Mince pie season is officially here, and GB News has tried them all – the good, the bad, and the ugly – so you don't have to.
Tucking into offerings by Tesco, Asda, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, and more, our team of foodies sampled 15 treats, from the classic all-butter to the sweet caramel florentine.
There was also a version that threw the traditional mince pie out the window, replacing the fruity, spiced mixture with milk chocolate brownie. (Spoiler: we didn't like it.)
Last year, Co-op Irresistible All Butter Pastry Luxury Mince Pies took the crown, but this year, M&S Collection All Butter Mince Pies were the firm favourite.
We tried the mince pies cold, but would, of course, recommend them with a serving of cream and a glass (or two) of mulled wine.
Here, we have shared the best that British supermarkets have to offer, plus the ones we'll be avoiding this Christmas, so you can make the right pick for your festive feasts.
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M&S Collection Mince Pies (6) – 3.9/5
Price: £4
Price per pie: 67p
Online description: Prepare for mince pie perfection. Our Collection Mince Pies are encased in a melt-in-the-mouth all-butter shortcrust pastry, made with a blend of wheat flour and Wildfarmed flour, generously filled with our exclusive recipe mincemeat, with vine fruits, cranberries, clementine, and Cognac with a hint of black pepper.
What we thought
Scoring a fabulous 3.9/5, M&S Collection Mince Pies were easily the team's favourite. The only variety to score multiple "perfect" scores, reviewers branded them "stunning" and "delicious". A few taste testers said the pastries lacked flavour, bringing their score down slightly, but overall they were "very solid". Will definitely be buying again.
Waitrose No.1 Frangipane Mince Pies with Caramelised Almonds (4) – 3.8/5
Price: £3 (was £4)
Price per pie: 75p
Online description: Our No.1 Frangipane Mince Pies are a deliciously different twist on the traditional treat. Rich, buttery pastry, mincemeat laced with Amaretto, and a sweet almond frangipane on top. They're hand-finished with crunchy caramelised almonds.
What we thought
While Waitrose No.1 Frangipane Mince Pies with Caramelised Almonds were my personal favourite, the wider team placed them in close second to M&S with 3.8/5. The sweet, nutty flavour won us over, with one reviewer stating: "If you like a Bakewell tart, you'll love this!" The team did note that Waitrose could have been more generous with their mincemeat, however.
Sainsbury's Viennese Whirl Brandy Mince Pies, Taste the Difference (4) – 3.4/5
Price: £3.50
Price per pie: 88p
Online description: All butter pastry pies with brandy, port and brown butter flavour mincemeat, topped with vanilla-flavoured Viennese biscuit and sweet dusting.
What we thought
The festive foodies at GB News were delighted with Sainsbury's Viennese Whirl Brandy Mince Pies, scoring them a fab 3.4/5. Reviewers praised their "bold" flavour and enjoyed the nod to the classic British biscuit, with one even declaring them "better than a normal mince pie". Their one failing was that they were a tad too sweet.
Morrisons The Best Signature Collection Mince Pies (2) – 3.3/5
Price: £2
Price per pie: £1
Online description: Melt-in-the-mouth brown butter pastry, generously filled with our luxuriously rich and fruity mincemeat laced with brandy and warming spices, hand finished with a sweet dusting.
What we thought
Morrisons The Best Signature Collection Mince Pies narrowly missed out on the top three, scoring an overall 3.3/5. The portion sizes were good, the pastry was stellar, and we loved the "yummy" fruity filling, but the price was a little steep for us – plus, who eats just two mince pies anyway?!
When M&S said that customers should 'prepare for mince pie perfection', the retailer wasn't too far off
|M&S
Sweet? Check. Nutty? Check. 'If you like a Bakewell tart, you'll love this!'
|WAITROSE
Tesco Finest Mince Pies (6) – 3.3/5
Price: £3
Price per pie: 50p
Online description: Rich, crumbly all all-butter pastry packed with a delicious mix of plump vine fruits and glacé cherries. Infused with French brandy and ruby port, with a refreshing twist of lemon zest, tangerine oil and festive spices. Finished with a gentle dusting of sugar.
What we thought
Tesco Finest Mince Pies ranked the same as Morrisons The Best Signature Collection Mince Pies (3.3/5), but you'll get more bang for your buck with these. The team absolutely loved the filling – Tesco was right, they are "delicious" – but as for the "gentle dusting" of sugar, we unanimously agreed this was too overpowering.
Tesco Finest Frangipane Mince Pies (4) – 3.3/5
Price: £3.50
Price per pie: 88p
Online description: All butter pastry filled with layers of rich citrus-infused mincemeat, sweet and nutty Frangipane sponge, hand finished with flaked almond, and a gentle sweet dusting.
What we thought
Tesco secured a 3/5 for its second offering, Tesco Finest Frangipane Mince Pies. They didn't quite wow us like Waitrose's mince pie-Bakewell tart hybrid, but were still described as "delish" by most reviewers. What let them down was a single 1/5 rating, awarded because the pastries "didn't feel properly cooked".
Lidl All Butter Mince Pies (6) – 3.1/5
Price: £1.49 (was £2.49)
Price per pie: 25p
Online description: N/A
What we thought
Priced at just 25p per pie, Lidl All Butter Mince Pies were among the cheapest we sampled. And scoring a respectable 3.1/5, they weren't just a budget buy. The team loved the fruity filling but didn't think there was enough of it.
Aldi's Specially Selected Ballycastle Mince Pies (4) – 3.1/5
Price: £2.29
Price per pie: 57p
Online description: Packed with moreish mincemeat and finished with a beautifully swirled buttercream topping, which is blended with Aldi’s Ballycastle Country Cream.
What we thought
Aldi switched things up a little with its Specially Selected Ballycastle Mince Pies, adding a signature boozy buttercream that gave the pies some seasonal decadence. We settled on a 3.1/5 rating, praising the hints of chocolate and vanilla that set the pies apart from more traditional varieties. What let them down slightly was their slightly lacklustre filling. Having said that, if you like Ballycastle Classic Country Cream, you will love these.
MORE FESTIVE FEASTING
'Better than a normal mince pie,' declared one impressed GB News foodie
|SAINSBURY'S
The best mince pies 2025
Our winners
- M&S Collection Mince Pies – 3.9/5
- Waitrose No.1 Frangipane Mince Pies with Caramelised Almonds – 3.8/5
- Sainsbury's Viennese Whirl Brandy Mince Pies, Taste the Difference – 3.4/8
Honourable mentions
- Morrisons The Best Signature Collection Mince Pies – 3.3/5
- Tesco Finest Mince Pies – 3.3/5
- Tesco Finest Frangipane Mince Pies – 3.3/5
- Lidl All Butter Mince Pies – 3.1/5
- Aldi's Specially Selected Ballycastle Mince Pies – 3.1/5
- Co-op Irresistible All Butter Pastry Luxury Mince Pies – 3/5
- Sainsbury's All Butter Mince Pies, Taste the Difference– 3/5
Co-op Irresistible All Butter Pastry Luxury Mince Pies (6) – 3/5
Price: £3.45
Price per pie: 58p
Online description: N/A
What we thought
In our 2024 taste test, Co-op Irresistible All Butter Pastry Luxury Mince Pies scored a tremendous 4.5/5, with mince pie enthusiasts praising their "perfect pastry to filling ratio". This year, we gave them 3/5 – a good score, but not quite the showstopper we were expecting. While most of the team offered high praise this time round, calling the pies "exceptional", some complained they were "too flaky" and even "a little bland", which dropped their score.
Sainsbury's All Butter Mince Pies, Taste the Difference (6) – 3/5
Price: £3.50 (£1.75 with Nectar)
Price per pie: 58p
Online description: All butter pastry pies with a mincemeat and brandy filling, topped with a sweet dusting.
What we thought
Sainsbury's All Butter Mince Pies sadly did not wow us like their Viennese Whirl counterparts, but they were still a quality pick at 3/5. The team enjoyed the brandy element and felt it was the perfect boozy addition to the mincemeat, although the pastry was a little dry.
Co-op Irresistible Gingerbread & Maple Mince Pies (4) – 2.8/5
Price: £2.85 (£1.75 for members)
Price per pie: 71p
Online description: N/A
What we thought
Co-op Irresistible Gingerbread & Maple Mince Pies were pretty polarising, receiving an average score of 2.8/5. While some couldn't quite get behind the gingerbread flavour, claiming it "just doesn't work", others were pleasantly surprised: "It shouldn't [taste good], but it really does." I was sceptical at first, but I'm definitely here for the mince pie-gingerbread hybrid.
Aldi Specially Selected Mince Pies (6) – 2.4/5
Price: £1.49
Price per pie: 25p
Online description: A perfect Christmas dinner dessert or an afternoon festive treat. Infused with cognac, ruby port and dry cider.
What we thought
Priced at 25p per pie, Aldi Specially Selected Mince Pies tied with Lidl All Butter Mince Pies for the cheapest offering of the year. Awarding them a modest 2.4/5, the team considered them a great budget buy, but admittedly, the taste was mediocre. Aldi was crowned Christmas Retailer of the Year, so we were expecting something spectacular, but the budget supermarket did thankfully claw it back with its Ballycastle variety.
Asda Caramel Florentine Mince Pies (4) – 2.4/5
Price: £2.98
Price per pie: 75p
Online description: N/A
What we thought
Asda Caramel Florentine Mince Pies certainly got the team talking, but failed to impress the majority, receiving an average score of 2.4. Although some loved the "super yummy" almond topping, others were unconvinced by the Florentine element, with one reviewer declaring that "caramel doesn't belong in a mince pie". My personal verdict? If you're going to honour the mighty Florentine, a drizzle of dark chocolate is a must.
The team didn't get to taste test them, but Asda's Whipped Cream Mince Pies definitely look like something special. Not your typical festive pastry, they're designed to be enjoyed as a decadent dessert rather than simply a sweet snack.
Tapping into the "More Is More" trend, Asda hopes this festive offering will delight those seeking over-the-top "indulgence" this Christmas.
Waitrose No.1 Golden Limoncello Mince Pies (4) – 2.3/5
Price: (£3, was £4)
Price per pie: 75p
Online description: Our No. 1 Golden Mince Pies with Limoncello are a delicious twist on tradition, and the perfect way to bring a little sunshine to even the coldest winter's day. The star of the show is the mincemeat, made with juicy golden raisins, golden cherries and apricots, and finished with a generous splash of zesty limoncello. The buttery pastry is infused with lemon to perfectly complement the mincemeat. ……Try them gently warmed and topped with a dusting of snowy icing sugar, served with a spoonful of clotted cream and a shot of limoncello on the side.
What we thought
Thank goodness for Waitrose No.1 Frangipane Mince Pies with Caramelised Almonds, because the Golden Limoncello Mince Pies left much to be desired, scoring just 2.3/5. Limoncello was a bit risky; while it is a widely popular flavour, these were extremely sharp and tangy. As a result, most of the team could only manage one at a time, and where's the fun in that? The Limoncello lovers among us were full of praise for the pies, though, so if you're a die-hard citrus enthusiast, definitely go for it.
M&S Rodney Reindeer Pies (4) – 1.9/5
Price: £3.50
Price per pie: 88p
Online description: Our Rodney Reindeer Pies feature a sumptuous blend of buttery, caramelised brown butter pastry, each generously filled with gooey milk chocolate brownie.
What we thought
Scoring a measly 1.9/5, M&S Rodney Reindeer Pies were our lowest-scoring festive treat. We were expecting great things because the M&S Collection Mince Pies were truly marvellous. While the team liked the premise – mince pies for people who don't like mince pies – the chocolate brownie filling was "too dry" and a "weird flavour". One reviewer even called it "offensive", awarding it GB News' first-ever 0/5. (We'll still be popping to M&S for the classic variety, though.)
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter