Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a good mince pie. But with so many supermarket options vying for your attention this year, finding the best mince pies 2025 has become a surprisingly competitive sport. We’ve compared the official taste test results from Which?, Good Housekeeping, Saga, and The Independent to help you decide which box to drop into your trolley — whether you’re after luxury indulgence or budget brilliance.

4 related posts

Supermarkets tested by Which? 2025: 12 · Pies sampled by Good Housekeeping 2025: 50+ · Saga panelists for 2025 taste test: 8

Quick snapshot

1Consumer champion
2Editorial pick
3Lifestyle expert
4Premium recommendation

Six award-winning pies, one clear pattern: the 2025 winners each excel in a different category, from budget to luxury.

Attribute Value
2025 best overall mince pie (Which?) Waitrose No1 Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac (Which? consumer organisation)
2025 best classic mince pie (Saga) Aldi Specially Selected All Butter Mince Pies (Saga lifestyle magazine)
2025 best mince pie (Good Housekeeping) M&S 6 All Butter Mince Pies (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
2025 The Independent best mince pie Farm Shop shortcrust mince pies (The Independent product reviews)
Price of cheapest award-winning mince pie £1.95 per 6 (Aldi) (Saga lifestyle magazine)
Price of most expensive award-winning mince pie £4.00 per 6 (Waitrose) (Which? consumer organisation)

Which supermarket has the best mince pies in 2025?

Four major taste tests gave four different winners — proof that “best” depends on what you value most. Here is how the top picks stack up.

The upshot

There is no single champion across all panels. Your choice comes down to budget, pastry preference, and whether you want a classic or a twist.

Saga’s top four classic mince pies 2025

  • Aldi Specially Selected All Butter Mince Pies named best classic by Saga panel (Saga lifestyle magazine)
  • M&S Classic Mince Pies ranked 1st by Good Housekeeping expert panel (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
  • Waitrose No1 Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac judged best by Which? members (Which? consumer organisation)

Good Housekeeping’s winner: M&S Classic Mince Pies

  • M&S 6 All Butter Mince Pies took first place in Good Housekeeping 2025 test (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
  • VIP panelists and experts sampled over 50 mince pies (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
  • Results published on Good Housekeeping UK and Facebook

Which? favourite: Waitrose No1 Brown Butter Mince Pies

  • Waitrose No1 Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac highest rated by Which? 2025 (Which? consumer organisation)
  • Which? tested 12 different supermarket mince pies (Which? consumer organisation)
  • Full results published at which.co.uk

The pattern: each panel prized different qualities — buttery pastry, boozy filling, or sheer consistency. The implication: you can trust the winner that matches your taste.

Which mince pie won the Good Housekeeping taste test 2025?

“M&S 6 All Butter Mince Pies took first place,” said the Good Housekeeping UK panel, citing their “perfect balance of sweet and spiced.”

Good Housekeeping UK (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)

  • 1st place: M&S 6 All Butter Mince Pies (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
  • 2nd place: Lidl 12 Favorina Mince Pies (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
  • 3rd place joint winners: Lidl Deluxe Gingerbread and Deluxe (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)

The trade-off: M&S costs £3.50 for six, while Lidl’s runners-up cost far less. For shoppers who want the certified best, M&S is a reliable bet.

What were the top mince pies in the Which? 2025 test?

“Waitrose No1 Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac were the clear favourite,” reported Which? consumer testers, praising the “rich, buttery pastry and generous brandy kick.”

Which? (Which? consumer organisation)

  • Waitrose No1 Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac: £4 per 6 (Which? consumer organisation)
  • Which? priced M&S Collection Mince Pies at £4 for 6, calling them a “step up from most” (Which? consumer organisation)
  • Iceland Luxury All Butter Mince Pies (£3 for 6) came third (Which? consumer organisation)

Which? contrasted a premium favourite (Waitrose) with a cheaper alternative from Iceland. The catch: Iceland’s third-place pie costs £1 less per box, making it a strong value pick.

Are Aldi mince pies any good in 2025?

“Aldi Specially Selected All Butter Mince Pies are the best classic mince pie for 2025,” said Saga magazine’s taste testers, emphasizing their “old-fashioned taste at a modern low price.”

Saga magazine (Saga lifestyle magazine)

  • Aldi Specially Selected All Butter Mince Pies best classic according to Saga (Saga lifestyle magazine)
  • Aldi pies cost £1.95 per 6 (Saga lifestyle magazine)
  • Considered best value mince pie by multiple review outlets
What to watch

Aldi’s recipe may vary by region. If your local store runs out, you might miss the budget champion entirely.

Why this matters: at £1.95, Aldi’s winning classic undercuts every other award-winner by at least £1.55 per box, yet still beat pricier rivals in blind tasting.

Which mince pies are best for a budget in 2025?

The cheapest award-winning pie is Aldi at £1.95 per six, but Lidl’s Favorina mince pies — a vegan option at roughly £1.25 — also ranked high in blind tastings.

Taste Test Winner Price (per 6) Source
Which? Waitrose No1 Brown Butter with Cognac £4.00 Which? consumer organisation
Good Housekeeping M&S 6 All Butter Mince Pies £3.50 Good Housekeeping expert testing panel
Saga (classic) Aldi Specially Selected All Butter £1.95 Saga lifestyle magazine
The Independent Farm Shop shortcrust (artisan) £6.00 (approx) The Independent product reviews
  • Aldi mince pies cheapest among award-winners at £1.95 per 6 (Saga lifestyle magazine)
  • Lidl Favorina ranked 2nd in Good Housekeeping test and costs even less (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
  • Budget options outperformed some premium pies in blind tastings (TopCashback consumer guide)

Upsides

  • Budget pies win taste tests outright – no need to spend £4+
  • Aldi and Lidl offer vegan options that score well (TopCashback consumer guide)
  • Wider availability for budget-friendly picks

Downsides

  • Premium pies often have more complex flavour (brandy, brown butter)
  • Budget packs may sell out quickly in December
  • Fewer artisan or dietary-specialist options at lower price points

Timeline: 2025 mince pie taste test results

  • – Good Housekeeping publishes mince pie taste test results with M&S winning (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
  • – The Independent publishes independent 2025 mince pie taste test with Farm Shop winning (The Independent product reviews)
  • – Saga publishes best mince pies 2025 classic and premium categories (Saga lifestyle magazine)
  • – Which? publishes its 2025 mince pie taste test results with Waitrose winning (Which? consumer organisation)

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • M&S 6 All Butter Mince Pies won Good Housekeeping taste test 2025 (Good Housekeeping expert testing panel)
  • Waitrose No1 Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac won Which? taste test 2025 (Which? consumer organisation)
  • Aldi Specially Selected All Butter Mince Pies won Saga classic category 2025 (Saga lifestyle magazine)
  • Prices: Aldi £1.95/6, Waitrose £4.00/6, M&S Classic £3.50/6

What’s unclear

  • Exact runner-up positions in Which? taste test beyond winner not fully published
  • Full methodologies for each taste test not publicly available
  • Whether any single mince pie won across ALL test panels

More expert voices

“Farm Shop shortcrust mince pies are handmade in Somerset,” said The Independent taste test, calling them “a proper artisan alternative to supermarket staples.”

The Independent (The Independent product reviews)

“Sainsbury’s came out on top for its tasters, sharing first place for taste with Tesco,” noted TopCashback’s 2025 ranking of 10 supermarket mince pies.

TopCashback (TopCashback consumer guide)

If you’re planning a Christmas meal beyond mince pies, check out our guide to the best fish and chips in London. For another festive treat, see our review of Aldi Dubai Style Spread.

For the Christmas shopper trying to impress guests on a budget, the choice is clear: grab a box of Aldi’s classic mince pies and save the rest for the sprouts. If you’re hosting a fancier affair, Waitrose’s brandy-laced winner is worth the splurge. The trade-off: either way, you’re buying a 2025 taste test champion.

For a closer look at how these brands performed across different expert panels, see the supermarket taste test winners from Briefing Room.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What makes a mince pie the best in 2025?

The best mince pies combine all-butter pastry, a well-spiced filling, and good fruit-to-fat ratio. Award-winners in 2025 also scored high on appearance and aroma.

How do taste tests like Which? and Good Housekeeping score mince pies?

Panels assess appearance, aroma, pastry texture, filling flavour, and overall value. Which? uses member testers, while Good Housekeeping relies on expert chefs and VIP guests.

Are store-bought mince pies as good as homemade in 2025?

Many supermarket winners now rival homemade quality, especially Aldi and M&S. For artisan flair, Farm Shop shortcrust from The Independent’s top pick offers a handcrafted alternative.

Can I buy 2025 award-winning mince pies online?

Yes. Waitrose, M&S, and Aldi offer online delivery. Independent bakers like Farm Shop also ship nationally. Check individual websites for Christmas order cut-offs.

Are there any gluten-free or vegan mince pies that win awards in 2025?

Lidl’s Favorina mince pies are vegan and cost around £1.25 per six, according to TopCashback. Good Housekeeping’s 2025 test did not include a dedicated vegan category, but several brands offer free-from options.

How do I store mince pies to keep them fresh?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them before the use-by date and reheat in a warm oven for 5 minutes.