The best mince pies on the high street – taste tested 2022
We've found the best mince pies to enjoy this Christmas – from M&S and Waitrose to Pret, Aldi and more.
It's not Christmas without a mince pie. For an afternoon treat, or served warm after dinner with brandy butter, a good mince pie is a shortcut to getting in the festive spirit. If you're out doing your Christmas shopping this month, we've scoured the high street to find the best mince pies to keep you going. Whether you pop into a supermarket, want to sit down with a mince pie and cup of tea or are looking to try something new (cheese mince pies, anyone?), we've got a pick for everyone. These are our top high-street mince pie recommendations for 2022. We tested lots that didn't make the cut for dry or stale pastry or burnt mincemeat, so these are the ones you can trust.
For more festive treats, we've also tested out all the best Christmas sandwiches (from Pret, Leon, M&S and more), or check out the full results of our Christmas Supermarket Awards 2022 for our verdict on everything from the best turkey and pigs in blankets to Christmas pud, panettone and more.
Best mince pies to buy at a glance
- Best supermarket mince pies: M&S Collection mince pies, £3
- Best flavoured mince pies: Aldi Specially Selected rum & salted caramel mince pies, £2.29
- Best unique mince pies: Waitrose Heston pear & fig mince pies in triple cheese pastry, £3.50
- Best twist on a mince pie: PAUL mince pie pastel de nata, £1.85
- Best large mince pies: Patisserie Valerie mince pies, £12.95
- Best coffee shop mince pie: Pret mince pie, £1.90
Best mince pies to buy for Christmas 2022
M&S Collection mince pies
- Available from M&S (in-store), Ocado (£3)
Best supermarket mince pie
Our overall favourite mince pie this year – head to M&S to pick up a box of classic mince pies that won't let you down. We liked the buttery pastry, pretty design and good pastry-to-filling ratio of these pies. The mincemeat was plump and juicy with strong clementine flavour. One for orange lovers.
Available from:
M&S (in-store)
Ocado (£3)
Aldi Specially Selected rum & salted caramel mince pies
- Available from Aldi (£2.29)
Best flavoured mince pie
A luxurious salted caramel filling made these pies stand out – plus thin pastry, a nutty topping for crunch and plenty of classic juicy fruit.
Available from:
Aldi (£2.29)
Waitrose Heston pear & fig mince pies in triple cheese pastry
- Available from Waitrose (£3.50)
Best unique flavour
You can rely on Heston to mix it up at Christmas. These swap the classic mince pie design for square, puff pastry pies. The pastry was crisp and flaky (don't be scared of the cheese in the title!) and had sweet, fruity mincemeat inside. The winner of our sister brand olive's Christmas supermarket awards best flavoured mince pie, these would be great warm with brandy cream.
Available from:
Waitrose (£3.50)
PAUL mince pie pastel de nata
- Available from PAUL, £1.85
Best twist on a mince pie
This was a huge hit during our taste tests – we were desperate for more. A genius invention we were surprised we hadn't thought of before, this adds a dollop of mincemeat to a classic Portuguese pastel de nata for a result that is like eating a warm mince pie with custard all in one bite. It was the best of both worlds, for a great price. We'd definitely buy again and will be sad when their season ends.
Available from:
PAUL, £1.85
Patisserie Valerie mince pies
- Available from Patisserie Valerie, £12.95
Best large mince pie
These huge mince pies could almost serve 2 – they're definitely the largest we tried. The pastry is very thick so one for pastry-fans. We liked the pretty, simple star decoration and you can order online in a festive gift box. The mincemeat has a nice hit of orange.
Available from:
Patisserie Valerie, £12.95
Pret a Manger mince pie
- Available from Pret, £1.90
Best coffee shop mince pie
If you're in Pret picking up a Christmas sandwich, why not treat yourself to their mince pie, too. With a classic star design, this deep mince pie was generously filled with mincemeat which had plenty of fruit (including apples and cranberries) and a touch of booze.
Available from:
Pret, £1.90
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