Our expert food judges have hunted high and low for the best mince pies for Christmas 2022 including mince pies from supermarkets such as Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Asda.
With an overwhelming number of mince pies (opens in new tab) on the shelves in the run-up to Christmas it’s hard to know which mince pies really are the best, and worth the money. This year we put a variety of brands to the test ranging in price from £2-£15 per pack. Most mince pies were available in packs of four or six and the majority can be bought online.
Our panel of expert judges who put all of these supermarket favourites to the test include; Group Food Director Jen Bedloe (opens in new tab), Food Editor Jess Meyer (opens in new tab), Deputy Food Editor Rose Fooks (opens in new tab), Senior Food Writer Jessica Ransom (opens in new tab), and Junior Food Writer Georgia Sparks (opens in new tab). The panel has a huge amount of cooking knowledge between them and knows what makes a great mince pie. “Mince pies are one of my favourite categories to judge. With such a huge selection to try, you really notice the subtle differences in flavour and texture between them,” says Jessica Ransom.
This year’s winning collection of mince pies includes a mix of supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Morrisons, and artisanal producers like Rosebud Preserves and Dukeshill. Scoring very highly, Sainsbury’s took the top spot in our blind test with their Taste the Difference mince pies. Traditional and perfectly executed, our judges were impressed with its buttery pastry and luxurious filling.
These products all scored highly during our blind taste tests for the woman&home Festive Food Awards (opens in new tab).
Where to buy mince pies for 2022
Best tried and tasted mince pies
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How did we test the best mince pies?
The testing was carried out at Future’s Test Kitchen, based in their Testing Centre of Excellence. During the testing process, individual pies were given a unique number and presented wholly as well as cut up to ensure the appearance was taken into consideration. Judges then recorded their findings on a sheet, noting down important details of the pie’s flavour, texture, and look.
When it comes to flavour and texture, our judges were looking at two key elements – a delicious pastry, and a generous filling.
To score highly, the pastry needs to be crumbly yet robust and have a buttery flavour. Delicious fillings needed to be packed with fruit but not overly sweet, extra points were given to those with chunky fruit and nuts.
How long do shop-bought mince pies last?
For the best flavour and freshness, shop-bought mince pies are best eaten as soon as they are open. However, most readymade mince pies can last up to one week as long as they are stored correctly in an airtight container.
Leftover mince pies can easily be crushed and mixed with ice cream to make mince pie ice cream (opens in new tab) or can be made into mince pie rocky road (opens in new tab).
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