After enjoying the strawberry crème fraîche sandwich from M&S, I was curious to try their new strawberries, pistachio crème and chocolate dessert sandwich. Looking at it on the shelf, I couldn't help thinking that this might be a step too far. Strawberries, pistachio and chocolate all packed into one sandwich sounded like it could easily become overly complicated.
A Pleasant Surprise from the First Bite
But after paying £3.50 and leaving the shop, I became pleasantly surprised after the very first bite. Like the strawberry crème fraîche version, this sandwich is undeniably complex, but the flavours come together much better than I expected. The pistachio crème adds a smooth, nutty sweetness without overpowering the fruit, while the generous, sweet strawberries are the absolute highlight. They're large, juicy and genuinely taste fresh, which makes the sandwich feel far less artificial than it could have.
Chocolate Spread and Bread: Mixed Feelings
The only flavour I wasn't immediately convinced by was the Belgian chocolate spread. It reminded me a little of the chocolate found in children's puddings – sweet and quite artificial rather than authentically chocolatey. However, after a few bites I found myself getting used to it, and it blended into the overall flavour much better than I initially thought. By the end, it no longer stood out in an overly negative way.
My least favourite element is actually the bread. It has a soft, sponge-like texture that I'm personally not a huge fan of, although that probably says as much about me as it does about the product, since I've never really enjoyed sandwiches in general. That said, the cocoa flavour in the bread gives it a distinctive (for better or worse) twist and complements the filling well enough that it certainly doesn't spoil the experience.
Surprisingly Filling and Worth Buying Again
The sandwich is surprisingly filling despite looking quite small. Part of me would almost welcome two pieces because I enjoyed it so much, but realistically that might be a little too heavy given how rich it is. I'm fully aware that this isn't the healthiest snack available, but as an occasional treat it definitely hits the spot.
Interestingly, while originally thinking a sweet sandwich is simply a no-go, I've found that I actually enjoy M&S's sweet sandwiches more than many of their savoury ones. This latest creation might sound unusual, but it works far better than expected. I'd happily buy it again without hesitation and will genuinely miss it once it's no longer available.
