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The best mince pies for Christmas 2024, revealed
Nothing says Christmas like a mince pie, but which brand won star baker this year?
Tested by Callum Black and Georgia Turnell
Nothing marks the beginning of Christmas like that first mouthful of mince pie – buttery, crumbly pastry filled with spiced mincemeat and a generous dash of booze for good measure.
If you love mince pies, then you’re not alone. In fact, the UK eats around 800 million of them each year.
And while the Good Housekeeping Institute can’t be held responsible for eating all the pies, our panel did manage to sample 28 varieties from the leading supermarkets and artisan bakeries to find the very best mince pies to stock up on this year.
Best mince pies for Christmas 2024
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Prefer a twist on the classic? Our panel also picked their favourite alternative mince pies for 2024, including whisky, amaretto, caramel, mango and frangipane versions…
How we test mince pies
The Good Housekeeping Institute's panel of experts and consumers tested 28 classic and gluten-free mince pies, looking for rich, decadent bakes with a hearty filling and buttery crumb. Each was presented blind to avoid brand bias, and assessed on its aroma, flavour and appearance.
These are the best mince pies for 2024.
Score: 88/100
Testers praised the “perfect balance” between the “soft, flaky pastry” and “sweet, caramelised fruit filling”, which is lightly spiced with cinnamon, ginger and citrus. These reminded us of homemade pies – an impressive feat at just £2.29 for six.
Score: 84/100
Cambridge bakery Fitzbillies is known locally for its delicious baked goods, and it now delivers nationwide! You’re in for a treat, with testers describing the pastry as tasting exactly like classic shortbread biscuits — buttery and incredibly moreish — while the filling has a vibrant lemon note to balance the sweetness.
Score: 81/100
DukesHill has gone big on orange peel and cinnamon, giving these traditional bakes an ultra-Christmassy feel. The shortbread-style pastry also proved popular, being described as “intensely buttery”.
Score: 80/100
These yuzu juice-spiked mince pies are a masterclass in harmony, with the standout buttery pastry housing a densely packed, naturally sweet filling. Testers described it as “bursting with flavour and crunch”.
Available: 23rd October
Score: 80/100
Amazon’s offering is generously filled with citrus-spiked candied peel and juicy vine fruit, standing out with its “perfect” vanilla-flecked pastry. Each pie is also topped with a suitably festive star-shaped pastry lid too, for a little extra indulgence.
Score: 79/100
Part of Asda’s new premium “Exceptional” range, these highly commended pies are also great value. The pastry case has a lovely crumbly texture, while the sweet, lightly spiced filling is jam-packed with rich, juicy vine fruit and has a citrus kick.
Score: 78/100
London-based bakery Melrose & Morgan produces pies that taste like they’ve come fresh out of the oven. The vanilla-spiked pastry is indulgent and nutty, while the rich, tangy mincemeat has a good splash of brandy.
Available: TBC
Score: 78/100
Fresh and zingy, without being overly sweet, the festive spice in Lidl’s well-priced bakes provide a consistent base for the jammy filling. The pastry-to-filling ratio proved popular with our panel too.
Score: 78/100
Household name Mr Kipling proved a solid choice with its well-balanced bakes. The classic style is both tart and sweet, reminiscent of marmalade jam, with a nostalgic taste that reminded testers of their childhood.
Score: 77/100
Testers felt there was a homemade quality to this Northern supermarket’s mince pies, which feature a unique gingerbread-style spice. The filling was nutty and complex, and the pastry was icing sugar-sweet.
Score: 77/100
With a fruity aroma and deeply spiced filling, Spar’s mince pies are a little sparse on the pastry but have a big boozy finish to compensate.
These also passed...
- Cartwright & Butler Luxury Mince Pies with Brandy, £8 for 6, Score: 74/100
- Caffè Nero Classic Mince Pie, £2.95 for 1, Score: 74/100
- Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Port, Brandy & Brown Butter Mince Pies, £3 for 4, Score: 72/100
- Riverford Organic Farmers Vegan Mince Pie, £5.95 for 6, Score: 72/100
- Co-op Merry Mince Pies, £1.35 for 6, Score: 72/100
- Lottie Shaw's Traditional Mince Pies, £4.90 for 4, Score: 72/100
- Betty’s Classic Mince Pies, £19.95 for 12, Score: 71/100
- Co-op Irresistible Mince Pies, £2.95 for 6, Score: 71/100
- Tesco Finest Mince Pies, £3 for 6, Score: 71/100
- Riverford Organic Farmers Mince Pies, £5.95 for 6, Score: 71/100
- Costa Classic Mince Pies, £2.40 for 1, Score: 70/100
- Waitrose Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac, £4 for 6, Score: 70/100
Best gluten-free mince pies
Score: 85/100
Testers praised these gluten-free mince pies for their fruity, citrus filling and chunky texture. Importantly, the pastry was buttery and crumbly but didn’t fall apart when we took a bite. Delicious.
In-store now
Waitrose Free From Milk & Gluten Free Mince Pies 4pk
Score: 81/100
For those who prefer a pack of pies, Waitrose proved the best supermarket for the job. These buttery bakes may be free from gluten, but that’s the only thing lacking. Rich, fruity, jammy and sweet, no superlative was spared when describing this tasty filling.
Score: 74/100
Testers felt these free-from mince pies were best served warm, benefitting from a generous dollop of brandy cream. Bitter orange peel cuts through the plump vine fruit to create a well-balanced filling – perfect enjoyed with a cup of tea.
These also passed...
- Morrisons Free From Gluten Mince Pies, £2 for 4, Score: 70/100
- Asda Free From Mince Pies, £2 for 4, Score: 70/100
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.
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