Best mince pies for Christmas 2026, tasted-tested by a food writer

I taste-tested by way through more than 20 boxes of mince pies Emma HendersonIt's not Christmas without having a box (or two) of the best mince pies in your cupboards – arguably the most festive food of them all, bar the main event. Whether you're leaving them out by the fireplace for Father Christmas, serving with a glass of mulled wine or warming them up with a generous dollop of cream, they're an essential festive dish.Contrary to their name, they aren’t filled with minced up. Inside the pastry exterior is a jammy, sticky mixture of dried fruits like raisins, sultanas, apples, and orange peel doused in festive spices, rum or brandy for that real hit of Christmassy aromas and tastes. Best mince pies at a glanceBest overall – Waitrose Pistachio & Sour Cherry Frangipane Mince Pies: £4, Waitrose.comBest budget buy – Asda Exceptional by Asda 6 Luxury Mince Pies: £2.84, Asda.comBest after dinner treat – Waitrose No 1 mini brown butter mince pies: £4, Waitrose.comBest frangipane mince pie – Sainsbury's Taste the Difference all butter frangipane pies: £3.50, Sainsburys.comBest everyday mince pies – Sainsbury's Taste the Difference all butter mince pies: £3.50, Sainsburys.comLike anything, supermarkets and food producers are increasingly looking to make everyday products more exciting. Sometimes this goes too far, but this year, alternative flavours are creative, well balanced and delicious rather than disappointing.While the purists are still catered for, there are a lot of rule-bending, exciting mince pies out there – and I’ve taste-tested my way to the 17 best for 2026. How I testedI sampled more than 20 boxes in my search for the season’s best mince pies Emma Henderson/The StandardI've made my way through more than 20 different boxes of mince pies, across classics, new flavours, free-from options and mini versions. I tasted mince pies from high-street favourite supermarkets, as well as a couple of high-end brands and independent bakeries, eating them both straight out of the box and warmed through a little in the oven. Throughout the test, I was looking for a well-balanced, generous filling, top-quality pastry, pleasing aesthetic and value for money. Waitrose No.1 Pistachio & Sour Cherry Frangipane Mince PiesEmma Henderson/The Standard★★★★☆Best: Overall mince pieWhat we love: Great flavour combinationsTake note: Too alternative for someThese mince pies look great, with little pieces of chopped pistachio on top and a layer of frangipane below. Bringing nuttiness to the mince pie, pistachio lovers will adore them. They're perfectly formed and are a great example of how to twist a festive classic without losing sight of what it should be. Inside, instead of the classic mince meat, the filling is a jammy sour-cherry mixture, with a sharpness that cuts through the sweeter topping. The tart, fruity combination is delicious, proving how supermarkets can get creative without being too wild.No. in pack: 4Asda Exceptional by Asda 6 Luxury Mince PiesEmma Henderson★★★☆☆Best: Budget mince pie What we love: Affordable Take note: Pastry is slightly stodgyWorking out at less than 50p a pie, Asda offers impressive value for money – particularly given how generously filled they are. The mincemeat has a lovely balance of flavour, infused with Ruby port, Valencia orange oil and Cognac, but without being overly boozy or sweet. It's a milder, more restrained filling than some of the richer, heavily spiced alternatives, which makes these an easy crowd-pleaser. The pastry is slightly stodgy, but has a pleasant buttery flavour and holds together well. They might not have the refinement of a premium bakery pie, but for a supermarket option at this price, they're a very good buy.No. in pack: 6Sainsburys Taste the Difference all butter frangipane piesEmma Henderson★★★☆☆Best: Frangipane mince pies What we love: Buttery almond toppingTake note: Not a huge amount of mince pie fillingFrangipane continues to be one of the standout flavours in mince pies again this year, and I'm here for it. It adds a pleasing almond flavour to these Sainsbury’s mince pies, without being overly sweet, giving them a little extra richness and a different texture from a standard pastry lid. The pastry is well made, and the mince meat is good, but there's not a huge amount of it, leaving these pies to be a little dry in the end. No. in pack: 4Waitrose No 1 mini brown butter mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Mince pie for an after-dinner treatWhat we love: Great brown butter flavourTake note: Mini size may not be to everyone’s preference These little pies have a surprisingly grown-up flavour. Brown butter brings a lovely nutty richness to the pastry, while the mincemeat has real depth and roundness. Cognac adds warmth without making the filling taste overly alcoholic. The result is sophisticated rather than overly boozy, and feels more like a treat for the adults at the Christmas table.Their mini size makes them a good option for serving alongside coffee after dinner, or at a festive drinks party. However, anyone who prefers a substantial pastry-to-filling ratio may be better off with a traditional-sized pie.No. in pack: 9 Sainsburys Taste the Difference all butter mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Everyday mince piesWhat we love: Classic design, noticeable brand flavourTake note: Crumbly pastry, quite sweetThese look exactly like a traditional mince pie should, with a star on top and a familiar golden pastry finish. And funnily enough, they are near-identical to Aldi's classic mince pies. The filling is sticky and sweet, with a noticeable brandy flavour that gives it a festive warmth. If you like a mince pie with a bit of boozy character, there's plenty to enjoy here. The mince meat is quite sticky too, and the pastry is quite crumbly and dry.No. in pack: 6Tesco Finest hand crafted jewelled mince pieEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Alternative mince pieWhat we love: Great nutty toppingTake note: Not for purists, and more expensive than others Despite looking as though they've come from a smart bakery counter, these Tesco mince pies aren’t for purists. For me, they tick a lot of boxes. Wider and flatter than a traditional pie, they're finished with a colourful scattering of almonds, walnuts, pistachios, glacé cherries and apricot and look more like florentines than mince pies. The pastry is a deep brown, thanks to the brown butter, with a rich flavour that complements the sticky, chewy filling. The mincemeat is laced with orange liqueur and French brandy, bringing a fragrant, boozy warmth without overwhelming the fruit. They're nicely jammy, sticky and chewy – mince pies I'd buy again and again. No. in pack: 2Sainsbury's Taste the Differnece Ecclefechan tartsEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Ecclefechan tart mince pieWhat we love: Great tasteTake note: Filling is made from dried fruits and nuts, not mince meatEcclefechan tarts are traditional all-butter Scottish tarts, taking their name from a little village in the Scottish Borders. The key difference to mince pies is that the filling is made from dried fruits and nuts, not mince meat, though it's similar. It makes a welcome change from the usual mince pie – they're rich and nutty without being excessively sweet. The filling is well balanced, and the almond notes add warmth and depth, making these feel a little more nuanced than a straightforward fruit-filled pastry.No. in pack: 4Aldi Classic mince piesEmma Henderson★★★☆☆Best: Budget mince pies What we love: Affordable Take note: Crumbly pastry Aldi’s traditional mince pie features an attractive star design on the lid. The pastry itself is quite crumbly, so it isn't the neatest option to eat, but the pleasant buttery flavour gives way to a decent amount of mincemeat.The filling is classically spiced without being overpowering – a solid choice for anyone who prefers their mince pies reassuringly traditional rather than heavily boozy or laden with extra toppings. Plus, at the price, you can keep a box or two in the cupboard for a quick festive treat with a cup of tea or for unexpected visitors (great if you're buying for a Christmas Day crowd). Just don't expect the more refined pastry or depth of flavour you'd find in a premium bake.No. in pack: 6Farm Shop mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★★Best: Mince pie made in SomersetWhat we love: Excellent flavour and handmadeTake note: More expensive than someThese are the ones to take to a friend's as a gift over the festive period – they'll absolutely be impressed. Made in Somerset, each wonderfully home-made-looking mince pie is classic but done exceptionally well. The pastry is chunky, but not overbearing; it holds its own and isn't too crumbly. Inside, the well-balanced mince meat is full of festive character and warmth. I also like the light dusting of fine sugar that's not as coarse and crunchy as some other mince pies. They're great as they are, but even better warm (just a little, though, as the mince meat goes a little gooey). No. in pack: 6Waitrose Free from mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: 'Free-from' mince piesWhat we love: Great-tasting free-fromTake note: Not the lightest or flakiest piesFree-from baking can sometimes leave you with a pastry that's either crumbly or disappointingly dry. However, these Waitrose mince pies have a substantial texture, with enough bite to give them a satisfying structure, rather than falling apart at the first touch. There's also a decent amount of filling, so the pastry doesn't completely dominate each mouthful.The mincemeat has a distinctly orangey flavour, which gives the pies a bright, citrusy note. They're not the lightest or flakiest pies in the line-up, and anyone accustomed to rich, buttery shortcrust may notice the difference, but that's usually a given with 'free-from' pastries. For those avoiding both milk and gluten, they offer a properly festive option with a good balance of pastry and filling. No. in pack: 2GAILS mince pie boxEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Mince pies from a high-street bakeryWhat we love: Quality pastry and fillingTake note: Expensive Gails’ rustic-looking, hand-made mince pies have been baked until they're a gorgeous, not-quite-burned dark sandy brown colour. The pastry is somewhere between flaky and shortcrust. Inside, you’re treated to a wonderfully gooey and intensely spiced (but still balanced and not sickly) amount of mince meat. The mince meat has been made by French producer Tea Together, with Jonagold apples, Calvados brandy, cranberries and candied citrus peel.The mince pies are topped with a generous amount of demerara sugar, which gives them not only a great sweetness, but also a little bite too. Of course, they're not the cheapest on the list, but they're really good quality. For the real mince pie fans, these will go down a treat, so save them for the family you like the most (or just yourself). No. in pack: 6M&S puff pastry mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Puff pastry mince pieWhat we love: Flaky pastry and sugary topTake note: Not a huge fillingTraditionally, mince pies are made with a buttery shortcrust pastry that's thicker and not flaky. Instead, these M&S mince pies have been made with puff pastry. They look a little more like scones than mince pies, with their puffed-up height creating a more airy inside. The pastry is nicely flaky and quite light, while the mince meat is pleasant and not too overpowering. It's topped off with a generous dusting of sugar on top, too. No. in pack: 6The Newt crumble top mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Luxury mince pies What we love: Deep-filled, crumble topTake note: Expensive Certainly the biggest mince pies on the list, these mince pies from The Newt Estate in Somerset have a really hefty depth to them. They're the best-tasting mince meat in the whole test too. The flavour is so festive, packed with Bramley apples and brandy, but balanced with a touch of sweetness and more citrus orange flavours than some of the othersUnlike other more jammy mince pie fillings, The Newt’s offering is slightly drier, but the pastry is nicely moist in comparison. The pies are topped with a lovely crumble too, which gives a nice texture. If you're going all out, which you might as well, buy the brand's brandy butter to serve them with, too.No. in pack: 6M&S classic mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Generously filled mince pieWhat we love: Generous filling and good depthTake note: Slightly bland mince meatYou can always rely on M&S to turn out its great version of a classic. They have a decent depth, which is pleasingly generously filled. The pastry is deliciously buttery and has a shortbread-like texture to it – it's softly crumbly without being dry. The edge is scalloped, with a very light dusting of sugar on top. The mince meat isn't the most complex and is a little on the bland side, though those who prefer a less spiced mince meat might prefer this.No. in pack: 6Aldi Specially Selected Bally Castle mince piesEmma Henderson★★★☆☆Best: Irish cream liqueur mince pie What we love: Fun festive flavour Take note: Quite sweet with a heavy cream topping These mince pies are less of an everyday mince pie, and more of a little Christmas dessert. The mincemeat is infused with Cognac, brandy and cider, giving it a warming, festive character, but what sets them apart is the Ballycastle cream topping. It's Aldi's version of Baileys, and adds a creamy, liqueur-like note to each bite.The topping is quite heavy and very sweet, so one pie is likely to be enough, and for that reason they're not really suited to oven warming. A fun alternative to a classic mince pie, traditionalists may find them a little over the top.No. in pack: 4M&S Collection 9 mini mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Mince pies for drinks parties What we love: Buttery pastry, bite-size Take note: Mild fillingThis pack of mini mince pies are perfect for festive drinks parties. Topped with a pretty little holly decoration, they'll look the part among the rest of your festive spread. The pastry is nicely buttery, but there's not a huge amount of filling inside. Like some of the other M&S mince pies, it's not the most flavourful. Still, they're great to keep a couple of boxes in the cupboard for an easy, minimal-effort sweet treat. No. in pack: 9Mr Kipling signature mince piesEmma Henderson★★★★☆Best: Mr Kipling mince piesWhat we love: Nicely baked, dense fillingTake note: Quite sweetAnother mince pie that's much wider and thinner than the usual pie shape; this is more disc-like, with a semi-open top featuring a snowflake pattern. The filling is quite dense because of the shape. The pastry has more colour than some others and is nicely baked. It's quite sweet, so you'll likely only reach for one. The inside has plenty of sultanas and fruit too, and a dusting of sugar, adding to the sweetness. No. in pack: 4What are the best mince pies?Bringing in new flavours while still being recognisable as a mince pie, I loved the Waitrose No.1 Pistachio & Sour Cherry Frangipane Mince Pies. For some, it might be a stretch too far, but to me, it’s a perfect example of how they can be creative and delicious, and still a mince pie.The Farm Shop mince pies are consistently excellent and will impress anyone, even those not usually a mince pie fan. For something a little different, the Tesco bejewelled mince pies were the ones I reached for most, even after testing more than 20 mince pies. The nuttiness and Florentine-like style makes a refreshing take on a classic that's not too wild. Why you can trust our reviews I've been testing products for over a decade, bringing readers the best in consumer journalism, as I was the former editor of The Independent's product review section, IndyBest. I specialise in reviewing all things food and cooking related, from cast iron casserole pots to coffee machines, and wines to butters, as I was also the former editor of The Independent's food and drink digital magazine, IndyEats.As a freelancer, I've also written about food and drink, restaurants, chefs and food trends for national publications such as Conde Nast Traveller, National Geographic Traveller Food, The Caterer, The Good Food Guide and House & Garden.