6 of the best supermarket mince pies

From the best pastry and the most scrumptious filling to unbeatable vegan and free-from options, there's something for everyone with our pick of the best supermarket mince pies.

Christmas isn't really Christmas without a mince pie, so we put the top UK supermarkets' ranges to the test to find the best, most satisfying and perfectly indulgent mince pies to enjoy this festive season.

Best pastry: Waitrose & Partners No.1 Brown Butter Mince Pies With Courvoisier (6 for £3)

For those of us who are all about the pastry, Waitrose & Partners have come up trumps. The apricot, glacé cherry and almond-rich mincemeat laced with Courvoisier VS Cognac is encased in a beautiful and delicate brown butter pastry case. Rich and buttery, the pastry is perfectly short and crispy and has a slightly nutty flavour. The mince pies are launching in stores and online soon.

Waitrose & Partners

Best filling: Asda Extra Special Luxury Sloe Gin Mince Pies (6 for £2)

On the right side of boozy, the sloe gin perfectly complements the well-spiced, juicy filling. Sharp yet sweet, these mince pies have a great pastry-to-filling ratio and leave a satisfying aftertaste lingering on the palate. The pastry is pretty good as well – it's crisp and buttery yet allows the filling to take centre stage. This is a fantastic option for those who want to try something new this Christmas but aren't ready to stray too far away from the classics.

Asda

Best unconventional: Tesco Finest Crumble Topped Mince Pies with Salted Caramel & Festive Spice (4 for £3)

If a classic mince pie isn't what gets you excited about the festive season, these baked treats from Tesco Finest range are the best alternative in our opinion. They're a luxe twist on the Christmas classic, combining fruity mincemeat with an indulgent salted caramel sauce. A touch on the sweet side (perfect for those with a sweet tooth), the real showstopping element is the buttery crumble topping. The pastry itself is delicious too.

Tesco

Best free-from: M&S Made Without Mince Pies (4 for £2.50)

Unlike many other free-from mince pies we tested, the pastry on these pies is deliciously crumbly and has a good thickness. There's a great filling-to-pastry ratio and the filling has lots of plump, juicy fruit and it's spiced pretty close to perfection. Overall, a solid option if you're gluten-free and don't want to miss out on a Christmas favourite.

M&S

Best vegan: M&S Plant Kitchen Mince Pies (4 for £2.50)

It seems like M&S has nailed the alternative mince pies as these vegan pies are just as good as their non-vegan counterparts. Perfectly spiced, rich yet fruity mincemeat and shortcrust pastry are what makes these mince pies a hit with our team. A serious contender for our overall best mince pies, these are also unbelievably good value with many of our taste testers saying they'd happily buy these over other non-vegan options.

M&S

Best overall: Aldi Specially Selected All Butter Classic Minces Pies (6 for £1.49)

We think these festive treats are as close to mince pie perfection as it's possible to get. The shortcrust pastry of these mince pies reminds of a really good shortbread biscuit, while the rich and fruity filling is perfectly spiced. The filling-to-pie ratio is also impeccable and the finish is beautiful to look at – like something straight from a bakery display window. There's the price to consider too, with these mince pies offering serious value for money. They are also available as a 12-pack of mini mince pies, but we preferred these.

Aldi

Lead image: Aldi

You might also like:

9 of the best supermarket Christmas puddings

6 of the best supermarket Christmas desserts

Christmas recipes: the best baking, leftover, side dish and main course ideas