As the festive season reaches its peak, one Christmas staple remains non-negotiable on British tables: the humble mince pie. With every major supermarket offering its own interpretation, choosing the right box can be a daunting task. To settle the debate, we conducted a thorough taste test of mince pies from six leading UK retailers, including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, and the Co-op.
The Supermarket Showdown: Our Mince Pie Rankings
Our festive investigation, carried out in early December 2025, sampled a wide array of offerings, from traditional recipes to innovative twists like gingerbread and limoncello. The results revealed a clear hierarchy in both quality and value for money.
Tesco's Triumphant Trio
Tesco emerged as a strong contender with several standout options. The Tesco Finest Brandy Butter Mince Pies (£3.50) earned a perfect 5/5 score, praised for being delicious whether served hot or cold. Their Snowy Mince Pies (£2), offering a nod to a Bakewell tart, scored a high 4.5/5. For a more traditional taste, the Tesco Finest All Butter Pastry Mince Pies (£3), infused with French Brandy and Port, scored 3.5/5, though their notably boozy punch was noted as potentially divisive.
Waitrose Wins on Classic Flavour
Waitrose claimed the crown for the best standard mince pie with its All Butter Mince Pies (£2.25), which also scored a full 5/5. Their Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac (£3) were a hit straight from the oven, scoring 4/5. The retailer's adventurous Golden Limoncello Mince Pies (£3) were a pleasant surprise but scored a more modest 3/5, with the reviewer noting the unique flavour might not be for purists expecting a classic mince pie.
Budget Buys and Vegan Options
For those watching their pennies, Sainsbury's Mince Pies (£1.25) and Asda's Exceptional Luxury Mince Pies (£1.42) offered solid, budget-friendly choices, though both scored 3/5. Asda's Caramel Florentine Mince Pies (£2.98) provided a quirky and successful twist, also scoring 3/5.
The Co-op impressed with its inclusive and tasty Merry Mince Pies (£1.50), which are vegan-friendly and boasted the reviewer's favourite pastry, earning a 4/5. Their Gingerbread and Maple Mince Pies (£2.85) blended festive flavours well for a 3.5/5 score.
Morrisons Best Signature Collection Mince Pies (£2) were noted for their fruity, less boozy filling but were marked down slightly on value, scoring 3/5.
The Final Verdict
After sampling the full festive spread, two clear winners emerged. For the quintessential, classic mince pie experience, Waitrose's All Butter Mince Pies are the undisputed champion. In the specialty category, Tesco Finest's Brandy Butter Mince Pies stole the show and the reviewer's heart, with plans to purchase more.
Whether you prioritise buttery pastry, a boozy kick, a vegan recipe, or pure value, this year's supermarket shelves have a mince pie to suit every taste and Christmas gathering. All prices mentioned were accurate as of 7th December 2025.
