December 9th 2024.
Christmas is a time of indulgence and delicious food, but there's one controversial treat that always seems to divide people - the humble mince pie. Just like Marmite, you either love it or hate it. For those who aren't fans, it can be tough to miss out on the festive tradition. But fear not, as there are plenty of alternative options available at your local supermarket.
From chocolate and caramel filled pies to sticky toffee pudding tarts, there's something for everyone who isn't a fan of the classic Christmas snack. And the best part? Not a single raisin in sight!
To help you avoid the dreaded FOMO, we've taken on the tough task of trying out some of the UK's major supermarkets' mince pie alternatives. Here's our honest verdict on the best ones for 2024.
First up, we have Tesco's Finest Free From Sticky Toffee Tarts. These gluten-free, wheat-free, and milk-free treats are a real winner. With a rich date filling, golden toffee fondant, and bronzed pecans on top, they tick all the festive boxes. The only downside was that the pastry was a little dry, but overall, a delicious option.
Next, we tried Aldi's Specially Selected Maple & Pecan Tarts. As a lover of all things sweet, I had high hopes for these. Unfortunately, they were just too sugary for my liking. The combination of caramel filling, pecan and toffee sponge, and maple buttercream was just too much. These would have been better without the buttercream.
Moving on to Iceland's Chocolate Caramel Crumble Pies, and finally, a mince pie alternative that dares to be different. If you're someone who can't stand the traditional mince pie, then this is the one for you. It's a deliciously sweet take on the classic, with a hit of sugar that's reminiscent of a school dessert. A much-appreciated diversion from the norm.
Asda's Exceptional Toffee Apple Spiced Crumble Tarts were another standout option. Filled with a delicious mixture of British toffee and apple, and topped with a spiced pecan crumble, these tarts were incredibly wholesome and indulgent. The only downside was that they were more autumnal than Christmassy in flavor.
Next up, we have Morrisons' The Best Caramel & Maple Tarts. These were decent taste-wise, but the pastry was overly crumbly and hard to eat. As a mince pie hater, I was hoping to love these, but they ended up being more hassle than they were worth.
Sainsbury's Chocolate & Hazelnut Tarts were a clear winner for me. If you're a fan of Nutella, then you need to try these tarts. They may not look impressive at first glance, but the combination of all butter pastry, smooth and rich gianduja chocolate, and chocolate and hazelnut frangipane is truly special. In my opinion, the perfect alternative to a traditional mince pie.
Lastly, we have M&S's Rodney Reindeer Pies, a brownie and pie hybrid that sounded great in theory. However, the first few bites didn't quite hit the mark for me. The filling wasn't as moist as I'd like, and the pastry didn't add much to the overall taste. But it did gain some bonus points for being the most festive of the bunch, with a cute reindeer on top.
So there you have it, our honest verdict on the best mince pie alternatives available in supermarkets. Whether you're a lover or hater of the traditional treat, there's something for everyone to enjoy this Christmas. Happy indulging!
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