Ben has been on a mission - The mission of finding THE best fruit mince pie for Christmas.
Ben has eaten his way through 6 packs of tartlets (gosh that does sound kinky) and today we are bringing you Ben's Top 4 Fruit Mince Pies for 2010.
This is scaled on pastry, crumble, sprinkles and the important fruit mince.
Although not judging the box or title, we are not too fond of eating a Fruit Mince Pie that says Mincemeat. It just seems wrong...like Ben was expecting to eat the pie with sauce.
This pie had true shortbread pie casing. The top is quite thick and these are the most generous pie for pastry/mince ratio. The mince is not minced enough. Quite lumpy and saucy.
There are no sprinkles and they pastry doesn't crumble and fall about.
7 out of 10.
Mr Kipling. I love Mr Kipling. Probably because of the memories associated with Mr Kipling and my workmate from eons ago, Val. Val loved Mr Kipling. Val was also the best workmate I have ever worked with. She was so much fun!
Mr Kipling has a great pie case. Sweet and with the sugar on top. We like sugar on our pastry lids. The mince is the tastiest. Very fruity and you can taste the cloves and the cinnamon.....alot like eating Christmas cake or a pudding. The mince is packed in the tart and it's not juicy, so when you bite in it doesn't ooze out and drop into your lap.
That said, the pastry is messy and you will have to dust bust your guests shoes and floor when they eat.....if you are a neat freak do not buy these pies!
8 out of 10.
Bakers Delight Fruit Mince Pies. Delicious pies. Freshly made on the day and ready to go these pies are extra special if you dust a little icing sugar on top.
The fruit mince is a little different. Not as....err.....mincey....you know...mincey. Not as bitey....like mince. Probably a good beginners pie for kids if you are introducing them to fruit mince for the first time. They won't yell at you or freak out when it touches their lips. Good Christmas Day fruit mince pie meltdown avoidance.
The pasty is more cake like, so you don't have to have a drink on standby when you are trying to swallow. You know that shortbread stuck in the throat feeling? Well you don't have it with these pies.
Also very clean pies. No crumble or mess.
9 out of 10.
Ashwood Fruit Mince Pies from Aldi.
These are very juicy and runny but also very tasty. Don't be put off by the cheap price. They are fantastic value for money and nobody will think you are cheap. They are good pies and go down a treat with a glass of Ben's Egg Nog Spectacular. It's spectacular the amount of brandy that goes into the nog. You lose your nog. Or noggin.
No crumble but the pasty can get a little leaky looking, so buy them and pop them in the fridge in the packet. If you dust them with icing sugar these pies also resemble the most handmade looking ones in case you want to impress (lie) to anyone that you made them.
7 out of 10.
So the winner for Ben's Christmas Mince Off 2010 is.................Bakers Delight Fruit Mince Pies!!!
This is also why fruit mince pies are a yearly thing. You feel like throwing up if you see once more pie after Christmas. It takes 11 months to get over it.
