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

[Nefarious]

Worth mentioning on this thread - I've had a couple of boxes of the Morrison's in-store bakery mince pies. They're quite a different kettle of fish to the usual mince pie offering - mostly down to the stuff/pastry ratio. I haven't fully decided if this is a good thing or not, but the pastry is like an undersweetened shortbread and the ratio is like 2/3 pastry to 1/3 filling, making them more reminiscent of a filled biscuit than a pie.
Jury is still out, but I'm allowing another box, y'know, in the interests of science.

Oh, and at risk of offending the purists, I'll share my own mince-pie inspired "cake" for the old lady choir I bake for - a hybrid of a mince pie and an american cookie dough pie. Soft cookie base, mince meat filling, layer of marzipan, frangipane top. Came out pretty good, even if I do say so myself.

[DeskJockey]

Worth mentioning on this thread - I've had a couple of boxes of the Morrison's in-store bakery mince pies. They're quite a different kettle of fish to the usual mince pie offering - mostly down to the stuff/pastry ratio. I haven't fully decided if this is a good thing or not, but the pastry is like an undersweetened shortbread and the ratio is like 2/3 pastry to 1/3 filling, making them more reminiscent of a filled biscuit than a pie.
Jury is still out, but I'm allowing another box, y'know, in the interests of science.

Oh, and at risk of offending the purists, I'll share my own mince-pie inspired "cake" for the old lady choir I bake for - a hybrid of a mince pie and an american cookie dough pie. Soft cookie base, mince meat filling, layer of marzipan, frangipane top. Came out pretty good, even if I do say so myself.

But more importantly, did the old ladies sing your praises?

[Nefarious]

Worth mentioning on this thread - I've had a couple of boxes of the Morrison's in-store bakery mince pies. They're quite a different kettle of fish to the usual mince pie offering - mostly down to the stuff/pastry ratio. I haven't fully decided if this is a good thing or not, but the pastry is like an undersweetened shortbread and the ratio is like 2/3 pastry to 1/3 filling, making them more reminiscent of a filled biscuit than a pie.
Jury is still out, but I'm allowing another box, y'know, in the interests of science.

Oh, and at risk of offending the purists, I'll share my own mince-pie inspired "cake" for the old lady choir I bake for - a hybrid of a mince pie and an american cookie dough pie. Soft cookie base, mince meat filling, layer of marzipan, frangipane top. Came out pretty good, even if I do say so myself.

But more importantly, did the old ladies sing your praises?

B'dum tish

I'll probably burn in hell for laughing at Alzheimers sufferers, but they are genuinely comedy gold. Put together 30 cantankerous, sweary, socially-uninhibited grannies whose idea of secret whispering is yelling, add in the ability to repeat the same joke 5 times an hour, and you have a sit-com better than any telly!

[McSwede]

Worth mentioning on this thread - I've had a couple of boxes of the Morrison's in-store bakery mince pies. They're quite a different kettle of fish to the usual mince pie offering - mostly down to the stuff/pastry ratio. I haven't fully decided if this is a good thing or not, but the pastry is like an undersweetened shortbread and the ratio is like 2/3 pastry to 1/3 filling, making them more reminiscent of a filled biscuit than a pie.
Jury is still out, but I'm allowing another box, y'know, in the interests of science.

Oh, and at risk of offending the purists, I'll share my own mince-pie inspired "cake" for the old lady choir I bake for - a hybrid of a mince pie and an american cookie dough pie. Soft cookie base, mince meat filling, layer of marzipan, frangipane top. Came out pretty good, even if I do say so myself.

Those Morrisons ones are the favourite in our house. I think they're great!

[Gavster]

I'll look out for them at the local Morrisons. I've also been recommended the Co-op 2 pack of deep filled mince pies.

However, so far, it's Waitrose brown butter mince pies in first place, with Tesco finest in second place, and third place is currently being deliberated over.

[240PP]

Possibly controversial but Aldi’s Ballycastle mince pies are really fucking good. They have a fake Baileys type filling in them.

[Gavster]

Sainsbury's in-store bakery. Solid starter pie, decent pastry texture and nice, albeit scant filling. 6.4

[IanF]

This started in 2021!? Christ!..

[240PP]

Any groundwork for this year started yet? Need to start gathering some recommendations.

[Gavster]

I'll need to hand over to the rest of you on this one, I'm not making it happen in the mince pie stakes this year sadly

[mik]

Just this year off @Gavster , or have you now re-pie-ered ?

[Gavster]

With this silly carnivore diet thing it's just not compatible this year, I hope to make a strong return next year. Would be great to hear other people's pie opinions though!

[nuttinnew]

Change the mince then.
Next.

[mik]

With this silly carnivore diet thing it's just not compatible this year, I hope to make a strong return next year. Would be great to hear other people's pie opinions though!

He’s not even active on the forum any more, but….

https://bsky.app/profile/rmajor86.bsky. ... 4rlopl7226

[IanF]

With this silly carnivore diet thing it's just not compatible this year, I hope to make a strong return next year. Would be great to hear other people's pie opinions though!

He’s not even active on the forum any more, but….

https://bsky.app/profile/rmajor86.bsky. ... 4rlopl7226

Gail’s are £3 per pie.. gf got upset that I ate two boxes over a week whilst she was away! (Actually, she had one before leaving, so not all my fault!)

[DeskJockey]

Cartwright & Butler luxury mince pies with brandy.

Pastry is too thick and too rich in taste. Underfilled, and can't taste the brandy.

As a premium product it is very disappointing and leaves an unpleasant coating in the mouth (fnar fnar).

1/5.

[Beany]

Hardly a review, but I got some deep fill mince pies from the local late night co-op the other week from their in store bakery, and they were actually quite deep, and well filled.

I guess they had some kind of flavour? I mean, it's fucking mincemeat, whaddya want?

[Gavster]

With this silly carnivore diet thing it's just not compatible this year, I hope to make a strong return next year. Would be great to hear other people's pie opinions though!

He’s not even active on the forum any more, but….

https://bsky.app/profile/rmajor86.bsky. ... 4rlopl7226

I've basically quit the Carnivore diet now so would be curious to try one of these

[Ascender]

Sainsbury's in-store bakery. Solid starter pie, decent pastry texture and nice, albeit scant filling. 6.4

Back from London last night with a few boxes of Fortnum & Mason ones from t5. Perfection.

[Matty]

Gav do we all get a cut of your engagement fees ... feel like this one is a group effort: