The Great Mince Pie Review

[NigellaTufnel]

Having caved in and bought my first lot of mince pies in October I must admit I was disappointed by the Waitrose All Butter selection - too big, too salty, and the the pastry was not short enough.

Now, being a greedy thorough person I will leave no stone unturned in a quest to find the best mince pies. So as we travel through November into December, does anyone have any other reviews?

It's like a book group, but with pies.

Im sure last year my food magazine (delicious) rated either aldi or lidl ones best.

I just make homemade ones. With orange zest in the pastry, and a little bit of orange juice too.

Unfortunately mine are pretty disguting

I spend the whole of December buying different ones trying to find the best, by the time I think I've got it sussed it's January.

Marks place on thread.

coop fair trade ones are lovely.

I make my own usually of course with homemade mincemeat and gold leaf on top.

Bells are bad.

Which are the ones in a tartan box from the Coop? They are lovely.

Agree re the Waitrose ones, very horrible, actually threw them out. Claggy and nasty.

I am so sorry.

This is not about mince beef pies, is it?

Sainbury's 2 boxes for £2 (red box designed to make them look nicer than they really are) were dissapointing. Pastry was OK but filling was mostly thick liquid, hardly any fruit and not fragrant or spicy.

My homemade ones are always like bullets.

saorachd

That has really cracked me up!

There was an animated family discussion on the merits of Pies We Have Had.

I make the best Mince Pies. End of.

dissapointing? Jesus, what are they putting in those pies? Disappointing.

I think I may try some Marks and Spencer's tomorrow.

Will report back.

We have a Coop, Sainsbury's, M&S, and Waitrose in our town. I plan to work my way through all ranges.

saorchd
LOL. You remind me of my DH who was disgusted that I had a mincemeat pie for dessert, with cream. He is German though. Are you Scottish? What does your name mean?

DH will be in Scotland in two weeks and will be filling his suitcase so I will lurk here for the ultimate mincemeat pie.

I don't really like mince pies apart from Tesco Finest. They are lovely and have courvoisier in. We have already got through one box .

"It's a bit early for mince pies isn't it" says the rest of the family whilst scoffing the rest of the box.......

organic sainsbos last year - horrid don't go there

I make my own mince pies and they are awesome.

I can't stand supermarket ones - claggy pastry and fillings that are either too thick or too runny, and always too sweet and bland.

Marks and Spencers are usually very good.

I however make the BEST ones. My pastry rocks.

Oh, we also have a Tesco.

I am going to be so plump by December

ooh good point dh is in the UK and was asking if we wanted anything

could someone give us a recipe for the pastry then - all you who make the best pies! For the mincemeat, you all just buy it ready made, right?

We only have the home-made ones but my pastry doesn't melt in th mouth ,like my mother's did

6 oz self raising flour
2 oz Trex (vegetable fat)
1 oz butter (salted)
A couple of spoonfuls of water

Mix flour, trex and butter in food processor. When it is like breadcrumbs add a few spoonfuls of water, mix again and then add more water if necessary.

the pastry for nigella's mini star mince pies is gorgeous

here