We tasted 11 fruit mince pies from Woolworths, Aldi, Coles and IGA – one was compared to "pencil shavings"

Supermarket shelves are stocked with an overwhelming variety of Christmas fruit mince pies, so we set out to identify the best from the worst at Aldi, Woolworths, Coles and IGA.

Tasting Christmas treats from the supermarket is a job the BHG team and the surrounding office took VERY seriously. Laid out before everyone was a sea of flavours – from alcohol infused, trusty original recipes and a variety of fruit mixes. Considering fruit mince pies are an Aussie classic at Christmas, the reviewers were surprised by this variety – how starkly different each one tasted and all the different textures.

We tried 11 fruit mince pies from Woolworths, Aldi, Coles and IGA, and we were brutally honest with our thoughts. Here are the results.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The Better Homes and Gardens team and wider office blind taste-tested 11 supermarket fruit mince pies from Coles, Aldi, IGA and Woolworths
  • While there were a variety of fun and unique flavours, the winner was Aldi’s Fruit Mince Brandy Crumble Tart. It scored an 8/10.
Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

We tasted 11 fruit mince pies from Woolworths, Aldi, Coles and IGA – one was compared to “pencil shavings”

The best supermarket Christmas fruit mince pies

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

Brandy Crumble Fruit Mince Tarts 6 Pack

01

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts

8/10

These brandy crumble fruit mince tarts from Aldi stole the show. They were the “perfect consistency with a good varied texture”, and in one word, were described as delicious. With a hint of brandy, it’s boozey without being overpowering. The texture was a fun crumble. All in all, it averaged out to be the top performer against its tough competition.

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

Photo: Caption

02

Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts

7/10

During the taste tests, everyone wanted to try these. It was by far one of the most popular fruit mince pies, being the only one that didn’t have any leftovers. But while it scored a perfect 10 and a couple of 9.5’s, it also received a 2 and divided the reviewers. It was called “seriously exceptional” and compared to a bakery mince pie. “The case is delicious, cooked the right amount of time, and it’s almost bakery-level good.” They were “packed full of flavour” and “super sweet,” with many taste-testers saying they “like the chunky fruit.” But others said it was dry, underwhelming, and while it had nice pastry, it did not have a nice filling. It had a strong fruit flavour, the alcohol was too strong, and it was overall too sweet. “It’s like eating gin. It’s gluggy, and while it had a nice texture, it was too sweet.”

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Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

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Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

We taste-tested all the Christmas food at Coles, Woolworths, ALDI and IGA – here’s what won

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

My Italian mum has had panettone for Christmas for 50 years – her favourite costs under $10

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

We tried 9 Christmas puddings from Coles, Woolworths & Aldi – and one tastes exactly like McDonald’s hot fudge sauce

We tried 9 Christmas puddings from Coles, Woolworths & Aldi – and one tastes exactly like McDonald’s hot fudge sauce

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

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Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

apple crumble fruit mince tarts aldi

03

Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts

7/10

Another Aldi mince pie is taking the top spot. Apple crumble is a classic dessert that’s loved by many, so transforming it into a fruit mince pie is genius. While a few questioned the appearance, saying it “looks like rabbit food or chicken pellets,” the apple flavour added a delicious sweetness against the crumbly texture of the pastry. This is a crowd-pleaser and a safe option if you’re bringing it to Christmas lunch.

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

woolworths-plumgin-fruimincepie

04

Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts

6/10

Woolworths’ Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tart had a “nice hint of spice,” and was “yum, but you can’t have too much.” Others said the flavour could be nicer, and it was described as a “mix between apple pie and brown butter”. One person even said it “tastes too healthy” and “tastes like a crumble, not a mince tart”.

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

coles-jamacan-fruitmincepie

05

Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie

6/10

The Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie was ranked just above average and divided many. A few people felt the alcohol was too strong, making it taste “yuck!”, and it was too doughy and too sweet. Others said it tasted “a bit raw”, while another said it was “lovely and light”.

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

coles-fruitmincepies

06

Coles Christmas fruit mince pie

6/10

The Coles Christmas fruit mince pie didn’t average out to rate very high because it received a high score of 9, and a low of 2. But most comments were positive. “Delicious, I actually like it, and I don’t like mince pies,” said one person. Another loved how “buttery” the pastry was. If it impressed a fruit mince pie hater, it must be alright.

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

woolworhtsmixed-berry-fruitmincepie

07

Woolworths mixed berry mince pies

6/10

Woolworths’ mixed berry mine pie one was quite average in flavour and texture. Filled with a burst of berry flavours, it took most people by surprise. It didn’t land among the favourites of the day, earning a score that emphasises its nice, but not great.

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

woolworths-fruitmincepiesw

08

Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy

6/10

Another example of a mediocre, yet nice fruit mince pie option. It has “delicious flavour” and “nice pastry and filling”, but for some it was “too sweet”. One person noted its unusual appearance: “that one’s got a pig’s arse!”

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

Photo: Caption

09

Aldi fruit mince pies

5/10

The Aldi fruit mince pies were not bad, but not great either. It was “too sweet and crumbly in texture”, but “tastes like Christmas”.

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

Photo: Caption

10

IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, $8.50

5/10

This one wasn’t a hit. “It tastes like pencil shavings”, one person wrote. “Pure raisin flavour with an unmemorable sugary sweetness.” Sorry IGA, it seems this one missed the mark.

Aldi brandy crumble fruit mince tarts, Aldi Jamaican rum deluxe fruit mince tarts, Aldi apple crumble fruit mince tarts, Woolworths Davidson plum and gin fruit mince tarts, Coles brown butter and Jamaican rum fruit mince pie, Coles Christmas fruit mince pie, Woolworths mixed berry mince pies, Woolworths fruit mince pies with apple brandy, Aldi fruit mince pies, IGA Yarrows plum and gin tarts, .50, Woolworths fruit mince pies

woolworthsfruitmincepies

11

Woolworths fruit mince pies

4/10

The worst was Woolworths’ fruit mince pies. Brutally, someone said, “That one sucks.” Perhaps with a scoop of ice cream to break up the sweetness, it wouldn’t be so overwhelming in flavour. But this sad mince pie scored the lowest of the day.

How we tested the supermarket fruit mince pies

We set up a fruit mince pie taste-testing station in the BHG office. Coles and IGA generously provided fruit mince pies for us to try, but we purchased the Woolworths and Aldi options ourselves. 

During the test, we anonymised each product by removing the packaging and assigning them a number. Tasters would then rate the fruit mince pies out of 10 based on appearance, texture and taste. 

Scores were rounded to whole numbers and averaged. Each fruit mince pie was tested on its own (without additional fruit toppings, sauces, cream or ice-cream).

The post We tasted 11 fruit mince pies from Woolworths, Aldi, Coles and IGA – one was compared to “pencil shavings” appeared first on Better Homes & Gardens Australia.

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