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<\/p>\nWITH crumbly shortcrust pastry and a rich, fruity filling, the mince pie is a Christmas classic for a good reason.<\/p>\n
But this year, supermarkets have tweaked our festive favourite to add extra flavours, toppings and ingredients.<\/p>\n
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Can any of them beat the original recipe \u2013 and is it worth spending your money on something a bit different this Christmas?<\/p>\n
We bought novelty mince pie flavours from Tesco, Sainsbury\u2019s, Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose and Asda and put them to the test.<\/p>\n
Here are our verdicts:<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/5059697401107_T1_Tesco_Finest_4_Crumble_Topped_Salted_Caramel_Mince_Pies.png\")
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If you\u2019re expecting a mince pie prepare to be bitterly disappointed because – despite the name – these are not mince pies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They have a cheesecake-style biscuit crumble base with an overwhelming allspice flavour and a crunchy biscuit crumble topping.<\/p>\n There was too much biscuit and not enough filling, just a very thin layer of mincemeat with a dollop of salted caramel right in the middle.\u00a0<\/p>\n It was a struggle to taste any salt in the caramel, which was sickly sweet, and it didn\u2019t go very well with the mincemeat. <\/p>\n This is a case where Tesco has tried to merge two classic flavours which are better off apart.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n SCORE: 5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n These were a tasty, fun twist on two British classics.\u00a0<\/p>\n The mince pie has a fabulous frangipane top which is moist and dotted with flaked almonds. <\/p>\n There wasn\u2019t a very strong cherry taste, but that meant the mincemeat filling went well with the topping. <\/p>\n I\u2019d happily eat these over regular mince pies any day.<\/p>\n SCORE: 8\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n Asda\u2019s mince pie remix looked interesting, with a darker chocolate-flavoured pastry and a crumbly topping.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sadly, there was little chocolate taste in the mince pie but there was a strong, artificial cherry flavour. <\/p>\n It was lacking in festive spice and, overall, it was a bit like eating a cherry pie with raisins in it.<\/p>\n SCORE: 6\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n These mince pies covered with oat flapjack both looked and tasted incredibly dry.\u00a0<\/p>\n It felt like Waitrose had skimped on the filling, as the flapjack only came two thirds up the pastry case. <\/p>\n There was a pleasant, festive, cinnamon spice flavour but it wasn\u2019t enough to counteract the fact that this is too much dry, stodgy carb to eat in one mouthful.\u00a0<\/p>\n SCORE: 6\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n Nothing about this mince pie and chocolate mousse mash-up sounds like it should work \u2013 but, amazingly, it tastes delicious.\u00a0<\/p>\n The pie has a thin layer of mincemeat in the bottom and then is topped with a soft chocolate cream, flavoured with hints of booze and orange. <\/p>\n The crunchy nuts on the top help give it texture.\u00a0<\/p>\n The only downside was that pies are prone to collapsing after you\u2019ve taken one mouthful so they\u2019re best eaten on a plate with a spoon.<\/p>\n At \u00a31 each, these were the most expensive ones we tried. <\/p>\n But if you\u2019re looking for something a bit different this year, it\u2019s worth spending the money.\u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/crop-20722870.jpg\")
<\/picture>SWEET SPOT <\/span><\/p>\nSky customers dash to get FREE Cadbury chocolate treat and Christmas movie perk<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ms-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>FESTIVE FEAST <\/span><\/p>\nI taste tested M&S' \u00a36 Christmas turkey dinner – what it\u2019s really like<\/h3>\n
Most read in Money<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cpdrek-20-twenty-pound-notes-791534059.jpg\")
<\/picture>HELPING HAND <\/span><\/p>\nThousands of households to get \u00a3125 paid into bank accounts before Christmas<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/newspress-collage-9otjngzdo-1701811550189.jpg\")
<\/picture>CASH BACK <\/span><\/p>\nMartin Lewis warns MILLIONS could be owed money – and explains how to reclaim it<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/185-night-face-demolished-revealed-835506778.jpg\")
<\/picture>GET SHEDDY <\/span><\/p>\nI’ve been given a WEEK to demolish my sheds even though neighbours love them<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ROB-XMAS-CRISPS-COMP.jpg\")
<\/picture>SPUD DEAL <\/span><\/p>\nI tested supermarket Christmas crisps – I could eat the winners all-year round<\/h3>\n
Morrisons The Best Cherry Bakewell Mince Pies, \u00a32.50 for 4<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Morrisons_The_Best_All_Butter_Pastry_Cherry_Bakewell_Mince_Pies_T1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAsda Extra Special Chocolate & Cherry Crumble Mince Pies, \u00a32.75 for 6<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/8da2d7eb-124b-47aa-b2ae-7f683ff7a9c8.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWaitrose Christmas Spiced Flapjack Minced Pies, \u00a32.75 for 4<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Waitrose___Partners_Christmas_4_Spiced_Flapjack_Mince_Pies.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWINNER<\/strong> M&S Collections Chocolate & Hazelnuts Mince Pies, \u00a34 for 4<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Chocolate-Hazelnut-Mince-Pies.png\")
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