Gavster's Mince Pie Ranking 2021 (now inc NEW 2022 updates)

[Jobbo]

I can't discuss this issue without consulting with my legal representative, Mr Flibble.

MrFlibble.jpg

It’s so difficult to find decent staff at the moment, would he consider moving for a 6-figure role?

[Beany]

I asked him, and his hex vision flickered.

Probably best not to test that further.

[Sundayjumper]

It’s so difficult to find decent staff at the moment, would he consider moving for a 6-figure role?

Or maybe for a 6-foot roll?

[Jobbo]

Mmmm - perhaps this will tempt him:

[Gavster]

I'm quite impressed by these at the £1 price point, the pastry is tasty and the filling is nice and flavoursomve too, although it lacks texture. They're quite small too, however at £1 you can't go wrong.










Iceland Good Housekeeping Luxury Mince Pies
Iceland Mince Pies


Tesco Mince Pies

[Gavster]

Iceland Good Housekeeping Luxury Mince Pies
Iceland Mince Pies
Partridge's, Chelsea (good, but too expensive and note quite Elite 5*)
Morrison's 'The Best' a worthwhile contender


Tesco Mince Pies
Wild Goose Bakery - Large pie but the pastry was overbearingly heavy.


Mr Kipling - dry pastry, boring filling

[mik]

No five star ratings for 2021. Tough year for mince pie makers

[Rich B]

No five star ratings for 2021. Tough year for mince pie makers

no one stars either though - it could be that the testers mince pie meter needs calibrating.

[Gavster]

None were truly awful, none were truly great

[Nefarious]

Don't know whether you're happy to include 3rd party data, but I think tester calibration is ok - I similarly rate Tesco standard a 3 (perhaps edging down to a 2.5).

Asda standard - 1.5-2. Overall poor. Pastry too sweet and cardboardy. Filling like cheap jam.
Asda fancy - 3.5-4. Solid and dependable. Nice short pastry. Decent texture from the filling. Detectable port element.
Asda bakery - 4. A cut above. Perhaps too much pastry, but very nice pastry, almost verging on belgian shortbread. Tasty fruit. Well balanced with the pastry for sweetness.
Tesco standard - 2.5-3. Acceptable but nothing to write home about. Pastry bland. Filling too sweet and lacks texture.
Morrisons standard - 3. Straight average. Edges the Tescos with nicer pastry, but the filling is still a bit jammy.

[Beany]

Asda fancy - 3.5-4. Solid and dependable. Nice short pastry. Decent texture from the filling. Detectable port element.

Yeah, those are quite nice.

I tried some greggs ones, which were just a little bit oily in the pastry, which actually improved them a bit. Likely they had just shared an oven with some sausage rolls

[Swervin_Mervin]

I was well into my 30s before I started liking mince pies. And even then only homemade ones. Shop mince pies are hanging in every way.

[Mito Man]

Ah maybe maybe that's why I still find them utterly miserable.

[DeskJockey]

Cook's mince pies. Good pastry, if a little bland on the palate. Filling decent. 3.5/5

Tesco Finest. Pastry not short enough. Filling lacked flavour, no port flavour. 2.5/5

[Gavster]

Now that we've got a wider data source in the forum, I've also been sent recommendations from various food professionals and bakers for the 5* Elite category, however haven't had time to verify them personally. It would make sense that this category belongs to the specialist bakers.

BTW, dudes, don't you understand how a 1 - 5 rating works


E5 Bakehouse (unverified)
Konditor & Cook (unverified)
Ottolengi (unverified)
Bread and Bike (unverified)
Waitrose Brown Butter mince pies (unverified)


Iceland Good Housekeeping Luxury Mince Pies (thegavster)
Iceland Mince Pies (thegavster)
Partridge's, Chelsea - good, but too expensive and note quite Elite 5* (thegavster)
Morrison's 'The Best' a worthwhile contender (thegavster)
Cook's mince pies. Good pastry, if a little bland on the palate. Filling decent. (DeskJockey 3.5)
Asda fancy - Solid and dependable. Nice short pastry. Decent texture from the filling. Detectable port element. (Nefarious 3.5-4)
Asda bakery - A cut above. Perhaps too much pastry, but very nice pastry, almost verging on belgian shortbread. Tasty fruit. Well balanced with the pastry for sweetness (Nefarious)


Tesco Mince Pies (thegavster verified by Nefarious)
Tesco Finest. Pastry not short enough. Filling lacked flavour, no port flavour.(DeskJockey 2.5)
Wild Goose Bakery - Large pie but the pastry was overbearingly heavy. (thegavster)
Morrisons standard. Straight average. Edges the Tescos with nicer pastry, but the filling is still a bit jammy. (Nefarious)


Mr Kipling - dry pastry, boring filling (thegavster)
Asda standard - Overall poor. Pastry too sweet and cardboardy. Filling like cheap jam. (Nefarious 1.5-2)

[Gavster]

As soon as I've tried one of my mum's mince pies on Boxing Day we'll have something for the 1* category too.

SJ - please don't tell her I said that

[Sundayjumper]

SJ - please don't tell her I said that

We’re going to bring some along too. We’ll have a pie-off.

[Gavster]

Awesome

[Gavster]

@Sundayjumper has already started on this year's noble quest

[Sundayjumper]

I have

Mince pies in stock at our local Co-op. I’ll make a start on them for elevenses.