The ultimate guide to the best mince pies

Our chefs have tasted well over 150 mince pies to bring you mince pie perfection this Christmas. Think brown butter pastry in our Collection Mince Pies, or an even better recipe for our Classic Mince Pies, with all-butter pastry and more citrus in the mincemeat.

For those who aren’t mince pie purists, there are new flavours to try – look out for the Aremena Cherry, Blood Orange and Port Mince Pies in the bakery from 4 November, chocolatey pies adorned with Rodney Reindeer, and a cookie pastry pie with malted buttercream. Keep reading to see what’s in store.

We’ve improved the recipe for our award-winning Collection Mince Pies to create mince pie perfection. Brown butter in the pastry creates a rich, nutty flavour. The melt-in-the-mouth pastry is deep-filled with our exclusive recipe mincemeat, bursting with Calabrian orange peel, vine fruits, glacé cherries, brandy, clementine juice and VS cognac. On top, you'll find a beautiful new star and holly design.

After our Malt Balls caused a social media sensation earlier this year, we knew those malty flavours deserved a festive spin. New for Christmas, our Malt and Caramel Cookie Pies are a mincemeat-free alternative, made with a brown butter pastry cookie cup filled with soft blondie, caramel pieces and milk chocolate. They're finished with creamy malted buttercream and a scattering of crunchy caramel flakes.

Searching for a gorgeous gluten-free mince pie? We’ve got you. Our Collection Made Without Wheat Gluten-Free Mince Pies, in store from 2 November, are made with a crumbly, all-butter gluten-free pastry that’s filled with our classic mincemeat, spiced with dried vine fruits like vostizza currants, sultanas and raisins, and candied peel. They’re topped with a festive pastry star and a dusting of icing sugar, and taste wonderful warm.

Don’t fancy traditional mincemeat, or want something the whole family can enjoy? Our fan-favourite Rodney Reindeer Pies are back and better than ever. This year’s recipe features a rich chocolate pastry studded with white chocolate pieces, filled with a soft Belgian chocolate brownie batter centre. Finished with Rodney’s adorable reindeer face, they’re almost too cute to save for Santa.

Move over mincemeat – cherry is set to be one of this Christmas's biggest flavour trends. Our Collection Triple Cherry Pies are a deliciously different take on a festive favourite, featuring buttery pastry paired with a vibrant filling of Amarena, Morello and sour cherries. Finished with a generous swirl of chocolate buttercream, they're fruity, rich and packed with flavour. Available in store from 2 November.

Whether you fancy making a traditional homemade mince pie (we like ours with a boozy hit of orange and brandy liqueur) or just want to inject the flavours of mince pies into everything from a giant clotted cream pancake to a Christmas tree, our festive mince pie-inspired recipes have got you covered.