Mince pies are a quintessential British Christmas treat, though modern versions contain sweet dried fruits and spices rather than meat. A recent taste test evaluated pies from supermarkets and independent bakers, assessing pastry quality, filling ratio, appearance, and value for money.
Farm Shop's large mince pies impressed with thick, non-crumbly shortcrust pastry and deep, well-spiced filling with a hint of brandy. They have a homemade look and a light sugar dusting. These are recommended for special guests.
Waitrose offered affordable mince pies with a rope-effect pastry design and a fruity, not cloying, filling. The texture is similar to shortbread, making them a good choice for bulk stocking.
Twelve Triangles from Edinburgh features cherries and cranberries soaked in Oloroso sherry, with a nutty frangipane layer made from walnuts and brown butter. The buttery pastry is soft and moist, making these pies highly moreish.
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference range delivered a solid mince pie with creamy, buttery pastry and balanced mince meat with a tangy finish. It is hard to fault among supermarket options.
