Mince Pies

[V8mate]

Love 'em or hate 'em?

Got a favourite recipe for your homemade ones, or is Mr Kipling your ultimate choice?

Do you make your own pastry? And mincemeat? Or do you make homemade pies with pre-packed pastry and jars of your local supermarket's finest mincemeat?

Shortcrust or puff? With or without booze? Fancy top or pastry top?



Over the last few weeks, my work team has been engaged in a belly-swelling survey of commercial offerings. Now, unleashed for the first time on the wider internet, here are the results, out of a maximum 40 points for each pie:

Brand	Price	Pastry	Filling	VfM	Overall Satisfaction	Total	%	Rank
Waitrose All Butter	6 for £1.24*	8	8.4	9.5	8.6	34.5	86.25	1
Costco	11 for £4.49	8.3	6.8	9	7.5	31.6	79	2
Walkers Glenfiddich Mince Pies	8 for £2.75	8.25	7.25	7.875	8	31.375	78.4375	3
Tesco Finest	6 for £2*	8	7.5	7.2	7.8	30.5	76.25	4
Asda Extra Special	6 for £2	6.6	8.6	7.1	7.4	29.7	74.25	5
Brownbread Viennese-style (artisan market stall)	4 for £2.50	7.625	6.875	7.375	7.75	29.625	74.0625	6
Aldi Specially Selected	6 for £1.69	6.7	7.4	8	7.3	29.4	73.5	7
Greggs	6 for £1.40	6.75	6.5	8	7	28.25	70.625	8
M&S All Butter	6 for £1.50**	7.2	6	8	6.6	27.8	69.5	9
Co-op (Premium)	6 for £1.50**	5.8	7.552	7	7.3	27.652	69.13	10
Waitrose Essential	12 for £2.00	5.67	5.67	8	6.33	25.67	64.175	11
Heston	6 for £3.69	7.4	6.6	4.8	6.4	25.2	63	12
Duchy Originals	6 for £3.99	7	6.2	5.4	6	24.6	61.5	13
Sainsbury's ISB	8 for £1**	6.4	4.4	7	5.6	23.4	58.5	14
M&S lattice	6 for £1.69	5	7.375	5	5.75	23.125	57.8125	15
Asda ISB	6 for £2	5.2	5	4.6	4.8	19.6	49	16
Costa	£1.35 for 1	4	7.17	3	4.67	18.84	47.1	17
Morrisons ISB	6 for £1**	3	3.8	3.2	2.2	12.2	30.5	18

Notes:
* = Special offer price
** = Multibuy price
ISB = In-store bakery


Edit: Table updated for 'Walkers Glenfiddich'

Edited by V8mate on Monday 17th December 16:37

[S10GTA]

This is the best thing I have ever seen on Pistonheads

Edited by S10GTA on Thursday 29th November 15:22

[anonymous-user]

That is an excellent table for reference. Good job

[Eversleigh]

This is superb!

[badgerade]

We make our own mincemeat each year using this recipe:

325g currants
225g sultanas
325g Raisins
100g cut mixed peel
325g firm cooking apples, peeled and cored, chopped
450g soft light brown or Demerara sugar
325g shredded suet
1 level tsp. powdered nutmeg
1 level tsp. powdered cinnamon
grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
grated rind of juice of 1 small orange
1/3 pt brandy

Wash the raisins/sultanas/currants which helps to clear out the stalks and 'stuff', then mix it all together in a big bowl. Leave it overnight, mix again and then jar it up. We use the mincemeat from last year for this years mince pies.

Normally use shop bought pastry to make things easier!

[big_boz]

You have a glaring omision, the Tesco Baked in store puff pastry ring mince pie......mmmmmmmmm

[Shaw Tarse]

Usually I buy Mr Kipling's, but could be temped to try some of the others on that list.
Do PHers like their mince pies hot or cold?

[big_boz]

if possible hot with a good size ice cream ball, but il take what i can get!

[V8mate]

Shaw Tarse said:

Usually I buy Mr Kipling's,

You filthy pig. I'd be surprised if even homeless people eat them.

[Shaw Tarse]

V8mate said:

Shaw Tarse said:

Usually I buy Mr Kipling's,

You filthy pig. I'd be surprised if even homeless people eat them.

I need something to soak up the White Lightning!

[V8mate]

Shaw Tarse said:

I need something to soak up the White Lightning!

Fair point.

[Dr G]

big_boz said:

if possible hot with a good size ice cream ball, but il take what i can get!

Very, very, very. That's pudding tonight sorted

[DoctorX]

Heston's shortcrust mince pies from Waitrose are lovely (not the nasty puff pastry ones with the pine sugar). Which ones are listed?

Edited by DoctorX on Thursday 29th November 18:58

[Output Flange]

A few glaring omissions, but it's a start.

Edited by Output Flange on Thursday 29th November 18:58

[V8mate]

DoctorX said:

Heston's shortcrust mince pies from Waitrose are lovely (not the nasty puff pastry ones with the pine sugar). Which ones are listed?

The nasty puff pastry ones with pine sugar.

[DoctorX]

V8mate said:

The nasty puff pastry ones with pine sugar.

Try some of those others, straight in at No. 1! (although they're quite unusual so maybe an aquired taste).

[escargot]

Hot with a heart attack inducing amount of brandy butter.

[Zwolf]

The Spreadsheet approves.

[Japveesix]

We've only just started this at work but we're aiming to have a different pack every day or two up until christmas (did it last year but no idea what came out top in the end - think it was the homemade pack we got from the WI Market).

So far had the Holly Lane pack from Aldi (6 for 89p) and the cheapy ones from ASDA. Aldi are winning - better pastry, sweeter/tastier filling. Though the ASDA ones did have better decoration on the top and some icing sugar, a nice touch.

I'll let you know how our leaderboard pans out (may even adopt your scoring!)

[egomeister]

Do you do requests?

If your Waitrose has an in store bakery please try those. I seem to remember they were pretty good when I had them a couple of years back, so I'd be interested to see where you think they rank.

Might have to try some of the options towards the top of your list!