Crumbly, buttery and delightfully sweet, shortbread has earned its place as a much-loved biscuit. Whether enjoyed alongside an afternoon cup of tea or as a satisfying treat following an evening meal, it remains a firm favourite.
With so many options available on the market, it can be difficult to determine which offers the best taste and value for money. Walker's remains the dominant brand with its traditional Scottish shortbreads, though most major UK supermarkets now stock their own versions.
I decided to put a selection of shortbread fingers from Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury's head-to-head against Walker's, comparing them purely on taste to see whether any could topple the established brand. To my surprise, the least expensive biscuit on offer proved to be the most delicious and by far the best value.
Sainsbury's - £1.30
Finishing at the bottom of my taste test was Sainsbury's. I found it dry with an odd lingering aftertaste. It also had one of the smallest amounts of sugar sprinkled on top. Despite being among the priciest options in the selection, it simply failed to match the others in terms of flavour. Rating: 3/10
Lidl - 95p
Coming in next was Lidl. Its shortbread biscuits were agreeable and buttery, delivering exactly what you would expect from a shortbread, albeit without any sugar on top. A perfectly fine biscuit, though it failed to distinguish itself from the competition. Rating: 5/10
Asda - £1.25
Asda's shortbread fingers were pleasantly crumbly and had an agreeable texture. They broke apart easily and carried a satisfying sweetness. That said, they could have done with a richer buttery flavour, as they occasionally tasted a little dry. Rating: 7/10
Marks and Spencer - £1.15
This biscuit was the darkest of the entire taste test and proved fairly firm to bite into. It delivered a satisfying crunch before crumbling apart. It also had a notably generous dusting of sugar on top compared to the others. While marginally too firm for my liking, it remained a thoroughly enjoyable treat. Rating: 8/10
Walker's - £1.95 from Sainsbury's
This much-loved brand has earned its reputation for good reason, producing a truly iconic shortbread biscuit. It is firm yet crumbles the moment you take a bite. These biscuits strike the perfect balance — wonderfully buttery without being overly sweet. Rating: 9/10
Aldi - 95p
The budget supermarket came out on top in my taste test, with its biscuits delivering an ideal combination of butter and sugar. They were delightfully crumbly, as any good shortbread should be, and came with a light dusting of sugar on top. They weren't overly sweet either. And at the lowest price of all the biscuits tested, it represents value for money. Rating: 10/10
