said.
The endorsement, chosen by product experts, looks for options that “not only offer impressive performance, but also come at an affordable price: at least 20 percent cheaper than the average cost.”
Consumer group Which one? We’ve commissioned a panel of experts to give their verdict on which ones you should include in your shopping cart and which ones are best left on the shelf. Stock image used
HONORABLE MENTIONS
While not everything has earned Which?’s Best Buy badge, the organization still recommends these treats for its festive range…
Mince pies from the M&S collection
£4 for six
These “impressed the judges with their generous filling and golden crust.”
However, while one panel member praised the crispy dough and “subtle sweetness”, another wanted “spicier”.
Iceland’s luxurious butter and mince pies
£3 for six
This supermarket’s mince pies got good reviews for their ‘packaged sultana and fruit fillings’.
However, they failed when it came to flavor virality.
The expert panel found them to be “too dry and lacking in spice and flavour”.
Morrison’s Best Stuffed Meat Pies
£2.75 for six
When it came to Morrison’s The Best Deep Filled Mince Pies, the culinary programming was happy with the “filling to dough ratio.”
They were also pleased with the supermarket’s choice to have a “traditional minced meat stuffed with gooseberries.”
However, while the panel “generally liked the festive look,” they “didn’t like the taste as much.”
‘LESS IMPRESSIVE’
The panel of judges from Which? was “unimpressed” with some of the selection, largely disappointed by the cake
Tesco Finest Buttered Puff Pastry Mince Tarts
£3 for six
Tesco’s website describes them as “rich, crumbly buttery cakes, filled with a delicious mix of plump vine fruits and glazed cherries.”
However, the judges considered that there was “too sour a taste and a doughy dough.”
The retailer boasts that the tarts are “infused with French brandy and ruby port, with a refreshing touch of lemon zest, tangerine oil and festive spices” and “finished with a soft dusting of sugar.”
Asda’s Outstanding Luxury Mince Pies
£2.75 for six
The panel was disappointed by Asda’s “underbaked pastry” on these cakes.
The retailer describes them as “stuffed with minced meat with brandy, ruby port, cognac and Valencian orange oil,” as well as being “covered with a sweet coating.”