Recommendations; what have you got? Shop bought/supermarket only. No home-made artisan farmers market craft-pie nonsense thank you very much. Those little mini fellas shall be allowed.

Hot/Cold? Custard? Cream? Buttered? Or just trough the entire box in ten minutes?

No home-made artisan farmers market craft-pie nonsense thank you very much.

that’s not the STW way!

In terms of easily available I like the Greggs ones more than any supermarket pies, though I’ll still eat any.

My brother gets some amazing pies from a farm shop near him, 6 different styles in a pack, but it’s a bit far away for me.

Best I’ve had so far this year have been the posh Tescos range. Aldi have been disappointing this year, and a smaller range than usual too.

Not within the rules, but if you live near Derby, Croots Farm Shop outside Duffield is the place for mince pies.

Oh, and warm, with clotted cream for preference.

So far I’ve had a box of M&S, Waitrose, Coop and Asda plus a no name local corner shop version. M&S a nose in front so far, served warm with cream in the evening and cold during the day. I’ve got a bit of a problem. Last year I think I had something like 90.

Had 4 Morrisons ones earlier on

Avoid the Heston ones from Waitrose too. Garbage. Tried to mess with a classic and turned them in to vile little gobfuls of nastiness.

I’ve got a bit of a problem. Last year I think I had something like 90.

Username checks out…

Serious though. Respect! I get through them in an almost obscene fashion.

Agreed about the Heston ones, original is best. Waitrose have been the best so far for me but need to give M&S a go.

Sainsbury’s do some frangipane topped ones which are amazing. Their gin and Clementine ones are bit weird though.

Had two icing topped mince pies served with Christmas pudding icecream earlier. The icecream unfortunately was knife-bendingly frozen solid 🙁

6 Morrisons and 6 Aldi so far.

Morrisons in the lead.

Only had Sainsbury’s TTD which came out tops in the Grauniad.

Is there such thing as a bad one?

Last second grab of some Waitrose essential ones, 6 for £1, as I hit the checkout today.

Not especially big, not especially good, but just had a warm one with some thick Greek Yoghurt and it was OK. I think the Aldi ones I have a few weeks back were better

Mince pies are mingin’.

Proper Christmas cake is where it’s at.

Is there such thing as a bad one?

I wouldn’t have thought so either, but first box of the season were some cheap tesco ones. Crap. Maybe they were last year’s stock.

Mince pies are mingin’.

Proper Christmas cake is where it’s at.

Wut?

Christmas Cake can get in the sea. Christmas pudding maybe… mmmm…

co-op’s poshish ones (irresistible ?) are best I’ve had so far this year

I used to bloody love some that aldi sold but not seen them for the past couple of years

Edit:  Warm, with thick cream

Wife’s. **** legendary. Pics on here next week.

Pukkka minced beef and onion…

@scuttler pics of wife or pies? Clarification needed.

Co-Op ones that look like they’re baked in store. Nice crisp short crust, good tasty filling.

Lidl’s Dairy Free with homemade brandy-butter . Sorted. Bishbashnosh. Although last year got a few boxes of Greggs mince pies (also veggie/dairy-free) and they were the bombiggetty also

@scuttler pics of wife or pies? Clarification needed.

Both?

Are we allowed to say ready rolled pastry and then the Waitrose mince pie filling? I’m always annoyed at the lack of filling in most.
I’ll be doing the same this year and leaving out for postie and delivery drivers.

Heston ones were awful! Who wants caraway pastry?! Need to try the Aldi ones.

Only tried Aldi this year, not bad. Hot with homemade ice cream, which I’m developing an unhealthy addiction to. 😬

I like the Aldi 75p boxes of mince pies. Judging by the number of boxes in my local store that are going to be past their sell by date on the 15th of December I reckon they will be down to 50p a box very soon 🤣

Only had the standard Co-Op ones so far and they were underwhelming to say the least.

Morrison’s weren’t bad. Apparently the M&S ones are v good this year.

I’ve only had Harrods (Occado sell them :p ) and M&S fancy ones so far, both disappointing (especially the Harrods ones). I usually just stick to the Tesco fancy ones, they don’t get much love but seem the best to me.

@jimmy and the verdict on the recommendation by the Grauniad? Minus points for only half a job.
Some of the cheaper ones are under filled in my experience. The Frangipane ones sound good though.

@sandwich maybe I should have been clearer.

It was decent. Crumbly pastry, would like more filling but overall verdict was

Is there such thing as a bad one?

I saw a pack of these off with a mug of tea, I daren’t buy any more

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/all-christmas/sainsburys-mincemeat-puffs-x8-200g

I really love the terrible supermarket ones with the iced tops. Deliciously disgusting and sweet. Back in the day (prior to chubclub shenanigans) I could easily do half a packet with a big mug of coffee. Yes, there’s 1,350 calories per box….. yum yum yum

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/258249898?sc_cmp=ppc*GHS%20-%20Grocery%20-%20New*PX_Shopping%20GCS_New_Generic_All%20Products*New%3A%20F%26D%3A%20Bakery%3A%20Bakery*PRODUCT_GROUP258249898*&ds_rl=1116019&ds_rl=1116322&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-qGNBhD3ARIsAO_o7ykZq0nPMZ_iGp6lmrjN8TbxJ5BQgNd7D2R25-a9RBLc2SHavq0b2awaAjfOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&selectedUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fdigitalcontent.api.tesco.com%2Fv2%2Fmedia%2Fghs%2Fd1c1ec4c-0d8c-40e9-a668-5d969f32bfbd%2F48da5b35-25f5-411d-a2cc-bc24feb1ab5e.jpeg%3Fh%3D540%26w%3D540

I almost miss mince pies. Will have to look for some in th shops here. Maybe Lidl has some.

Sainsbury’s were my first purchase this year and the pastry just fell to pieces, definitely not worthy of winning any awards

M&S ones – the cognac smothers the fruity tang of the mince, so it’s a no from me.
Greggses ones are the best I’ve had so far

Had some last year that had a crumble topping instead of pie pastry. Oh it were luverly.

Might have been t’aldi

-1 for Greggs. Bought a pack at the weekend. Shallow and soggy/greasy. Very disapponted.
Only had the cheap Aldi ones otherwise so far. As every year, they will be my go to standard – cheap and just down the road so I can get through plenty of them without any supply issues. Need to find some icing topped ones in the very near future though.

Warm, take the top off, big ol’ blob of brandy butter, top back on.
Topping of your choice.

You can thank me later.

APF