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What are the best mince pies?

Posted by poppyedwardsPE@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 65 comments

Has anyone done a taste of the different supermarket mince pies and tell me who has the best and why? This is for science haha

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65 Comments

MrMalisz@reddit

1. Tesco Finest (good mince pies) 2. ASDA Luxury (more pie than mince, but still good) 3. Greggs (saw some hype around them; way too sweet, not a fan) 4. Tesco (barely edible; WAYY too sweet) Have some from Sainsburys, gonna add them to my ranking once I've tried them. Aldi had some good ones in the past, hope they stayed the same. Hope to try the ones from Lidl and Morrisons too just to compare.
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DueExperience5114@reddit

Just tried Sainsbury's taste the dickhead mince pies. Awful and overly sweet. Lidl premium ones are fantastic
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Professional_Pace928@reddit

Lidl sell packs of 12 mini mince pies - one bite and they're gone - which are both delicious and moreish.
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AF_II@reddit

Yes, but it's super subjective. I've found that I prefer the cheaper ones because the expensive ones have too much alcohol in for my taste.
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TheDettiEskimo@reddit

I'm exactly the same. Can't stand any of the expensive ones. Nice red box of cheapos from Asda does me.
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Greedy-Fortune-3276@reddit

The ones you babe yourself! 😄
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takesthebiscuit@reddit

Sainsbury’s, Waitrose both get theirs made by walkers shortbreads and are delicious The pastry is actually the same as the all butter shortbread recipe
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poppyedwardsPE@reddit (OP)

No way!!! I need to have some rn to see!
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DameKumquat@reddit

My mum's. Not too sweet, lots of spice, and a bit of apple. Failing that the Sainsbury's boxed standard ones are decent. Though last year they got Co-op ones for the work party and they were inedibly bad.
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Silent-Detail4419@reddit

Years ago, my mum had a colleague who used to put boozy cream cheese under the lids of her mince pies (she made everything from scratch - no Jus-Rol and supermarket mincemeat for her!). Rather than the traditional brandy, she used Cointreau in her mincemeat, and she used to mix full-fat cream cheese (low/no fat would separate and it tends to be horribly 'watery') with Cointreau, the zest and juice of an orange, and a little bit of sugar. She put orange juice in the pastry too. Those mince pies were fucking god tier... Sadly, she was diagnosed with breast cancer she had them 'lopped off', but they'd caught it too late and it had spread to her liver. Patricia, I still miss your mince pies....
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foxhill_matt@reddit

The best mince pies are always the cheapest. Iceland has been the winner in recent years. The worst are either homemade (with shit pastry) or overly posh with too many flavours going on
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futurepast808@reddit

Sainsbury’s or M&S
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Medical_Return_2370@reddit

Puff pastry, they are like crack (I imagine...)
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scrotalsac69@reddit

Agreed, the m&s ones do not last long in this house
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hutchipoos@reddit

Tesco Finest are pretty banging.
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Hulkenberk@reddit

Teaco Finest crumble-topped ones are a bit bloody nice
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HNot@reddit

The crumble ones are fantastic! I bought the frangipane ones this week and they were nice but not a patch on the crumble!
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itsheadfelloff@reddit

Well I just bought some caramelised apple crumble mince tarts, these might have a decent shout.
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wires99@reddit

My wife's homemade ones that she tops with Viennese whirl. Had my first one today after she made 13 dozen yesterday. (They're not all for us).
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The-Ginger-Lily@reddit

I'm intrigued by the viennese whirl bit? How does she do it?
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wires99@reddit

Pastry base, filling, theN a little Viennese whirl on top. Stunning. Good job I don't put weight on :)
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The-Ginger-Lily@reddit

Ooooo, just looked up how to do viennese whirls, might have to give it a go
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poppyedwardsPE@reddit (OP)

They sound incredible!!!
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bouncing_pirhana@reddit

Ooh - she got a recipe or is it just a case of pick your own recipe off t’internet and stick a Viennese whirl on top? They sound incredible frankly
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wires99@reddit

A recipe passed down from her gran.
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Mischeese@reddit

I just got through a box of M&S mini ones, they were pretty good.
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Alive_Ice7937@reddit

Right now I'm enjoying Sainsbury's Taste The Difference mini mincepies. Not necessarily the best you can get. But they're less than a hundred calories each so good for moderation in the build up to the big binge.
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DreamingofBouncer@reddit

Aldi’s are pretty good ever year
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LowFIyingMissile@reddit

Icing topped mince pies are a winner for me but I’ll eat all of them.
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Coxwaan@reddit

Greggs are good for off the shelf. Best I ever had was from bread ahead at borough market London . I had mince pie crumble and custard today from a Xmas market and it was delightful
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thesteelmaker@reddit

Home made mince pies are the best. I would prefer bad home made mince pies, to shop brought ones. Anyone who loves to make home made mince pies, you can send them my way if you have spares. Spares, lol. Who ate all the pies? I did.
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LittleSadRufus@reddit

I make my own mincemeat, age it for a year and make my own pastry too. They're delicious but I still can't make them taste better than the ones produced by St John near Smithfield Market
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Breakwaterbot@reddit

The best mince pie is one enjoyed with a cup of tea and people you enjoy the company of 🙂
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Dense_Appearance_298@reddit

What if I hate everyone?
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poppyedwardsPE@reddit (OP)

This brightened my day so much!! So true ❤️
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InterstellarSpaniel@reddit

Fortnum and mason almond mince pies. Expensive, but utterly life changing. https://www.fortnumandmason.com/christmas-almond-mince-pies-500g?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA+-+Shopping+-+Main+-+Brand&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuou6BhDhARIsAIfgrn6zWFhZV31_x8_Z6vhGAwtcwi_DD0Mf7l_MShNUV4TvetBOa-7HSr8aAivjEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
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MahatmaAndhi@reddit

From the standard supermarket, Lidl are my favourites. But homemade is best and Gregg's are okay too. Pro tip: cut off the lid, put a chunk of cheddar in it, lid on and microwave for about 10 seconds.
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Kirstemis@reddit

The best ones are the qualifications nes my mum makes, with homemade mincemeat. Shop ones have soft, doughy pastry and they're underfilled.
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Rude-Possibility4682@reddit

I hate to say this as I can't stand the place, but Gregg's mince pies are really nice, I prefer the flattened type, rather than the deep filled ones.
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marmighty@reddit

Seconded, Greggs have been our go-to pie for years (and are accidentally vegan)
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Beneficial-Finish@reddit

Came here to say this. Greggs mince pies are my fave. Warmed up with a brew, perfect!
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poppyedwardsPE@reddit (OP)

Ooooo I've never tried them!! Will have to give them a go!
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char_binx@reddit

Commented on a similar post yesterday. Waitrose No.1 - pricey, but worth it imo
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Next-Garage-8232@reddit

Cosco mince pies are the best
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oliverprose@reddit

Which? has ranked it as Waitrose No1 followed by Aldi Specially Selected and M&S Collection if you're buying supermarket pies
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decentlyfair@reddit

Have some in the oven. Made some mincemeat using vanilla rum and it is epic. Will let you know how the pies taste in about 30 minutes.
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The-Ginger-Lily@reddit

Must say mine go down pretty well, I've made a fair few already this year. I've got people from my work, my husbands work and both sides of the family requesting that I make them 😏
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Some-Benefit-3392@reddit

Gadsby’s from Southwell are pretty good.
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PoinkPoinkPoink@reddit

M&S Eccles cake style ones are great, and so are Aldi frangipane ones. Homemade is always best though if you can be arsed
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barrybreslau@reddit

The secret is - the pastry is the star. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/unbelievably-easy-mince-pies These are amazing.
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Thisoneissfwihope@reddit

I like the Waitrose No1 Mince Pies, and the Amazon Fresh Mince Pies surprised me with how nice they are.
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purrcthrowa@reddit

I really don't like deep filled pies - this is a trend I hope will go away. The best one I've had so far this year was from a local baker's called Nash's. Not deep filled, plenty of pastry, a nice citrussy tang to the pastry, and just enough bitterness in the filling (orange peel, maybe) to give it some bite. They were delicious.
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Loquis@reddit

Homemade ones [mincemeat recipe](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/boozy-mincemeat) [Mince pie recipe](https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mince-pies) Also try making them with puff pastry
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folklovermore_@reddit

I make my own. Albeit with supermarket pastry and slightly tarted up bought mincemeat (add more booze), but they don't take that long and something about them just tastes better. That said, even a rubbish mince pie can be improved by putting it in the oven to warm through.
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poppyedwardsPE@reddit (OP)

So true!!!
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MDFHASDIED@reddit

I always find the ones made in store are better than the boxed fancy ones or Mr. Kipling.
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Beanruz@reddit

I was given one from costco that was just great. But I never really eat them. So not sure if they are better than the other shop bought ones.
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noseysheep@reddit

Ones with actual meat and not that nasty raisin shit
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anotherwankusername@reddit

Greggs Vegan Mince Pies. Sometimes they’re still warm and no cows have to be raped and have their child ripped away from them. Really improves the flavour.
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BarryJGleed@reddit

Wenzel’s ‘deep filled’. 
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sjintje@reddit

I don't like any of them with sweet shortcrust pastry (or puff). I like unsweetened, crunchy pastry, so I have to make them myself.
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ancommy@reddit

The Co-op made in store ones are the best
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thebudofthebud@reddit

All shop bought mince pies are lacklustre.
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Top-Bet1435@reddit

Costco ones look decent. I’ve never had them but generally, Costco baked goods are decent quality.
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