The Tried and Tasted awards have named the best Christmas food 2021 and it includes products from all your favourite supermarkets.
When it comes to buying Christmas food it's hard to know where to start. We've made it easier for you by rounding up the best, tried, and tasted shop-bought food for 2021. This years Tried and Tasted Christmas Awards were judged by Goodto's expert Food Team; Food Editor Samuel Goldsmith, Deputy Food Editor Rose Fooks, Senior Food Writer Jessica Ransom, and Food Writer Keiron George. The categories varied from the best turkey, alternative main, Christmas pudding, showstopping desserts, mince pies, and more.
Each product in the Tried and Tasted Awards was blind tasted and then rated based on flavour, appearance, and suitability. Supermarkets including M&S, Aldi, Tesco, and Morrisons entered products alongside artisan, expert producers, and brands such as Rosebud preserves, Jack&Beyond, and Biscuiteers. Standout products amongst the best Christmas food 2021 list include the Irresistible Beef Picanha Joint with Porcini Butter, the Mini New Yorker Style Pastrami Toasties, and the It’s a Wonderful Life Hamper from Dukeshill, one of the best Christmas food hampers (opens in new tab) for 2021.
"The Tried and Tasted judges spent hours deliberating over which Christmas products deserved to win," says Food Editor, Samuel Goldsmith. "Christmas puddings were no exception and the ones which are listed won their spot because the judges felt they were worthy of being served up on the big day. Some are more traditional and others have an exciting twist that brings something extra to the classic pud."
See the full list of Tried & Tasted Christmas winners on womanandhome.com (opens in new tab)
Best Christmas pudding 2021
Champagne Pudding
Winner: Best Christmas Pudding
Weight: 400g
Those who want a little added theatre at the dinner table will be blown away by this glittering pud. The Champagne-soaked pud comes with a silver shimmer to bring an extra flare of glamour to your celebrations. Sam says; "Not only have Aldi jazzed up their pudding with Champagne but it also has a sweet fruity topping which looks really attractive - a definite crowdpleaser." It was on the sweeter scale compared to other puds but was generously filled with lots of nuts.
This pudding will be available from 1 November.
VIEW AT ALDI | £4.49 (opens in new tab)
Irresistible Richly Fruited Christmas Pudding
Winner: Best Individual Christmas Pudding
Weight: 100g
Living up to its name, this Christmas pudding certainly is 'irresistible'. This individual pud serves one and is a bargain at just £1.75 per pud. Judges commended the rich boozy flavour and pleasant texture.
VIEW AT CO OP | £1.75 (opens in new tab)
Lewis and Cooper Traditional Plum Pudding
Winner: Best Traditional Christmas Pudding
Weight: 900g
The luxurious plump fruit in this pud is what captured our judge’s hearts. "It’s not very sweet so you can add a decadent custard without worry it will take it over the edge," says Rose. "It has a good punch of booze and is deliciously moist." You can buy the pudding in the shop in North Yorkshire or email sales@lewisandcooper.co.uk for it to be posted.
VIEW AT LEWIS AND COOPER (opens in new tab) | £13.99
No.1 Fig, Honey and Walnut Christmas Pudding
Weight: 800g
Glossy, fruity and boozy. This figgy pud has everything you want and more. Keiron says, 'I love the decoration on this pud as it makes it feel very festive and luxurious - it certainly earned its place on our best Christmas food 2021 list.'
VIEW AT WAITROSE | £14 (opens in new tab)
Best Christmas drinks 2021
Finest Lebkuchen Flavoured Irish Cream Liqueur
Best Festive Christmas Spirit
Size: 70cl
Judges were impressed with the gentle spice and balanced sweetness in this cream liqueur. It’s lovely and festive. Deputy Food Editor Rose Fooks says: ‘This would be the perfect addition to your festive hot chocolate.’ If you’re feeling inspired, why not try making your own homemade Lebkuchen (opens in new tab) too.
VIEW AT Tesco | £12 (opens in new tab)
Frerejean Frères Blanc de Blancs NV Premier Cru
Best Christmas Champagne
Size: 75cl
Alex Layton, Head of Marketing at Decanter, describes this sparkling wine as intriguing with ‘aromas of ripe golden delicious apples and pears, roasted almonds, pecans and hints of honey’. It has slightly smoky flavours with notes of grapefruit and nougat too.
VIEW AT The Whisky Exchange | £64.95 (opens in new tab)
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Blanc de Noirs Champagne
Best Supermarket Champagne
Size: 75cl An excellent supermarket option, this champagne boasts nectarine and fennel on the nose and fruity berry flavours on the finish. Alex says: ‘This is creamy on the palate with delicious biscuity flavours. It’s great value for money and is often sold in magnums too which would be even better.’
VIEW AT Sainsbury’s | £21 (opens in new tab)
Booths Rose Prosecco
Best Prosecco
Size: 75cl A great option for those who like their fizz pink. This bottle is fresh and fruity with noticeable flavours of ripe strawberries and raspberries.
VIEW AT Booths | £57 for 6 (opens in new tab)
ASDA Extra Special Low alcohol sparkling Sauvignon
Best NOLO
Size: 75cl At only £3.50, this is a smashing low alcohol option. It has a good fizz and delicious flavours of sweet apples and pear drops. If you need an inclusive option for toasting over the festive period, we think this is a fantastic choice. It has less than 0.5 per cent alcohol and pairs well with seafood and spicy flavours. Try it with your smoked salmon canapes or starters.
VIEW AT ASDA | £3.50 (opens in new tab)
Best Christmas cake 2021
No.1 Rich Fruit Cake, 1.3kg, £16, Waitrose
Winner: Best Christmas Cake
Weight: 1.3kg
Our stand out winner, this rich fruit cake tastes as good as it looks. The fruit-filled cake has a lovely texture and a good ratio of icing to marzipan. Food Editor, Sam adores Christmas cake and was delighted with this entry. He says; "My favourite Christmas food and Waitrose have not disappointed. Each slice feels generously full of fruit and it's beautifully spiced."
VIEW AT WAITROSE | £16 (opens in new tab)
The Best Iced Christmas Cake
Weight: 900g
One for those who like their Christmas cake to pack a boozy punch. There are lovely subtle hints of nutmeg and spice. The design is simple but effective.
VIEW AT MORRISONS | £9 (opens in new tab)
Christmas Greenery Christmas Cake
Weight: 1.5kg
The charming hand-iced design on this Christmas cake will make everyone smile. It has a delicious homemade taste with noticeable chunks of ginger, fig and cherry. There are also lots of spices mixed through making it taste extra festive.
VIEW AT BISCUITEERS | £48 (opens in new tab)
Best mince pies 2021
Biscuiteers Handmade Mince Pies
Winner: Best Mince Pies (opens in new tab)
Weight: 600g
The texture and flavour of these mince pies were very well balanced and judges adored the generous layer of frangipane. It sits on top of the rich mincemeat filling and provides a balanced sweetness. These are certainly big enough to share but we won’t judge if you don’t. Rose adds; "A departure from the immaculately iced that Biscuiteers is known for, but what these lack in decoration they make up for in flavour."
VIEW AT BISCUITEERS | £15 (opens in new tab)
Gluten-free Mince Pies
Winner: Best Gluten-free Mince Pies
Size: 2-pack
We love the flat, large design of these mince pies and the charming festive decoration. They are a good size to share, or even better, gently warm in the oven and serve with ice cream for an easy festive dessert.
VIEW AT WAITROSE | £3 (opens in new tab)
Organic vegan mince pies
Winner: Best Vegan Mince Pies
SIZE: 6-pack
Made with only the best organic ingredients, we could hardly believe these pies were vegan. The pastry was crumbly and the filling was generous with strong notes of cinnamon. A great vegan contender in our best Christmas food 2021 roundup.
VIEW AT RIVERFORD | £5 (opens in new tab)
Jack&Beyond Mince Pies
Size: 6-pack
Judges adored the big chunks of fruit in these generously-filled mince pies. They are rich in cinnamon and have a beautiful golden pastry.
VIEW AT JACK AND BEYOND | £12 (opens in new tab)
Rosebud Preserves Mince Pies
Size: 8-pack
Stacked in a lovely re-useable tin, these mini mince pies are the perfect afternoon pick me up. Judges were impressed with the butter-rich pastry and the addition of currants in the mincemeat.
VIEW AT ROSEBUD PRESERVES | £9.95 (opens in new tab)
No.1 Brown Butter Pastry Courvoisier Mince Pies
Size: 6-pack
Everything about these pies received resounding praise from our judges, but the part everyone raved about most was the pastry itself. Brown butter gives a delicious nutty undertone which makes these mince pies taste incredibly decadent. Rose says; "An inspired idea, the brown butter adds a lovely richness to the pastry, perfect for this time of year."
VIEW AT WAITROSE | £3 (opens in new tab)
Best turkey 2021
Free Range Bronze Turkey
Winner: Best Turkey (opens in new tab)
Weight: 4-5kg
Judges were blown away with this turkey. It boasted an exceptional flavour and looked magnificent once cooked. It comes with a helpful popper to signal when the turkey is cooked but we’ve would recommend checking it a little before with a meat thermometer as some of the meat dried out after resting.
VIEW AT PARSONS NOSE | from £90 (opens in new tab)
Irresistible Organic Pembrokeshire Turkey
Winner: Best Supermarket Turkey
Weight: 4-5.5kg
This turkey had a gorgeous golden, crispy skin after cooking and the meat was still perfectly moist. Keiron says; "This turkey had so much flavour and the meat was a very tasty texture. Be sure to make to save the juices and make an exceptional gravy."
VIEW AT CO OP | £45 (opens in new tab)
Specially Selected Ultimate Turkey Stuffed Crown and Bacon Wrapped Thigh
Winner: Best Turkey Crown
Weight: 3.4kg
This crown and thigh combo comes in a tray that’s oven-ready helping to minimise Christmas dishes. The meat is succulent and well-seasoned and the stuffing is lovely and fruity.
On sale in-store from 19 December.
VIEW AT ALDI | £34.99 (opens in new tab)
Free Range Bronze Whole Turkey
Weight: N/A
One of the tastiest turkeys we tasted, this bird had beautiful golden skin once cooked. The cooking method suggested is unusual, as you cook the bird upside down. However it resulted in delicious crispy skin and succulent meat - we are converted. "This magnificent bird was incredibly succulent," says Rose. "Hands down the best turkey I have ever tasted."
VIEW AT COPAS TURKEYS | from £73 (opens in new tab)
The Best of Both: Free Range Bronze Turkey Crown with Thighs
Weight: 2.9kg
We love this cook-in-a-bag Christmas option. The meat is moist and flavoursome and the bacon imparts a delicious smoky flavour. The stuffing is rich with sage and has a nice coarse texture. It would make the tastiest sandwiches if you have leftovers.
VIEW AT WAITROSE | £65 (opens in new tab)
Best Christmas dessert 2021
Irresistible Bells & Baubles
Winner: Best Showstopping Dessert
Weight: 600g
Contemporary in design yet still fun, this dessert tastes amazing and looks impressive too. It has an oozy chocolate centre which is enclosed in a smooth chocolate orange mousse. It’s light and decadent at the same time. Keiron says; "The design of this dessert is so very impressive and effective. It's fun and festive without being tacky and the flavours are excellent too."
VIEW AT CO OP |£8 (opens in new tab)
Taste the Difference Salted Caramel & Chocolate Star
Weight: 625g
Next on the list of best Christmas food 2021 is this mouthwatering dessert. Great flavours and a gorgeous finish, we think everyone will be impressed when you bring this to the table. There is a sweet caramel centre and which we’re sure you’ll be fighting over for the final spoonful.
VIEW AT SAINSBURY’S | £12 (opens in new tab)
Collection Sticky Toffee Pudding Crown
Weight: 1.4kg
Everyone’s favourite comfort pudding with a fancy presentation for Christmas. It has a delicious light sponge and the bundt shape makes it feel extra special. This pud also comes with a sweet vanilla custard but it would be delicious with a scoop of ice cream too.
VIEW AT MARKS AND SPENCER | £20 (opens in new tab)
Layered Winter Pudding
Weight: 405g
Our judges were very impressed with this pudding and think it’s a fantastic inclusive option. You hardly notice that it’s vegan and we love its bright colours and light fruity flavours. If you want to make it a real showstopper, we recommend sticking in a sparkler for a little theatre at the table. Keiron says; "This is a simple pudding that has been really well-executed. The flavours are balanced and I loved that it was vegan without trying too hard. It's a brilliant, inclusive option for your festive spread."
VIEW AT WAITROSE | £5 (opens in new tab)
Best Christmas vegan and vegetarian mains 2021
Mushroom, Cavolo Nero & Mascarpone Parcels
Winner: Best Vegetarian Main
Weight: 300g
Not only would these be a fantastic option for Christmas Day, we think these could double up in your party food spread too or as a light starter for meat-eaters. The crisp pastry is filled with creamy mascarpone and chunky pieces of mushroom and cavolo nero. We’d recommend serving with an extra pinch of sea salt flakes, but that’s just our preference.
VIEW AT WAITROSE | £6.99 (opens in new tab)