Häagen-Dazs’ new limited-edition Matcha Green Tea ice cream has landed exclusively in Waitrose, so naturally, we put it straight to the test in our kitchen.

Made from finely ground green tea leaves, matcha is considered a healthier alternative to coffee and has become one of the biggest flavour trends of recent years. It's popped up in everything from lattes to skin care thanks to its antioxidant properties and slow-release energy boost.

But while matcha has plenty of devoted fans, its distinctive flavour can also be surprisingly divisive - something our tasting panel quickly proved.

Often described as grassy, matcha’s earthy notes may come as a surprise to anyone expecting a classic sweet ice cream flavour. Deputy Food Editor Rose Fooks wasn’t entirely convinced. “I’d usually go for something sweeter, and this is just a bit too bitter for me,” she said. “Maybe with a drizzle of white chocolate and raspberries, I could be persuaded.”

For others, the less sugary flavour profile was exactly what made it stand out from the often overly sweet options in the freezer aisle. Food Director Jen Bedloe admitted she was sceptical at first, but quickly changed her mind. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s really fresh and seriously creamy,” she said, going back for a second spoonful to make sure her taste buds weren’t deceiving her.

For dedicated matcha fans, this flavour definitely hit the mark. Food Assistant Johanna Mentel praised its vibrant green colour, creamy texture and “high-quality” flavour, adding that she would happily buy it again.

As for me, I was completely sold. The earthy green tea flavour is balanced with just enough sweetness to keep you coming back for more, making it feel a little more sophisticated than your average dessert.

It’s definitely a more grown-up ice cream - one that would make an elegant dinner party pudding and would almost certainly get your guests talking. Like Marmite, you’ll probably love it or leave it. But if you’re even just matcha-curious, this is a sophisticated scoop that’s well worth a try.

Our food team's favourite ways to enjoy matcha

It’s no surprise that this premium ice cream - priced £6 per 460ml tub - has tapped into the ongoing matcha obsession. Once considered a specialist ingredient, matcha has become one of the biggest food and drink trends of recent years.

Part of its appeal lies in its instantly recognisable vibrant green colour, which has helped the ingredient explode across Instagram and TikTok feeds. However, matcha’s popularity goes beyond appearances. It has become closely linked to the booming wellness movement thanks to its antioxidant properties.

Its popularity has even spilled into the fashion world, where its signature green hue is said to be the trending colour of the moment for clothes and accessories.

Many of us know it’s attention to detail that can make or break something - it can be the difference between something being good and something being great.

And thanks to Irish chefand author Clodagh McKenna, we now can’t wait to level up desserts with a genius serving trick - and all you need is a few lemons.

Clodagh, when appearing on This Morning, offered up her inspired way of adding a final flourish to a dinner party or hosting event, suggesting you scoop out the inside of a lemon and freeze the rind to use a makeshift bowl.

Shop dessert bowls

While cooking away on the show, she stopped to offer up the little nugget of wisdom.

She told the show's hosts, Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, if you’ve not zested the lemon rind, you can simply use up any leftovers by scooping out the flesh, popping it in the freezer and then using them like “little lemon ice bowls for serving ice cream in”.

Cat was definitely sold on the nifty little tip, looking visibly impressed when Clodagh and declaring it “cute!”

Citrus and fruit themed kitchenware is always a popular design in the spring and summer months - usually an easy way to add some seasonal colour to your kitchen - so why not skip out on buying more plates and get the same effect with an actual lemon?

Not only will it lead to less washing up, it's much more affordable. You’ve likely already paid for the lemons and were just going to toss the rinds in the compost bin.

The aromatic scent of the lemon will also heighten the experience of your dessert - it looks good, it smells good, the dessert will no doubt taste good, talk about a treat for all the senses.

While Clodagh suggested serving ice cream in her frozen lemon bowls, with the summer months approaching, it’s easy to imagine serving a number of sweet treats in the DIY bowls.

Think a range of fruity, fresh sorbets, creamy yogurts topped with lemon or orange zest, or even a selection of dipping sauces.

The humble avocado is a popular fruit – mashed on toast, homemade guacamole, or simply by itself, it's a delicious source of fats, fibre and vitamins.

However, every avocado lover knows that they aren’t always the simplest ingredient to prepare. Sliced fingers trying to cut open the rind, messy hands trying to eke out the stone, and accidentally mushing up the ripe flesh when you try to scoop it out to serve.

Thanfully, Ruth Langsford has found a simple, affordable solution in the Oxo Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Tool. Ruth often shares her culinary tips and tricks, including the strange ingredient that gives deep flavour to her spaghetti bolognese, but this find, which she calls a 'fabulous little gadget' has got to be one of her best yet.

Shop Ruth's 3-in-1 Avocado Tool

Sharing a video with her social media followers, Ruth asked, “Do you love avocados as much as I do? If you do, I've got a little kitchen gadget I want to share with you.”

“Now this is from OXO. It looks weird, doesn't it?”

However, look beyond its appearance, and you’ve got the most handy bit of kit. Ruth then went on to demonstrate the three different functions, starting with the “brilliant” knife side to cut the rind of the avocado.

Showing the blade, Ruth pointed out that it’s “quite blunt, so you know you’re not going to cut yourself. You slice your avocado and then we twist.”

Next she came on to the true genius of the gadget - a “fabulous” design feature “where you get the stone out without making a mess or using a sharp knife”.

Ruth demonstrated, “Now you know that tricky bit of getting the stone out. Look at that. You've got little metal prongs in there. You do that [hitting the prongs flat on the stone] and then you twist. Ta-da!”

If you’re looking to slice up your avocado to fold into a salad or to sprinkle over some toast, you can then use the third function of the gadget. Ruth was honest that this was arguably the trickier features to use, and results may vary.

The scoop and slice part “really depends on the consistency. If the avocado's too hard, this won't go through. And if, like this one, it's a bit soft, you don't get the complete clean slice.”

Fans in the comments were completely sold on Ruth’s gadget.

One wrote, “Mushy avocado and blood covered hands no more. Thanks Ruth” and another added, “The amount of near misses I’ve had with a knife and removing the stone. This would be perfect”.

Easter is one of the biggest moments in the food calendar and if you’re wondering where to buy the best Easter eggs, best hot cross buns and best bakes this year, you’re in the right place. Supermarket shelves are brimming with indulgent chocolate eggs, fruit-packed buns and beautifully decorated seasonal treats, but with so much choice, it can be hard to know what’s really worth adding to your basket.

That’s where the woman&home Easter Food Awards 2026 come in. Our expert panel has tasted more than 100 products from leading supermarkets and artisan brands to bring you the ultimate edit of the best Easter treats to buy this year.

Whether you’re searching for a luxury showstopper, a budget-friendly crowd-pleaser or a thoughtful Easter gift, we’ve done the hard work for you. Consider this your definitive guide to the best Easter buys for 2026.

The best Easter eggs, as chosen by woman&home food editors

Because good chocolate should be for everyone. This extra-thick beauty weighs in at over a kilo and is brimming with rich dark and nutty vegan milk chocolate. A true showstopper that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family.

Jen Bedloe, Group Food Director said, “This is one of the best vegan Easter eggs we’ve ever tasted and it definitely has the wow factor!”

One for savoury-leaning chocolate fans. Creamy milk chocolate is paired with crunchy, lightly salted corn for a playful contrast of textures and flavours that really works.

Rose Fooks, Deputy Food Editor said, “This surprised me in the best way and is a brilliant choice for anyone who loves a sweet and salty combo.”

That classic custard cream flavour you know and love, wrapped up in a giant chocolate-coated egg. A clever blend of nostalgia and novelty that is completely irresistible.

Johanna Mentel, Kitchen Assistant said, “The custard cream notes are spot on and I love the playful design.”

A hand-finished marble masterpiece accompanied with a pouch of fresh chocolates in five indulgent flavours. This chocolate is made fresh, replacing artificial preservatives with British organic fresh double cream.

Lucy Kirkpatrick, Food Writer, said, “You can really tell the quality of the ingredients used to make this artisan egg from the fresh cream flavour and silky smooth texture."

Smooth milk chocolate packed with sugar-shelled mini eggs and zingy popping candy. A colourful crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for kids with a seriously sweet tooth.

Rose said, “The packaging is very cute and the playful popping candy will definitely be a hit with kids of all ages this Easter.”

An indulgent twist on the classic Easter egg that we couldn’t fault. The thick shell hides a sweet-and-salty caramel centre with sticky toffee notes and a Mars bar-style hit.

Jen described this egg as, “indulgent, layered and surprisingly sophisticated!”

A fun, fruity option for those who prefer something beyond plain chocolate. Generously speckled with tangy cherries and raspberries, crack open the egg on the front to reveal two pink Champagne truffles hiding inside.

Jess Meyer, Group Food Editor, said, “I love how the tartness cuts through, preventing it from becoming overly sweet and the hidden truffles are a great touch”

A well-balanced 70% cocoa dark chocolate egg with a subtle hit of sea salt and a satisfying snap. An impressive supermarket standout that delivers on flavour.

Lucy said “This egg is an absolute steal and tastes like it would be far more expensive than it is.”

If you like After Eight’s you will love this egg! The Belgian dark chocolate layered with crunchy mint pieces is both rich and refreshing.

Jo said, “The mint flavour tastes natural and fresh which gives it a more grown-up feel.”

An elevated Easter classic for nostalgia lovers. Lindt’s creamy milk chocolate is given a biscuit twist that keeps you coming back for more, with the iconic Gold Bunny tucked inside, complete with bow and bell.

Rose said, “This has that instantly recognisable creamy Lindt texture that I love, but the added crunch gives it a welcome lift."

Go nuts for this creamy swiss milk chocolate egg enriched with crunchy hazelnut pieces. We loved the six accompanying truffles, each hiding a whole hazelnut at the centre.

Jess said, “I love the fancy truffles! The whole hazelnuts feel extra special and are the perfect accompaniment to the creamy milk chocolate.”

For those who need their coffee fix, this egg combines smooth Belgian milk chocolate with crunchy wafer pieces and a subtle infusion of Arabica coffee.

Jen said, “I am a huge fan of coffee and chocolate and this egg does not disappoint. The crunchy texture also adds an extra little bit of joy in each mouthful.”

Almost too beautiful to eat, this striking egg went down a treat in the test kitchen. Layers of snappy dark chocolate and tart strawberry deliver the unmistakable taste of strawberries dipped in chocolate.

Lucy said, “This is a spectacular looking product that really takes an Easter egg to a whole new level. The flavour is perfectly balanced and really does taste like fresh strawberries!”

A moreish double layer egg of blonde chocolate generously packed with caramelised biscuit pieces and biscuit spread. The flavour profile reminded us of Biscoff which is never a bad thing!

Jess said, “We have tried a lot of biscuit flavoured eggs this year but this one steals the show. a lot have been too sweet but this one is just right.”

Get some serious bang for your buck with this super thick, half milk, half caramel egg that is packed full of truffles, pralines and caramels. Great for the indecisive and we loved that its sleek packaging is 100% recyclable.

Rose said, “It feels generous in every sense - substantial, indulgent and packed with variety, which makes it ideal for sharing if you are willing!”

Best Hot Cross Buns

Perfect plump buns that are packed with sultanas, currants and raisins. We loved their rustic look and zesty lemon peel flavour.

Jen said, “The fruit is evenly distributed and plump, which means every bite feels properly balanced rather than too dough-heavy."

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these outrageously chocolatey buns. Peppered with dark, milk and white chocolate chips that are delicious and melty when toasted.

Lucy said, “These toast beautifully - crisp on the outside while staying soft in the centre, with just the right amount of molten chocolate.”

A show-stopping combination of sweet chocolate and tangy sour cherries. Perfectly balanced, with evenly distributed chips and fruit. A bold new twist we loved. Booths offer several other exciting flavours that we enjoyed.

Jess said, “This is a very elegant flavour profile that works perfectly in a hot cross bun. The other Booths buns were also close contenders!”

Delicately sweetened dough with chunky pieces of salted caramel fudge and rich dark chocolate chips. We loved how traditional these looked, with the choc chips being easily mistaken for currants.

Rose said, “These buns are picture perfect and taste just as good as they look. It’s hard to stop at one.”

An impressively light and fluffy free-from bun, packed with juicy fruit and gently spiced with warming cinnamon.

Lucy said, “The texture of these is impressively soft and light, something that’s often difficult to achieve in free-from baking.”

Best of the rest

An expertly executed simnel cake that is bursting with juicy glacé cherries and spiced vine-fruits, all layered and hand decorated with delicious golden marzipan.

Jen said, “This is an exceptional version of a classic simnel cake. If you don’t have the time to bake one yourself then this is the next best thing. Some that we tried were a bit dry but this one has stayed deliciously moist.”

9 Delicious hand iced chocolate biscuits inspired by classic Faberge eggs. The tin is almost as pretty as the biscuits themselves making this an excellent Easter gifting option.

Lucy said, “The icing detail is so impressive, but the biscuits themself are also a delight thanks to their lovely buttery snap.”

Your favourite caterpillar cake has had an Easter make over! Perfect for a party, this cake is always a crowd pleaser. Decorated with a thick layer of milk chocolate and white chocolate eggs.

Jo said, "It delivers exactly what you want from a party cake, soft sponge, nostalgic flavour and instant smiles.”

How did we test the best Easter buys?

Every product is entered by the supplier and blind-tasted in the woman&home Test Kitchen by our expert food team. Drawing on their collective experience as professional recipe developers, food stylists and food writers, the panel carefully assesses each item to determine the standout winners.

The judging panel is led by Group Food Director Jen Bedloe, alongside Food Editor Jess Meyer, Deputy Food Editor Rose Fooks, Food Writer Lucy Kirkpatrick and Food Assistant Johanna Mentel. As well as flavour, each entry is evaluated on its overall appeal, including texture, appearance, portion size and value for money, to ensure only the very best Easter products make the final list.

Why you can trust us

Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test here.

With another dreary, not-so-dry, January finally over, we are all in need of something to look forward to - and if that can’t quite be spring, let it be Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two, or simply want to enjoy a more decadent meal without the stress of making restaurant reservations, we’ve found some dine-in options that have us head over heels.

We gathered samples from the nation’s top supermarkets and meal kit providers for Valentine’s Day, some as easy as popping in the oven, giving you as much quality time as possible. One of our favourites might be a pleasant surprise, coming in at only £5-6 a portion, ideal if you’re looking to save money without missing out on a romantic dinner.

Turn on some soft jazz music and light a couple of candles, then get your dinner ready in the privacy of your own home, with our tried and tested picks for a dine-in meal.

1 Dishpatch - Cafe Murano Menu Dishpatch

• The box includes all components to serve:
• Rosemary focaccia
• Nocellara olives
• Mushroom & truffle arancini
• Ricotta, beetroot, orange, toasted hazelnuts in Moscatel vinaigrette
• Bistecca alla Fiorentina
• Rosemary potatoes
• Salsa verde
• Chocolate olive oil cake, crème fraîche, pistachios
• £128 for 2
• Available for delivery on 13th & 14th February, orders close at 4 PM the day before the delivery date.
• Best for: Chef-prepared meal kit box

Why we love it: If you’re looking to seriously impress, this is a guaranteed win. The ingredients were top quality, and the whole experience felt like eating at a fine dining restaurant in Italy. With no chopping boards and minimal washing up (a Valentine’s Day win in our book), the entire menu was ready in just 50 minutes.

Food writer Lucy says: “Delivered straight to your door, this strikes the ideal balance between rolling up your sleeves and having fun in the kitchen without any of the stress or mess.”

Dishpatch

2 Pasta Evangelists Lobster, crab & prawn ravioli

• What you get in the box: Fresh pasta, sauce, and garnish. Ravioli: from £9.75, Bolognese: from £8
• Free delivery over £25
• Best for: Best mid-range almost effortless meal prep

Why we love it: This had our hearts racing as the smell of lobster and crab drifted around the kitchen, paired with a basil and tomato sauce. The ravioli is sure to be a hit, but you can pick from vegetarian and meaty pasta dishes with generous portions that are easy to prepare, so you can focus on quality time together.

We also tried the Bolognese ragu with egg tagliatelle, providing a rich, savoury flavour. Slow-cooked and simmered in wine, this is arguably the classiest comfort meal to enjoy at home this February.

Deputy Food editor Rose said, “How easy was that? And such a good portion size. With the different options, it’s like eating at a restaurant.”

Pasta Evangelist

3 Co-op Valentine’s Dine in Deal

• Premium main course, two sides, and a bottle of fizz or soft drink for two.
• £10 for Co-op members, £12 for non-members
• Available in stores and online between 4th and 17th February
• Best for: Affordable steak night in

Why we love it: We couldn’t believe the price considering what you get in this deal. Spoiler: it’s a premium main course, two sides and a bottle of fizz or soft drink for two, at only £10! With gastro-pub-inspired dishes comprising nine mains and six sides, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Coop’s British Angus Rump Steaks, complete with heart-shaped truffle and black garlic butter, give a beautifully deep, smoky flavour. Coupled with cheesy Dauphinoise potatoes and Seasonal vegetables with a basil dressing, the meal is simply divine.

Food editor Jess Meyer really rated this cute package, “What a great deal, you get so much for your money!”

Co-op

HOW DID WE TEST THE BEST VALENTINE’S DINE IN DEALS?

Each item we taste is entered by the supplier and is sampled in the Test Kitchen by a panel of experts from the Food Team. Using their experience as professional recipe developers, food stylists and writers, the team taste each sample to decide which ones are really worth it for you and your other half. We evaluated each entry on taste, portion size, ease of preparation, visual appeal, and ultimately cost.

The tasting took place at our foodie epicentre, the Woman & Home Test Kitchen in Winnersh. Using their professional knowledge in all things food, you can trust our team to give you a genuine review of the top entries. This month, we spent hours testing a whole range of products from luxurious starters to sumptuous desserts, with a couple of real showstoppers in between.

The panel is led by Group food director Jen Bedloe, assisted by Food editor Jess Meyer, Deputy food editor Rose Fooks, Food writer Lucy Kirkpatrick and Food assistant Jo Mentel.

After the merriment of Christmas comes the cold, cold January - often a tough month for many, and that might result in a lack of motivation to cook and eat well.

If the cold days and colder nights have you in need of a hearty feast, there are a few great options to consider, including Clodagh McKenna’s winter soup for a light alternative and the surprisingly simple dish Mary Berry says has the "perfect kick" for a winter’s day.

Mary has re-shared her recipe for the most mouth-watering slow-cooked beef casserole with horseradish and mustard that doesn’t need much effort to cook up - and only requires five core ingredients, excluding a few seasonings and thickeners.

Follow Mary’s simple recipe and within a couple of hours, you can have a recipe that transforms a topside joint of beef into a tender, flavour-packed roast with a golden crust - and it goes perfectly with seasonal veg and mash.

Hungry? Thought so. Let’s get on with the recipe…

Starting with the beef, Mary fries around 1.5KG of lean, stewing steak until it’s brown. As it’s a lot of meat, she does it in smaller batches.

Moving it about as it browns, Mary shares that it gives it the extra flavour and seals the meat in.

Once you’ve got the meat nice and brown - and if there’s a crust forming at the bottom of your pot, even better, Mary says - take the meat out, plate it up and leave to one side.

Next, add three roughly chopped onions and six cloves of crushed garlic into the pot you just fried the beef in, and pour in 300ml of beef stock.

Mary thickens the casserole with a mixture of 50g of flour and 300ml of white wine, before adding the meat back in.

For flavour, add three tablespoons of Worcester sauce before leaving the pot on a very low heat and cook until the meat is almost tender, which Mary suggests is about two hours.

After this time, add in 300 grams of chestnut mushrooms and leave to simmer for another 30 minutes.

The real trick and Mary’s secret ingredient for a kick that is "perfect for a winter’s day" is what comes next - a mixture of three tablespoons each of Dijon mustard and horseradish cream. Add it to the pot as it finishes simmering.

When you’re ready to serve, plate alongside a hearty dollop of mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Cocktails are a tricky thing to ace at home, but adding them to a menu is one of the best ways to host a memorable dinner party. With that in mind, we’re always looking for ways to elevate our at-home cocktails and get them tasting just as delicious as those made by the pros – and we’ve found an unusual way to do just that with Margot Robbie’s 'secret' cocktail ingredient.

Revealing her secrets for making perfect cocktails at home, former bartender and Hollywood actress Margot Robbie has revealed the 'secret ingredient' she adds to every cocktail to make them 'taste better'.

In an interview with British Vogue, she revealed her secret is adding 'saline solution' to every cocktail recipe.

'It’s just salt and water,' Margot explained. 'You put a couple of drops of saline in any of your cocktails and they’ll taste better.'

'Like the way you would salt meat and, you know, if you’re going to cook a steak and you salt the steak and then the steak tastes better, it’s kind of like that but for cocktails,' she added.

While Margot was making a martini, which is a relatively savoury drink that can benefit from a salty touch, adding a dash of saline solution to even the sweetest of cocktails can elevate their flavour.

It’s a trick we’ll be using to heighten the taste of all our favourite celebrity and royal approved cocktails, with her saline solution being easily made by dissolving high-quality salt in boiling water, then letting it cool before adding a few drops to your drink of choice.

Drinks experts in the comments of Margot’s Instagram video were quick to call her out for revealing an expert secret, with even the chairwoman of the International Wine & Spirit Competition saying, 'Uh oh. Our secret’s out'.

If you’re not quite ready to give up that festive feeling just yet, but you also want to move away from heavy leftovers and party food, Nigella Lawson’s breakfast trifle might just be the perfect compromise.

The cooking icon shared the recipe to her breakfast trifle with her social media followers, and she describes the dish as "simple, celebratory and, unlike me, first thing in the morning, full of zingy brightness."

So far, so relatable. But do you need to be an expert in the kitchen to get this right?

According to Nigella, no. It "involves no more than a little laid-back layering-up" but "creates something utterly luscious."

The only thing to take note of is you’ll need to prep this at least a night in advance, with some steps taking place the night before you plan to wake up with a hearty serving of trifle in the morning.

Luckily, as Nigella explains, these steps - including "the steeping sponge fingers and festively flavoured fruit can be left out in the kitchen overnight" - which is perfect if your fridge is still overflowing with festive food and leftovers.

What you’ll need to make Nigella’s breakfast trifle:

• 8 sponge fingers (plus extra if needed)
• 300 grams frozen mixed berries
• 50 grams pomegranate seeds (or replace with 50g/ ½ cup more of the frozen berries)
• 1 - 2 clementines
• 35 grams fine-shred marmalade (or jam of your choice)
• 150 grams 10%-Fat Greek yoghurt
• 150 grams double cream
• 25 grams fine-shred marmalade (or jam of your choice)

Additional ingredients are optional and can be sprinkled over the top of the finished trifle. These can include chopped pistachios or flaked almonds (or any other nut of your choice), muesli or granola, and more pomegranate seeds.

To make the trifle, the night before, get out a bowl and line the base with sponge fingers. Nigella lies them sugary side up, but says it doesn’t matter.

Nigella also suggests using a glass bowl so you can see the layers and the trifle in action.

Next, measure the frozen berries and pomegranate seeds into a bowl big enough to stir them in without them jumping out and escaping. Finely grate the zest of one clementine over.

Using a very sharp knife (or else you’ll lose too much juice on the cutting board) halve the now-bald clementine and squeeze the juice over the sponge fingers. You’ll need around 30ml, which is about two tablespoons, so use the second clementine to add more juice if the first doesn’t yield enough.

Another top Nigella tip: a Mexican elbow juicer is best suited to this satisfying task.

Add the marmalade or jam to the bowl of frozen fruits and stir gently but well to mix, then top the sponge fingers with it all. Cover and leave in a cold place overnight - but not the fridge - until the next morning.

The morning after, whisk together the yoghurt, double cream and 25g (or one tablespoon) marmalade or jam until you have soft peaks; don’t whisk until it’s thick to the point of stiffness or it’ll be difficult to spread, and less luscious to eat.

Spoon and spread this mixture gently over the fruits, then scatter the chopped nuts over the cream, along with a few pomegranate seeds; or replace both with a little of your favourite muesli or granola if you prefer.

Once it’s made, what’s even better is you should be able to store this in the fridge for around two days, so you’ll get a couple of luscious breakfasts out of it.

The Christmas season is in full swing and that means it's time for treats.

While there’s plenty of tips to help out with the bigger dishes, having a quick and easy sweet treat to fall back on is always a useful card to have up your sleeve.

And thanks to an old Instagram post from Reese Witherspoon - who has previously shared recipes and lessons in Southern hospitality in her own cookbook - there’s the "simplest thing" that you might just become obsessed with, whether it’s something to enjoy yourself or to impress any unexpected guests with.

In a post from 2022 (which now appears to be deleted, but fans on TikTok and other platforms have resurfaced to recreate the recipe themselves), Reese explained, "Okay, I saw this recipe in Southern Living. It's cracker toffee and it's the simplest thing."

Reese’s sweet treat needs just five ingredients - saltines, butter, brown sugar, chocolate chips, and candy cane bites. Anyone wanting to make this in the UK can switch out saltines for a simple sea salt cracker.

To make the treat, Reese explained, "You put down the crackers [lining them on a baking tray], you make a caramel sauce out of brown sugar and butter" and then after slathering your sauce over your arranged crackers, "you bake it for 15 minutes".

After the crackers and sauce have baked, you sprinkle on a generous serving of chocolate chips and Christmas candy cane parts, and it’s ready to eat.

If you fancied adding your own flair to the treat, you could try sprinkling on other flavours or toppings. Edible glitter might make it a statement dessert for any parties you’re attending, or you could experiment with flavours like cinnamon, chilli flakes or anything that you feel could pair well.

After posting the recipe originally in December 2022, when she was helped by her youngest son, Tennessee, she wrote (per the Daily Mail), "Easiest holiday treat recipe EVER!! A new family favorite."

If this has given your sweet tooth the taste for more, there's plenty of other simple, sweet recipes to try out, from three comforting jam-filled bakes to chocolate coffee brownie mince pies.

Christmas pudding is rich, often boozy and usually made well ahead of Christmas Day, which naturally raises questions about how long it actually keeps. According to baking expert Juliet Sear, Christmas pudding is far more forgiving than people often assume, as long as it’s made and stored properly.

Juliet, who regularly appears on ITV’s This Morning, explains that the ingredients themselves help preserve it. With dried fruit, sugar and alcohol all playing a role, Christmas pudding was designed to last, long before fridges were part of everyday life.

How long does a Christmas pudding last?

How long your Christmas pudding keeps fresh depends on the exact contents or recipe. Any pudding using fresh fruit for moisture will go off more quickly, whereas a Christmas pudding soaked in booze with high sugar and dried fruit content will last much longer. Some Christmas puddings, made with dried fruit in the traditional way, are fine to be eaten as much as two years after they were made.

“Christmas puddings don’t tend to go off if they are stored correctly in a cool place”, she says. “Eventually, they may dry out or lose flavour, of course, but the more alcohol the better – if your pudding is soaked in booze, it will stay preserved for a long time.

"Bear in mind if the pudding is alcohol-free, of course, it will last a good while with the sugar content, but it will not last as long without alcohol to preserve it," stresses Juliet..

How can you tell if Christmas pudding is safe to eat?

"If there are any unpleasant smells or signs of deterioration like mould, it's best to avoid them. Put simply, if in doubt, don’t eat anything you’re suspicious of," says Juliet.

If your pudding is shop-bought from last Christmas, say, then make sure it is still sealed. Then, to check whether your pudding is safe, open it up, check that everything looks and smells OK, and if it does, slice a little off the underneath and have a taste. If all is good, cover it and give it a good, long steam before eating.

Keeping your homemade pudding fresh means storing it properly – once you've steamed and completely cooled it, replace the greaseproof paper and tin foil with a fresh set and seal it very tightly before storing it in a cool, dry place – that is not your kitchen. It doesn't need to be in the fridge, but try the garage, for example, or somewhere else cool and not steamy

What's the best way to reheat a stored Christmas pudding?

Aside from microwaving, you can wrap your Christmas pudding in foil and reheat in a low oven. Juliet also recommends using a slow cooker, particularly on Christmas Day itself: “I always find on the big day itself I struggle to offer up a hob ring for my pudding to steam for hours. Since I got my slow cooker, it’s been a lifesaver as I have it turned on out of the way, heating the pudding.”

Nigella Lawson also recommends frying it in butter – and since when did butter ever do anything other than enhance the taste of anything? Just make sure that, whatever your method, your pudding is piping hot all the way through before eating.

What’s the best thing to pour on a Christmas pudding?

If you want to light the pudding on Christmas Day, you will also need to use a high-alcohol-content spirit such as brandy, whisky, or rum. Warm it gently before pouring it into a ladle to light and pour over the pudding.

If you're feeding your Christmas pudding beforehand, you could go down the traditional route with the spirits listed above, or try something more experimental. Juliet says, "Sometimes I do an orange version and add some Grand Marnier or Cointreau; it is down to personal choice." You could try a flavoured gin or even a nod to your favourite cocktails like the classic Negroni.

If you would like an alcohol-free option, you could try soaking your fruit in tea and feeding it with this for added flavour. Juliet suggests a spiced spring tea but you could try something floral like Earl Grey too

Traditional Christmas cake can feel heavy, boozy - not to mention time-consuming, especially if you are baking close to the big day. Mary Berry’s lighter fruit cake takes just 15 minutes to prepare, skips alcohol entirely, and uses an unexpected ingredient to keep it soft and delightfully moist.

"Instead of soaking fruit for days, this recipe relies on canned pineapple and dried apricots to create a lighter crumb and fresher flavour, says our Food Director Jen Bedloe. "The result is a golden fruit cake that feels festive without being dense - ideal if you’re not a huge fan of traditional Christmas cake, or simply want a quicker alternative."

To make life even easier, there is no feeding, no long maturing time and no need to ice it (unless you want to). It can be made ahead, frozen if needed, or served simply glazed with icing sugar for a relaxed Christmas centrepiece.

Ingredients

• 350g (12 oz) red or natural glacé cherries
• 225g (8 oz) can of pineapple in natural juice
• 350g (12 oz) ready-to-eat dried apricots
• 100g (4 oz) blanched almonds (skins removed)
• Finely grated rind of 2 lemons
• 350g (12 oz) sultanas
• 250g (9 oz) self-raising flour
• 250g (9 oz) caster sugar
• 250g (9 oz) softened butter
• 75g (3 oz) ground almonds
• 5 large eggs
• To decorate:
• Blanched almonds
• Red or natural glacé cherries
• Glacé pineapple (available from health-food shops)
• 100 g (4 oz) sifted icing sugar

Method

• 1) Heat the oven to 140C (160C fan, Gas 3). Grease a 23cm (9 in) deep round cake tin then line the base and sides with a double layer of baking parchment.
• 2) Cut the cherries into quarters, put in a sieve and rinse under running water then drain well.
• 3) Drain and roughly chop the pineapple, then dry the pineapple and cherries very thoroughly on kitchen paper. Snip the apricots into small pieces. Roughly chop the almonds.
• 4) Place the prepared fruit and nuts in a bowl with the grated lemon rind and sultanas and gently mix together.
• 5) Measure the flour, sugar, butter, ground almonds and eggs into a large bowl and beat well for 1 min until smooth.
• 6) Lightly fold in the fruit and nuts, then turn the mixture into the prepared cake tin. Level the surface and decorate the top with blanched whole almonds, halved glacé cherries and pieces of glacé pineapple, if liked.
• 7) Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 2 hours 15 minutes or until golden brown. A skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean. Cover the cake loosely with foil after 1 hour to prevent the top from becoming too dark.
• 8) Leave to cool in the tin for 30 mins, then turn out, peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.
• 9) Mix the icing sugar with a little water, and drizzle over the cake to glaze.

Mary Berry fruit cake tips and expert advice

Towards the end of the cooking time, gently press the top of the cake. It should feel firm and spring back slightly. Insert a clean skewer or knife into the centre at a slight angle. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. If there is wet batter, cover with foil and return to the oven.

"A cracked top usually means the oven temperature was too high", adds Jen. "This causes the outside to set before the centre has finished baking. Not all ovens are completely accurate, so an oven thermometer can help.

"If the appearance bothers you, cover with marzipan and icing, or simply glaze with warmed apricot jam for a tidier finish."

For a simple finish, glaze the cake with icing sugar as in the recipe. For extra shine, brush with warmed apricot jam. You can also decorate with nuts and glacé fruit, or cover with marzipan and icing for a more traditional look.

This cake freezes well as long as it is not iced. Wrap it tightly in baking parchment and foil, then freeze for up to two months. Defrost overnight at room temperature before decorating or serving.

If there's anyone whose advice is worth taking when it comes to cooking, baking and all things kitchen related, it's Dame Mary Berry.

And this year, fans can watch A Mary Berry Christmas for a whole host of tips and recipes from the Bake Off icon - although prepare yourselves for things to get a little cheeky thanks to guest Zoe Ball.

Here, Mary shares even more helpful advice for a stress-free dinner this Christmas.

1. Getting ahead

I do an awful lot of preparing in advance over the festive season. I start by making my list of who’s visiting and how many meals I’ll need to make. Then I list all the meals over Christmas and what ingredients I’ll need. I make a timetable for the week before and see how many things I can do ahead.

2. Turkey time

My top tip for the perfect roast turkey is not to overcook it. Roast it and, near the end of the cooking time, put a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh, and the juices should run clear. When they do, it’s done. Don’t overcook it.

3. Crispy roast potatoes

If you know you are going to be pushed on Christmas Day, then it is possible to half-roast the potatoes the day before. On Christmas Day the potatoes just need to be re-roasted in a hot oven for about 20 minutes.

4. Perfect gravy

There’s nothing like a good gravy. I use giblets, but use a stock cube if you prefer. Melt a quarter cup of butter, add half a cup of flour and combine to make a roux.

In goes the hot stock, a little at a time, and give it a good beat in between. Skim off the fat from the juices of the bird and pour it in. Season with a little pepper and salt and a dash of Worcestershire sauce to deepen the flavour. Then bring it to the boil. And that’s it!

5. The leftovers

You know how you do cauliflower cheese? All those vegetables with a wonderful cheesy sauce, and grated cheese on top are lovely a couple of days after Christmas. And you can also add them to the stock that you’ve made from the turkey bones.

6. A delicious canapé

I make smoked salmon canapés, and do this the day before I plan to serve them.

I start with a light rye bed and slice it into little pieces. If you don’t use all of the loaf, put the rest in the freezer. Then spread the bread with a full-fat cream cheese and put smoked salmon on top.

Sometimes I put some prawns on top of the salmon. I then put them on the serving plate, cover it with cling film and keep it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve it, just add a squeeze of lemon to the top.

7. Tinned custard

It’s the best type of custard for trifle making, and then I make it more luxurious by putting whipped cream in it.

But this recipe won’t break the bank; you can use some leftover pear juice and berries to make the trifle - or orange juice.

Christmas might be the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also often the busiest.

From tips on the perfect gifts for couple friends in your life to Christmas centrepiece ideas that will set the scene for your parties and dinners, if there's inspiration to be taken from anyone, it's the experts. Enter: Jamie Oliver.

The superstar celebrity chef knows all too well how busy Christmas can be, and with everything else going on, you don't want to neglect your food prep and planning. Nothing brings together friends and family like food - here Jamie shares his top tips to get ahead for Christmas.

Jamie's 5 top Christmas dinner tips

1. Plan your oven space

It's really important you take the time to work out what needs to go in the oven and when, so you're not left with a dilemma like having to choose between cooking the roasties (which Jamie makes with an unexpected ingredient to get them perfectly crisp) or cooking the stuffing!

Start with the time you want to sit down to eat, and work backwards.

2. Cook your gravy ahead of time

A good gravy will hide a multitude of cooking sins, so make it a couple of weeks before, getting it perfect, and freeze it. Then heat it up on the day.

3. Make and freeze your puddings

Everyone loves a festive pud, but don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself by making it on the day - do your dessert in advance and freeze it. My chocolate orange Arctic roll is perfect for that, or my tiramisu.

4. Prep the turkey and veg the day before

Parboil potatoes and toss them in your chosen fat, peel and chop carrots, prep your Brussels, get all the flavour into your turkey. Then on the day, all you'll need to do is cook them!

5. Lay the table on Christmas Eve

Set up everything for the next day, so the pressure is off and you can spend more time with your nearest and dearest.

Thankfully for us, Jamie didn't stop there with his expert advice, and when asked if he has any cheats he relies on, he said: "Of course!" Jamie tells us, proving even the experts don't spend hours on the day itself.

Jamie's favourite cheat is his 'get-ahead gravy - it's the recipe I use every year and it gets even me out of trouble!

'Left the carrots in the oven a little too long? Or cooked the veggies too early? Pour over some piping hot, delicious, flavoursome gravy, and no one will ever know.'

Jamie also shared some helpful ways to help reduce food costs this time of year. 'One of the easiest things is keeping to the traditional veg sides, because seasonal produce is often cheap. So carrots, parsnips, sprouts, cabbage, clementines - they're all in season.'

Another tip? 'Freeze lots of food in advance, so you're not paying out in one lump sum. I'll make mince pies, Yorkshire puddings, desserts and freeze them all.

'Also, don't feel like you have to buy a whole turkey - a crown or just the legs are just as delicious. You can even opt for frozen turkey rather than fresh if you want to save money.'

This article originally appeared in woman magazine - subscribe here.

Before all the stress of Christmas Day cooking, who really wants to be in the kitchen making elaborate winter dinners? We want to eat them, that’s for sure. But the actual cooking and then the washing up? We’d rather give a miss.

Luckily for us, Clodagh McKenna is on hand with an easy and delicious winter recipe that takes no time at all to make and calls for very few pots and pans – in fact, all you’ll need is one of your best cast iron pots.

Clodagh’s ribollita soup is ‘full of nourishment’ thanks to all the vegetables and beans in the recipe, with garlic, fresh basil and a sprinkling of chilli flakes giving it a hearty and ‘delicious’ taste. Plus, there’s no blending involved. Simply chop, simmer and serve – what a treat!

Shop Clodagh’s Kitchen Staples

Clodagh’s soup recipe couldn’t be more ‘simple,’ with her large casserole pot sitting over a medium heat as diced carrots, celery, onion, and garlic are seasoned with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then covered and cooked for 10 minutes in some olive oil.

Then, she adds vegetable stock, tinned tomatoes, and cannellini beans before cooking for five minutes. And now you’re already at the final step, where you stir in your chopped leafy greens and chilli flakes. Cook the soup down for a further three minutes, season with basil and you’re ready to serve the soup in warmed bowls.

With a delicious and easy meal on the go, we’ll be taking the time we’ve saved cooking to prepare ahead for our Christmas dinner. Using Jamie Oliver’s gravy trick that could save you 5 hours on Christmas day and Ruth Langsford easy, freezable cranberry sauce recipe, Christmas cooking has never been so easy.

Trying to please everyone at Christmas can be hard enough as it is, but finding a way to serve up something for everyone at the dinner table needn’t be difficult thanks to some help from the experts.

Whether it’s Ruth Langsford's easy cranberry sauce recipe that can be made ahead and frozen or Jamie Oliver’s unexpected ingredient for perfectly crisp roasties, taking advantage of their expertise and experience can elevate your Christmas dinner.

And now, with superstar chef Jamie acknowledging people are eating less meat these days, he’s offering up a Veggie Pithivier that he calls "hands down the best thing you can make" for a vegetarian Christmas dish.

Posting to his Instagram, Jamie introduces his 'one and only Veggie Pithivier' as the 'most incredible, edible present that the veggies are going to kiss you for and the meat eaters are going to fight you for'.

Describing what to expect from the dish in the caption, he writes, 'If you're prepping for a veggie Christmas dinner then this is hands down the best thing you can make! I'm talking golden pastry, celeriac, creamy leek, mushroom and blue cheese sauce… come on!

Well, now you have our attention.

In the clip, Jamie is shown preparing the vegetarian pastry, giving it a coating that he compares to a bronze tan and declaring the dish a "French pie that has come truly via Essex."

How to make Jamie's Pithivier Pie

Jamie doesn’t share the recipe in the video, but we found the ingredients and instructions for his Pithivier Pie online. It does require a good few hours and enough time to let something sit overnight.

You’ll need:

• 1 whole celeriac (1kg)
• olive oil
• 2 large leeks
• 1 knob of unsalted butter
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 400g mixed mushrooms
• 75g plain flour
• 2 teaspoons English mustard
• 800ml semi-skimmed milk
• 1 bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley (30g)
• 120g blue cheese
• 2 x 320g sheets of all-butter puff pastry (cold)
• 1 large free-range egg.

Start by preheating the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6.

Next, you’ll scrub the celeriac, rub with one tablespoon of olive oil and wrap in tin foil. Let this roast for 1.5 hours, then finely slice and season with sea salt and black pepper.

While this is roasting, halve, wash and finely slice the leeks, then place in a large casserole pan on a medium heat with the butter. Peel, finely slice and add the garlic and mushrooms, then cook for 15 minutes.

Stir in the flour and mustard, followed by the milk, then simmer for five minutes, or until thickened, stirring regularly, and remove from the heat.

Pick, finely chop and stir in the parsley, crumble in the cheese, then season to perfection.

Line a 20cm bowl (8cm deep) with clingfilm. Arrange your now roasted slices of celeriac in and around the bowl until covered. Reserving half the sauce, layer up the rest with the remaining celeriac in the bowl, finishing with celeriac.

Pull over the clingfilm, weigh it down with something heavy, and chill overnight with the remaining sauce.

The next morning after letting this sit, preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.

On greaseproof paper, roll both sheets of pastry out to around 30cm x 35cm. Unwrap the filling parcel and place it in the middle of one sheet. Beat the egg and brush around the edge of the pastry and all over the celeriac, then carefully lay the second piece of pastry on top, smoothing around the shape of the filling.

Trim the edges to 2.5cm, crimp to seal, then eggwash all over. Very lightly score the pastry, making a small hole in the top.

Finally, you’ll let it cook at the bottom of the oven for two hours, or until beautifully golden.

You can brush it with more eggwash once or twice to achieve a perfectly golden finish. When done, it serves up beautifully with the warmed-up creamy sauce and seasonal greens.

She’s the longest-serving presenter on ITV’s This Morning. She’s a regular on Loose Women. And she’s the latest woman&home cover star, revealing she’ll "never say never" to a future relationship after her high-profile split from Eamonn Holmes in 2024.

But these aren’t Ruth Langsford’s only accomplishments and accolades. As it turns out, she’s also the Queen of Christmas, or so her festive apron says.

Ruth, who is no stranger to sharing some of her favourite recipes and kitchen secrets, including the strange ingredient she uses for the ultimate spag bol, is back once again with a perfectly simple cranberry sauce recipe, but this time she’s made one important change.

While her videos from the kitchen attract thousands of likes and comments from her fans, she often gets told the same thing - wear an apron. In past videos, the Loose Women star has shocked fans by cooking without anything protecting her lovely outfits.

Shop Christmas aprons

Heeding her fans’ warnings, this time around, Ruth started the video by debuting her apron, a festive red number with the words ‘Queen of Christmas’ printed on. Ruth reveals that this was a gift from her son, Jack, and gladly accepts the title of Christmas Queen, jokingly flipping her hair.

Apron safely on, it’s time to launch into the recipe which doesn’t need many ingredients - just fresh cranberries, orange zest and juice, Port, caster sugar, cinnamon sticks and a little bit of cloves.

Getting started, Ruth rinses the cranberries and pops them into a pan. Next, you add the zest of an orange over the cranberries before adding the freshly squeezed juice from the orange.

Add in the caster sugar and pour in a splash of Port. For anyone hoping for some exact measurements to follow, Ruth shares in the clip that she doesn’t deal in spoons, ounces and millilitres when it comes to her cooking, something she learnt from just watching her mum. So feel free to adapt the recipe to your own preferences.

After the Port, Ruth adds in the cinnamon sticks and cloves. Here, the presenter has adapted her mum’s recipe somewhat, swapping out whole cloves for ground cloves.

Not only is this a handy tip for anyone who might not find cloves in the supermarket, Ruth revealed it was inspired by her mum sometimes forgetting to take the cloves out once the sauce was done.

Once it’s all been cooking away, Ruth turns down the heat, covers the pan, and leaves it bubbling away for a couple of minutes. Wondering how long to let it simmer? Ruth left it long enough to come back with a freshly made cup of coffee.

Heat off, let it cool and in your jar or container it goes. Simple, and ready to store for Christmas.

If you're looking for more tips on what you can cook or prep ahead of the big day, Jamie Oliver has a 'get ahead' gravy recipe that can take the pressure off extra cooking on Christmas morning.

Celebrities. They’re just like us. Or are they? ITV favourite Ruth Langsford might have us questioning that theory after she revealed a “secret ingredient” in her spaghetti bolognese that might come as a surprise.

Posting to her Instagram followers back in April, Ruth - looking effortlessly chic in a blue and white shirt - shared her process for preparing the favourite dinner.

While most of the recipe was what we’ve come to expect, there was one addition that Ruth called her “secret ingredient” that adds a “deep flavour” - instant coffee granules.

Getting started with the dish, Ruth revealed she was making her mum’s recipe - but slightly adapted to her "own fabulous recipe" - and wrote in the caption, "Everyone’s got their way of doing it, haven’t they? This one’s mine… loosely based on Mum’s classic but, over the years, I’ve made it my own! No strict measurements here… I just go by eye, taste as I go, and trust my instincts."

Things start off the familiar way. There are frozen onions, mince beef, garlic puree, tomato puree, and an Oxo cube. But then we get to the secret ingredient - cue dramatic music (literally - our praise to Ruth’s video editing skills here.)

Ruth adds a sprinkling of instant coffee granules, saying it "gives it a really deep flavour" while insisting it "doesn’t taste of coffee".

As if to prove her point, Ruth hilariously added, "So Jack [Ruth’s son], just to let you know I’ve always put coffee in your spag bol, darling. And you don't like coffee."

Needless to say, opinion appears to be divided on adding coffee to the traditional Italian dish.

Some comments were unequivocal in telling Ruth that it was a big "no no", while some indicated they’d give it a go, or have heard of doing so before. One fan replied, "Coffee in there is a complete game changer. I was shown this trick when I lived in Canada in the 60’s. I think it looks great Ruth."

In her caption, Ruth also gave away another one of her tips, "I know some people swear by red wine, fancy stock, or simmering for hours… but I keep it simple, hearty and full of flavour… just how we like it. I always use frozen, chopped onions….game changer! Makes it so much quicker and no runny eyes!"

While the coffee granules might seem like the biggest revelation, fans couldn’t help obsessing over another detail in Ruth’s video - her impeccably organised kitchen.

In one clip, Ruth opens her freezer and every single thing is labelled. At least if people aren't going to take away her coffee trick, they might be inspired to get more organised.

Christmas is just weeks away and the weather has everyone swapping weekend plans out for settling in with a good Netflix series and a better comfort meal - so what better time to add a bit of culinary magic to your roast potatoes?

Perhaps inspired by the generosity of the Christmas season, superstar chefs are sharing all their secrets recently - including James Martin’s secret recipe for a perfect gravy and Clodagh McKenna’s trick for Bolognese and stews - and Jamie Oliver joined them during a recent appearance on BBC’s The One Show.

Put on the spot, Jamie was asked to give us "the hack" for the perfect roasties, and it was one surprising addition that he called "the one" that had viewers paying attention.

When prompted by host Alex Jones to give viewers a speedy masterclass in mastering roast potatoes, Jamie rose to the challenge with a swift run-through of his process and preferred ingredients, including "a spritz of good vinegar."

Not something that everyone might immediately have thought to include with their Sunday dinner staple, but it’s something that could make all the difference.

As for the rest of Jamie’s advice on serving up superb roasties? From start to finish, he revealed all.

Rattling off instructions as if he was back in the kitchens, he wasted no time, launching into "Maris Piper, peel, boil, salted boiling water, fourteen minutes, drain."

Next, he said to "chuff it up until it’s kind of a bit frosty on the outside" before choosing your chosen fat.

Then it’s about adding some herbs and flavours, with Jamie specifically calling out rosemary and garlic. It’s here that you "roast it until lightly golden and then squash it" to give it "more surface area."

And then comes the secret ingredient, the "spritz of good good vinegar" before popping them back in the oven until they’re golden crisp.

In Jamie’s own words, you should have the "best roast potatoes ever."

Yes, it’s that time of year already. The Christmas countdown is officially on. Between festive lights, gift lists, and visions of roasties dancing in our heads, planning the big day can feel like a full-on kitchen marathon. Luckily, Jamie Oliver has a trick up his sleeve that promises to take a little of the stress out of your Christmas cooking: his famous Get Ahead Gravy. And this Saturday, the magic happens.

Jamie’s Get Ahead Gravy is one of those genius shortcuts that feels like cheating, in the best possible way. As with Jamie Oliver's Air Fryer hacks, the gravy trick is designed to save you time. In this case, it's up to five hours on the big day, it’s perfect for anyone who dreams of a leisurely Christmas lunch rather than a panicked, apron-covered dash around the kitchen. Think of it as prepping your festive flavour in advance so you can spend more time on your Christmas tablescape and less time at the hob.

Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a Christmas-first-timer, this trick is a joy to make, just like his easy roast dinner idea. With the right tools: a sturdy roasting tray, a good masher, and freezer-friendly containers, you can whip up your gravy with minimal fuss. Then it’s simply a case of freezing, defrosting, and finishing with turkey juices on the day. It’s a classic Jamie Oliver hack: fuss-free, flavour-packed, and guaranteed to make you look like a culinary superstar.

Jamie Oliver's Get Ahead Gravy: the process

Jamie’s Get Ahead Gravy first appeared in one of his recipe books over a decade ago, but it’s been a yearly ritual of his for twenty years. Traditionally prepped on the second Saturday of December, it’s designed to take the pressure off Christmas Day by getting all the flavour-building done early.

The technique is surprisingly simple: load a roasting tray with your favourite vegetables, nestle chicken on top, and roast until golden. Once done, the tray goes straight onto the hob on a low heat, where everything gets mashed into a rich, veggie-packed base. Add stock, give it a good stir, and then freeze in portioned containers. Come Christmas, simply defrost, add your turkey juices, and voila: gravy glory with zero last-minute stress. Of course, if you're after the details, here is the link to his gravy recipe. You'll want to read everything he has to say, substitutes and all.

The beauty of this method is in its flexibility. You don’t need to be precise or overthink it, in true Jamie style, it’s all about enjoying the process, tasting as you go, and trusting your instincts. And because it’s freezer-friendly, you can treat Saturday as a soft deadline, any time between now and Christmas Eve works just as well. Just remember: the earlier you make it, the more Christmas Day you save.

And if you want to check your cupboards, these are the three kitchen essentials you'll need to pull off Jamie's Get Ahead Gravy:

What makes Jamie Oliver's Get Ahead Gravy a success?

The Get Ahead Gravy isn’t just a time-saver, it’s a flavour booster. Roasting the vegetables and chicken together creates a rich, caramelised depth that elevates your Christmas feast. It also gives home cooks a confidence boost: you can tackle the turkey, sides, and desserts without worrying about overcooking the gravy. And let’s face it, anything that saves hours while still tasting like a dream deserves a place in your festive kitchen rotation.

So, this Saturday, grab your roasting tin, don your favourite apron, and hop on the gravy train. Jamie’s Get Ahead Gravy is proof that a little prep goes a long way, leaving you more time to relax, sip mulled wine, and enjoy the best bit of Christmas cooking: tasting everything along the way.

Clodagh McKenna has shared her super simple secret ingredient she doesn't go without when it comes to whipping up stews, bolognese and ragu.

It's officially warming meal season, and whether you're a Le Creuset lover or rely on the power of your slow cooker for tasty winter meals, getting the recipe just right is key.

Appearing on This Morning alongside Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, Irish chef Clodagh explained that it takes just a small amount of her unexpected addition to create hearty winter dishes that boast a rich, velvety texture and delicious flavour.

Urging viewers to follow her lead in the kitchen and take meat dishes to the next level, Clodagh said, "Everybody watching. Take note. If you're ever, ever cooking a beef stew or a bolognese or a ragu, add in dark chocolate."

As she tipped a bowl of dark chocolate chips into the stew simmering away on air, Ben pointed out that it seemed like a "decent amount", but Clodagh explained that around 50g should be just enough to reap the tasty benefits.

As Cat asked whether the sweet addition gives the dish a chocolatey taste, Clodagh explained, "You don't taste the chocolate. You taste a smokiness and it gives it this gorgeous, velvety texture."

After a clip of the on-screen moment was shared on Instagram, plenty of Clodagh's fans took to the comment section.

"Love adding dark choc to chilli," one wrote, as Clodagh replied, "Ditto!"

"I always add dark chocolate after following your beef stew recipe! Makes a huge difference," another added, while a third wrote, "Lots of people forget this tip. Awesome job Clodagh."

Meanwhile, other commenters suggested using cocoa powder as an alternative to chocolate itself for an "easier and cheaper" way to achieve similar results.

With Christmas around the corner and Sunday roast season in full swing, James Martin just shared the ultimate nugget of culinary knowledge - the secret to the perfect gravy.

As the TV chef appeared on This Morning alongside Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, he had those of us on Christmas feast cooking duty taking notes as he divulged his steps to achieving a seriously rich and delicious gravy.

Describing his method as the 'classic, classic' way, James explained that no thickening agents like cornflour are needed in his recipe - and he urged viewers to 'go out now' and buy one key ingredient to make gravy the way chefs do.

When asked by Cat what his 'go-to Christmas gravy recipe' is, James began by saying, "In the supermarkets now you've got the pre-made stocks. Go out now and buy it.

"The minute you hit the week before Christmas, you've got no chance. Veal stock or chicken stock is what you want. You can't really make it out of turkey stock."

Sharing that chefs in restaurants use this method and that 'very few' make their own stocks anymore, he continued, "Red wine in a pan. Half a bottle for instance, for Christmas for ten people.

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"Then you put about a litre and a half of this stock in there. So, a decent amount. Then you put a good knob of butter in - about a third of a block," James added.

"Then you reduce it down. The butter will sit on top. When the sauce is ready, it all emulsifies into a gravy, into a classic chef's style jus. That's by reducing it down."

James makes his gravy in advance and then freezes it in portions ready to go. "Then you put it into ice cube trays, freeze it, then take two ice cubes for one person and just warm it up in a pan. It's done."

In the year of her 90th birthday, Mary Berry has offered more insight into her life than ever before.

She's given fans a look inside her very traditional marriage, and spoken at length about what she believes are her secrets to living longer.

In a further, extremely candid moment, the national treasure has revealed the one kitchen bake that she doesn't feel confident with and didn't like to pass comment on during her time as a Bake Off judge.

In conversation with Radio Times Magazine, Mary shared that during her audition to be a judge on the long-running show in 2010, she had to reveal to the crew that she'd need another judge to offer a second opinion on one thing produced by contestants: Bread.

"I need someone with a second opinion," she told those behind the show at the time, adding, "it's not my forte." The star had previously told The Independent when she was still a part of the series, "it's such a skilled activity, baking bread – I deliberately don't tutor it on The Great British Bake Off as I'm not sure I'm quite up to standard."

For the reason of Mary feeling she lacked confidence in the area of bread, Paul Hollywood was brought on board to assist with the judging. Mary has commented on how Paul brought an entirely different style of commenting to the show, that stood in contrast to her own. "Gosh, he was very different from me," she says.

Mary continues, "I don't want tears. So if something had collapsed in the middle, I'd say to a contestant, 'Do you know what you could do with that? You could just scoop a little bit out, fill it with fruit and cream, and you've got a pudding."

While Mary has shared her thoughts on not feeling confident with judging bread, she is a believer in "cheating" if there are areas in the kitchen people are not particularly self-assured with.

Speaking to Cressida Bonas and Isabella Branson on their Lessons From our Mothers podcast, Mary offered her perspective.

"I'm a great one for cheating," she says, continuing, "if it's the one thing that you don't like doing, go and buy it. If you can't peel a butternut squash, you can buy it all in pieces," she says.

"If you enjoy making bread, make your own bread," she adds. These sentiments echo those she previously made in conversation with The Telegraph, where the baking star advocated for plenty of corner-cutting measures.

If you're having guests over, Mary has no qualms about people buying all the food in from the supermarket. "It’s more important to spend time with you family, with your grandchildren, so if you’re not used to it, if it’s going to stress you, go and buy it," she says of the food prep that occurs when having people over.

"Buy in your gravy," she adds, saying, "Just throw away the packaging so nobody knows you’ve done it. The people are more important than the food." Although for those who do like to make their own, she recommends adding "red wine, red currant jelly and a dash of Worcester Sauce" to homemade gravy.

The star might feel she lacks confidence when it comes to bread, but she definitely enjoys eating it. Revealing her favourite varieties, she says, "I love seeded, sourdough, and olive bread is very nice, too."

Stanley Tucci knows it “sounds gross,” but we’ve all got a few tomatoes lying around that are “starting to get a little old.” But rather than throwing them away when their skins get tough, he's taken to Instagram to show us how he uses them to create a hearty autumnal sauce.

The “really simple” recipe can be paired with all kinds of different meals, he says, with him captioning the video, “A really simple tomato sauce. Delicious, easy, versatile. Make a batch, keep it in the fridge and add pretty much anything to it to make a great meal.”

Talking us through his recipe with the trusty Stanley Pan Jr from his collaboration with GreenPan on the hob in front of him, and in his pinstripe apron, Stanley revealed the secret behind the ease of the recipe is his way of preparing the tomatoes.

“What I did was I cut them and then what you do is you can squeeze them in water like this and all the seeds come out,” he revealed. And, if the skin of your tomatoes is too tough, using a food processor to give them a “whizz” will help them to cook down.

He lets the tomatoes soak while sweating down his onion and garlic for the sauce. And, when those have cooked down in a little bit of extra virgin olive oil alongside his garlic, “I’m going to take all those nice tomatoes and stick them right in there,” Stanley says.

“Then I’m going to cook those down just a bit by themselves,” he said, adding that now is the time to salt the tomatoes “generously.” Then, he adds two cans of tomatoes and now is the time for seasoning with basil and a little more salt.

Shop Stanley Tucci's Kitchen

With the sauce cooking down, he uses a wooden spoon to “smash up” the tomatoes and all that’s left to do is cook it down with the lid on or off. And, Stanley says, “That’s it and it’s going to be really good.

“You can do whatever you want with this sauce,” Stanley says. “You can add shrimps to it, you can add peas to it, you can saute a little guanciale and add that to it and a little peperoncino. You can do a million things with it. I make a batch and then I put it in the fridge and I use it for different things.”

Ruth Langsford shared an insight into her autumn kitchen as she took to social media with a warming recipe for a bowl of chilly-weather comfort food.

Declaring her love for cosy season, the iconic British broadcaster chatted to her followers via a video posted on Instagram as she talked us through one of her favourite easy recipes for an evening indoors with her Le Creuset pot - and left us wondering the real difference between a stew and a casserole in the process.

Penning a caption for her video, she wrote, "Autumn means comfort food! Nothing fancy here… just my kind of cooking, a hearty lamb casserole (or is it a stew? Someone tell me the difference in the comments please!)"

Dressed in a striking red knit and clutching her 'sweater weather' mug, Ruth explained that lamb leg and shoulder, chunky leeks and carrots, potatoes and lamb stock is all that's needed to whip up her low-effort go-to.

Noting that keeping veg chunky in a casserole or stew is key to avoiding a 'mushy' dish, Ruth demonstrated as she browned off her lamb and gave her veg a sizzle before adding stock and bringing to the boil.

Before taking it over to the oven to cook together, Ruth asked again, "What's the difference between a stew and a casserole? I actually don't know!"

Shop Ruth's Kitchen

As she showed off her slow-cooked masterpiece, plenty of Ruth's followers took to the comment section to share their thoughts on her query.

"I think casserole is cooked in the oven and stew cooked on the hob," one wrote, while another agreed, adding, "Stew is cooked on the hob and usually has some kind of pulses in to thicken it. Whereas casseroles are done in the oven."

"Stew is cooked on top hob, casserole is cooked in the oven. Love both," a third chipped in.

"I think - don’t quote me - stew is cooked on the hob and casserole in the oven? I prefer it cooked on the hob and I add lentils," one more agreed, as Ruth replied, "That’s the general consensus on here!"

Others were quick to offer Ruth advice for making the dish even more delicious, with lots insisting that dumplings are essential for a meal like this.

Suggesting adding an Irish twist, another commenter penned, "I add a tin of Guinness to mine, makes it really rich."

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Still clinging to the last rays of summer? This zesty Italian cocktail is guaranteed to transport you straight back to holiday mode. Prosecco lovers in particular will agree. Nigella’s Sgroppino is the ultimate late-summer refresher, light, citrusy and every bit as celebratory as it sounds.

The Sgroppino – "pronounced zgrrrroppeeno," says Nigella in her dulcet tones – is a boozy wonder that contains just three easy-to-source ingredients – Prosecco, vodka, and lemon sorbet. Originally invented as a palate cleanser in 16th-century Venice, its name derives from the Venetian term "to loosen", in reference to its purpose as a digestif that no doubt enabled the aristocracy to eat more.

It continues to tingle people's taste buds to this day due to its delightfully citrusy taste and lively texture. In modern-day parlance, you could call it a slushy for grown-ups, but that would be demeaning to such a sophisticated libation.

To make it extra special, we've picked out some top products, so you can enjoy Nigella's Insta pick at its very best

Nigella’s method couldn’t be simpler. As outlined on her website, she scoops lemon sorbet into a small jug, then pours over a shot of vodka and a splash of Prosecco.

Instead of whisking or blending, she gently pulls the sorbet apart with two forks, letting it melt into the liquid until it forms a smooth, frothy cloud. Once it’s lump-free and airy, she pours it into a chilled coupe glass – so chic – and it’s ready to sip. Elegant, effortless, and just the thing to keep summer lingering a little bit longer.

Rosé season is officially here, and woman&home has awarded our favourite pink bottles from the supermarket and online. Selected by our team of experts in the test kitchen, led by Group Food Director Jen Bedloe and Food Editor Jess Meyer.

These are our top 9 tipples to enjoy over the long Easter weekend with great food and good friends. In addition to the best still wines and sparkling wines, we also highly rated an extremely elegant cider, and the best zero-dealcoholised sparkling wine we’ve tried to date.

So, from the best blush at Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrison's, to the best French Sancerre at Tesco, an extremely drinkable Aussie rosé at Virgin Wines and an unbeatable value Spanish number from Co-op, we’ve got you covered.

For some sweet edible gifting inspiration, make sure you read our guide on the best Easter Eggs.

The best Easter Rosé, as chosen by woman&home Food Editors

For something a little different, try this delicate rosé cider. Light and crisp, with delicate bubbles, it’s made from a blend of dessert apples and Rondo grape skins, which add subtle tannins to balance the sweetness. This wild card proved a firm favourite with our team - ideal to sip in the garden with lunch.

An elegant, traditional method sparkling English wine from Hampshire with toasty notes and aromas of strawberry. Named after the chalk stream that runs through the estate - home to the few remaining white claw crayfish which proudly featured on the label. They say what grows together goes together, and this pairs perfectly with chalk stream trout and other delicate seafood.

This pale blush Cap Classique from South Africa is made using traditional Champagne methods. Expect plenty of ripe berry and pomegranate flavour and a honeyed finish. Enjoy with nibbles or with seafood dishes.

Smooth and creamy, with a floral fruity flavour and notes of watermelon and pomegranate, this easy drinker from Australia's Margaret River has good acidity and savoury notes that work well with food. Try with charcuterie, salads and grilled meats.

You know this is from New Zealand from its aroma, and it delivers all those tropical fruity flavours and floral qualities you would expect from a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. With good length and natural acidity, it pairs nicely with goat’s cheese salad and tuna.

With a creamy mouthfeel, and subtle aromas of vanilla and ripe pear, this easy tipple has floral notes of raspberries and tart rhubarb - and lots of fine bubbles. Sales also help fund conservation projects protecting the oceans from plastic pollution and environmental impact.

Made from Pinot Noir grapes, this Loire Valley wine is a good example of the region with plenty of cherry and stone fruit flavour. Drink with goat’s cheese salads or as suggested, spicy foods.

A crisp, dry wine with plenty of berries and a refreshing cranberry tang. It would work alongside many dishes, and great for a weeknight tipple with friends.

Crafted from 100% organic Spanish Tempranillo grapes, this de-alcoholised wine retains loads of winey character including crispy acidity, summer berries and watermelon. Fab alternative at celebrations or lunch in the garden.

How we test

All drinks are entered into the woman&home food awards by the suppliers and a sample for tasting is sent to the test kitchen. We taste each drink blind with a panel of experts from the food team. We don’t know the price or supplier of each drink, but do know when we like something. We make our final selection based on each bottle's USP then share our favourites in the May issue of woman&home magazine, as part of our Easter entertaining special.

Why you can trust us

Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test here.

Hosting a special Easter lunch for the family can be a time-consuming affair - from shopping, preparing and cooking the big feast, to the selecting of the best seasonal bakes, puds and chocolate eggs… You don’t want to waste time wading through aisle after aisle of Easter products to decide what is worth spending your money on.

That's where the woman&home Food Awards comes in. We blind test hundreds of products each year with a panel of experts from the Food Team to select the very best products from the high street and online.

For some sweet edible gifting inspiration, make sure you read our guide on the best Easter Eggs.

The best hot cross buns and Easter baked goods, as chosen by woman&home food editors

Enriched with butter and egg, this golden bun was generous-sized with a nicely piped cross. With a light and airy dough, it had a good balanced flavour profile with a subtle spice and a citrussy zing.

Jen Bedloe, Food Director said ‘Packed with plenty of juicy sultanas, currants and mixed peel, these buns are generously spiced and have a wonderfully light and fluffy texture.’

These traditional-style buns are made with currants, with a pleasing plump shape, and a glossy top, judges thought these could’ve been homemade!

Rose Fooks, Deputy Food Editor said, ‘A freshly baked delight. We enjoyed that these were a traditional style made with currants. Plump looking with a pleasing shape and gentle sheen, they look great too.’

Juicy strawberries, cranberries and creamy Belgian white chocolate and clotted cream combine in this deliciously glossy bun, a welcome change from traditional spiced flavours.

These zingy buns are packed with sultanas and jazzed up with the addition of candied orange peel, marmalade and citrus zest.

Jen Bedloe, Food Director said ‘Reminiscent of marmalade on toast with the added indulgence of plump dried fruits and a subtle spice, if you enjoy a traditional bun, you’ll like these too.’

A moreish delight, this pillowy bun is laced with Cheddar, Parmesan and chives. Serve slathered with butter for a break from sweet treats.

Jess Meyer, Food Director said ‘The best savoury bun we’ve tried. This really does tast like a rarebit but without the faff of making one. Simply slice the loaf, pop into the toaster and slather in plenty of butter.’

An excellent texture for a free-from bun. Generously packed with plump, juicy fruits.

A gently spiced Italian cake made with sultanas and a sweet apple filling. Inside you’ll find a sachet of cinnamon icing sugar to dust liberally over the top, use the cross-shaped stencil included to get the perfect hot cross bun effect.

Catrina Gell, Food Assistant said ‘I really enjoyed flavour twist on this. It would make a great addition to brunch or afternoon tea, the stencil and cinnamon sugar were a nice touch too.’

Generously packed with plump fruits, this lovely loaf is laced with warming spices and topped with marzipan. Wrapped in cellophane and tied with a bow it makes the perfect ready made gift.

Don’t miss out on celebrations with this four-tiered gluten-free chocolate creation. Layers of chocolate sponged sandwiched together with white chocolate buttercream, topped with everyone’s favourite mini eggs. There’s also a vegan version of this cake too priced at £24.99.

The perfect letterbox gift that makes a great alternative to an egg. Milk, dark and white chocolate combine to create a deliciously indulgent treat. Topped with adorable Easter decorations- they’re almost too pretty to eat!

How did we test the best Easter bakery buys?

Each item we taste is entered by the supplier and is sampled in the Test Kitchen by a panel of experts from the Food Team. Using their experience as professional recipe developers, food stylists and writers, the team taste each sample blind. We don’t know where each entry is from or how much it costs, but we do know when it’s good!

The panel is led by Group food director Jen Bedloe, assisted by Food editor Jess Meyer, Deputy food editor Rose Fooks, Food writer Georgia Sparks and Food assistant Catrina Gell. As well as overall taste, each item was assessed on its texture, size, and look and ultimately is it worth your money.

Why you can trust us

Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test here.

Much like Christmas, Easter is the next big day for the food lovers among us. Cooking and preparing a big feast is often at the top of our to-do list but it’s also important to make sure you choose the best chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and Easter bakes, and the best Easter Rosé to accompany the feasting.

Our solution? The woman&home Food Awards. We’ve blind tasted over 160 chocolate eggs from retailers like Waitrose, Tesco, Hotel Chocolat and Abel & Cole so we can provide you with our very best picks whatever your budget or preference.

For some sweet edible gifting inspiration, make sure you read our guide on the best hot cross buns and baked goods for Easter.

The best Easter eggs, as chosen by woman&home food editors

Ok, technically not pure milk, this egg is a blend of dark and milk chocolate giving it all of the flavour of a great quality milk chocolate that's not overly sweet. Made from cocoa beans from Cote d'Ivoire supporting Rainforest Alliance certified farms.

Georgia Sparks, Food writer said ‘I love the flavour of this egg, the creamy milk chocolate and the slight bitterness from the dark makes a great combination.’

Whilst this may seem like a pretty simple egg, it really delivers on flavour. A delicious dark chocolate. Plus, you get a lovely mug too, the perfect size for a creamy coffee, ideal for dunking your egg into!

Jen Bedloe, Food Director said ‘This egg would make the perfect gift. Not only is the chocolate great, the sweet mug that comes with it makes it feel more personal.’

Creamy vanilla white chocolate with a zingy hint of lemon. This large egg is filled with white chocolate buttons- a bonus! Plus it’s Fairtrade certified, organic and palm oil free, making it good for the planet too.

Jess Meyer, Food Editor said ‘I love the sharp lemon and how it contrasts with the creamy white chocolate, it reminds me of sherbet.’

An innovative take on a classic Easter egg, the flat-out flavour of creamy and toasty blonde chocolate scattered with crisp biscuit crumbs had us all going back for more.

Catrina Gell, Food Assistant said ‘This delicious blonde chocolate has a wonderful toasty flavour, a lot we’ve tried have been too sweet but this one is just right.’

Salty and sweet with a delicious creamy chocolate shell. If you’re a fan of honeycomb you won’t be disappointed by the combo.

Rose Fooks said ‘The crunchy honeycomb and saltiness of the pretzel paired with creamy chocolate make a heavenly pairing.’

Almost too beautiful to eat, this luxuriously creamy milk chocolate egg is hand-decorated with elegant and colourful spring flowers. Packaged in a pretty box it makes the perfect gift too.

Rose Fooks said ‘A spectacular looking thing made with exquisite tasting chocolate.’

A selection box of fresh chocolate mini pouches in flavours like salted caramel, smooth dark and creamy milk, accompanied with a hand-finished milk and dark chocolate egg.

All the chocolates are made using fresh ingredients such as British organic double cream and Dorset sea salt. They last for 4-6 weeks in the fridge.

Jen Bedloe, Food Director said ‘I’ve not tried anything like these before, the quality of the ingredients really shines through in the finished product, the creaminess is unmatched’

Perfectly packaged in its designer box, with each half individually wrapped. Nestled inside you’ll find delicious cocoa-dusted salted caramel truffles, the perfect balance of salty and sweet.

Made of half 40% milk and half 70% dark this chunky egg is bursting with an assortment of cocktail-inspired truffles, like Mojito and Caramel Espresso Martini. The attractive packaging is 100% recyclable and made entirely from paper pulp.

Jess said 'This is such a fun and innovative egg. The chocolate is impressively thick and the truffles are delicious too.'

A novelty take on the classic Easter egg shape with a cute lamb detail. This fun 'sarnie' has mint milk chocolate ‘bread’ with a crispy layer of feuilletine, that adds a delicious crunch.

A stylish egg hand decorated with splashes of colour, inside the vibrant chocolate egg you will discover Sea Salt Caramel gems. Great for older children and teens.

A tasty combination of jelly sweets, mini eggs, pretzels and popcorn, perfect for snacking and sharing with young and old.

Georgia said 'Crack this tin out next time you're having a movie night, a great combination of sweet and salty.'

A cocoa bean-shaped Belgian chocolate egg with a layer of creamy pistachio truffle and chopped roasted pistachios. This was a big hit in the test kitchen.

Rose says 'This egg is the season's hot ticket, if you can get your hands on it you must! A chunky chocolate shell and delicious nuttiness, we love it.'

For those who take their coffee seriously, this egg is made up of coffee-infused milk chocolate on the outside and blonde chocolate on the inside.

Rose said 'This egg was a real surprise - both layers of chocolate (on the outside milk and the inside blonde) are laced with finely ground coffee beans.'

Creamy milk chocolate eggs with white chocolate and a speckled candy coating. We approve of their size and will keep the chocolate fans quiet for 5 mins!

Georgia said 'The thin layer of white chocolate around these adds a delicious creaminess and the candy coating is satisfyingly crunchy, they're great for children and adults alike.'

A nostalgic recreation of a firm bakery favourite, vegan chocolate is loaded with crunchy biscuit pieces and cherry.

Vegan and free from dairy, nuts and egg, this is the perfect egg for those with allergies and dietary requirements. The creamy chocolate and tasty bar are not to be missed.

How did we test the best Easter bakery buys?

Each item we taste is entered by the supplier and is sampled in the Test Kitchen by a panel of experts from our Food Team. Using their collective experience as professional recipe developers, food stylists and writers. Each product is removed from its packaging and given a number. This process ensures the panel can judge without knowing where each product is from or how much it costs. One thing we do know is when it’s good!

The panel is led by Group food director Jen Bedloe, assisted by Food editor Jess Meyer, Deputy food editor Rose Fooks, Food writer Georgia Sparks and Food Assistant Catrina Gell. As well as overall taste, each chocolate Easter sample was assessed on its overall appeal including its texture, size, and look.

Why you can trust us

Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test here.

The festive season is a time of year when the market is saturated with new food launches all fighting for your attention. It can be difficult to wade through aisle after aisle of festive products and decide which to spend your money on to make your Christmas feast fantastic.

That's where the woman&home Festive Food Awards comes in. Hundreds of products were submitted to woman&home and our panel of experts shortlisted 30 of the best Christmas food products, drinks and retailers for 2024 from these entries.

Our team boasts many years of experience cooking and tasting new and innovative food and drink products. This makes them especially well suited when it comes to finding the best buys for Christmas, making the curation of your shopping list much easier.

In addition to our specific product awards, our judges have highlighted five of the best brands and retailers which have an exemplary range on offer for Christmas 2024.

From the best major retailer to artisanal producers who champion quality British produce, each of the winners has a wonderful selection of food and drink items which will ensure you have the most delicious Christmas yet.

Special Recognition awards winners

The best Christmas supermarket 2024: Waitrose & Partners

Having recently relaunched their No.1 range it seems appropriate that Waitrose & Partners nabbed the number one spot winning the best supermarket for their festive food range across all our categories. We tasted everything blind so our scores weren’t skewed by branding, but the quality of the products we tested stood out.

During the blind tastings, across a range of festive food categories, Waitrose & Partners consistently took the number one spot or came in our top 3. Overall the food team awarded Waitrose & Partners more winners than any other brand. Rose Fooks said “I highly rate the quality of products from Waitrose, I was impressed they did so well, but I wasn’t really surprised!”

This year Waitrose returned with some annual favourites such as Hot Chocolate Coins and Brown Butter Mince pies that consistently score highly. In addition, Waitrose also delivered across more classic categories such as their tasty and easy to carve Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown, with higher welfare still at its core.

Waitrose also excelled in the ‘free from’ category. Although they narrowly missed out on the award for ‘The Best Gluten Free Christmas pudding’ Waitrose did scoop up the ‘Best Yule Log’ awarded to their vegan Yuletide offering. Winning for consistent quality and sheer quantity of winning products Waitrose is a destination for your Christmas food shop.

THE BEST ARTISANAL RETAILER 2024: DukesHill

Famous for its traditionally made hams, DukesHill offers a brilliant handcrafted range, from cheeses to mince pies and, of course, those award-winning pork products, which earned the company a Royal Warrant back in 2004.

Like last year, judges were very impressed with the Christmas Candied Orange Topped Ham, the perfect crowd pleaser that will make hosting a breeze. Judges were equally delighted by the rest of the range including a range of nibbles, smoked salmon and cheeses. Another stand-out product was the Proper Piccalilli, the perfect pairing for Boxing Day leftovers.

If you’re looking to send someone an extra special foodie gift their hampers are packed with plenty of festive goodies, including their delicious mince pies.

THE BEST ONLINE RETAILER 2024: Abel & Cole

Avoid the chaos of supermarkets at Christmas and buy excellent quality products with just the click of a button. As well as providing excellent festive fare from independent growers and makers, they also have great environmental credentials, sourcing the best organic food and reducing unnecessary packaging.

This year our judges rated Abel & Cole highly across the board for their Christmas staples. Consistently scoring highly for their renowned Organic KellyBronze Turkey which judges praised for its flavoursome and tender meat. Another top scorer from Abel & Cole was their Smoked Salmon Side. This delicious side comes ready-sliced and is great for feeding a crowd.

THE BEST BAKERY AND DESSERTS 2024: Iceland

Our best-kept secret, Iceland, was a huge hit with our judges this year, scoring highly for their baked goods and sweet treats. Expect classics like zingy Lemon Meringue Baked Alaska, their novelty White Chocolate Snowman as well as savoury bakes such as their Doughball Christmas Tree.

Judges were impressed with the value of their offerings, starting at as little as £4, meaning you can offer an array of desserts at your festive gathering without spending a fortune. Available in-store and online, make Christmas easy for yourself this year.

THE BEST GIFTS AND STOCKING FILLERS 2024: M&S

Your one-stop-shop for last minute presents and stocking fillers, M&S was a firm favourite in this category amongst our judges. Whether you’re on the lookout for something small to fill a stocking or a larger present to send, they cater for all occasions.

We know buying for a foodie can be tricky, but the quality and presentation of an M&S gift would go down a treat, we think. Their Swiss Truffles Cable Car Bauble at only £5 is filled with lovely choccies, plus there’s no need to wrap! If you’re after something a little bigger, their Collection Deluxe Christmas Hamper is brimming with buttery shortbread, 2 bottles of wine and lots of sweet and savoury nibbles, perfect for spreading Christmas cheer.

It may be a cliché, but we firmly believe Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, deserving of the very best food for your festive table. Christmas is also a time of year when the supermarkets are saturated with new food launches all fighting for your attention. If you're often overwhelmed by the choice and want to ensure you only buy the best, the woman&home Festive Food Awards are designed to help you curate the most fabulous feast.

Hundreds of products were submitted to woman&home and our panel of experts who boast many years of experience cooking and tasting new and innovative food and drink products only select the best.

The judging takes place at our Test Kitchen, based in the Testing Centre of Excellence in Winnersh, near Reading. We taste all entries blind, cooked or served to the manufacturers' specifications. Everything is tastiest at its freshest and best - and there’s often much deliberation over each category such as who has won the coveted best mince pie, Christmas pud or pigs in blankets for 2024.

Meet the judges

The woman&home Festive Food awards are judged by our experts in the food team. This consists of Group Food Director Jen Bedloe, Food Editor Jess Meyer, Deputy Food Editor Rose Fooks, Food Writer Georgia Sparks and Freelance Food Writer and Food Stylist Nicola Roberts.

The best Christmas food 2024, as chosen by woman&home Food Editors

The best mince pies

Arguably the most important Christmas food, these mince pies were our favourite. A crisp pastry case is generously filled with a tangy citrus mincemeat.

Nicola Roberts, freelance food writer said, “These have a really nice, well flavoured pastry with good colour. The filling has a delicious orange tang which works well with the plump fruit”.

Consistently scoring top marks, in our awards these Biscuiteers pies have deep-filled buttery pastry and nutty frangipane topping.

Georgia Sparks, Food Writer, commended the “Nice thick layer of frangipane” and enjoyed the deep filling. Although slightly on the pricier side they would make a great gift- don’t worry about wrapping, they come in a pretty box!

No need to miss the magic of a mince pie if you are gluten intolerant.

Judges enjoyed the crisp, buttery pastry Georgia Sparks said, “These stood out for the pastry and juicy fruit filling, we couldn’t believe they were gluten free!”.

With a shallow case and pretty snowflake design, these pies look bakery-worthy.

Jen Bedloe, Food Director said, “Pastry is very good and much more refined than others we tried.” The snowflake holds the delicious brandy and cider-soaked fruits, with festive pops of red cherries. Serve warm with cream for a more substantial pudding.

The best Christmas cake

Adorned with a gilded stag and elegant tartan ribbon, this cake has a real wow factor. Nicely spiced, packed with plump juicy fruits, toasty nuts, and generously doused in French brandy.

Rose Fooks, Deputy Food Editor, commented, “The addition of nuts makes this one stand out and the tartan bow is a classy touch. Nicola Roberts agreed that this cake was, “Gorgeous looking” adding “It’s the best bought cake I’ve had. Yum!”

A delicious gluten-free option that everyone can enjoy. A rich and juicy fruit filling is sandwiched between layers of light and fluffy almond sponge.

Georgia Sparks was pleasantly surprised with the texture saying, “Gluten free cakes often have a powderyness to them from the gluten-free flour, but these are lovely and moist and have a great texture!”. Judges also liked that it didn’t taste overly sweet like others they had tasted.

The best turkey

Raised to high welfare standards and it shows! Abel & Cole KellyBronze roam wild and forage in the woods, dry-plucked by hand and hung for two weeks to improve the texture. This creates a more flavoursome, tender and moist meat which the judges described as sensational, clean and rich.

As well as giving a great flavour it also allows a much faster cooking time, meaning you’ll have extra space in your oven once it’s cooked too!

Rose Fooks said, “Miraculously, this 6.2kg turkey cooked in under 2 hrs. The extra fat means it cooks faster and gives a delicious turkey flavour. As well as tender juicy meat and a jus that can be made into a glorious gravy.” Whilst this bird is on the pricier side, judges considered this excellent bang-for-your-buck.

For an easy main, pop this turkey in the oven in its tray and you’ll be rewarded with super-juicy, succulent meat, and a herby chestnut and bacon stuffing.

Georgia Sparks said, ‘This turkey was juicy and succulent and has a good amount of stuffing.’ As well as tasting great, the attractive lattice of treacle-cured bacon adds a salty and sweet flavour that complements the meat.

The best ham

This giant feed-a-crowd ham is worth every penny! No faff, simply unwrap and put on your festive table or set up on a grazing sideboard.

The judges rated the sweetened cure of the meat as wonderfully tender and savoury, without being overly salty. Jess Meyer, Food Editor, described it as “Delicious! Well balanced and seasoned. The glaze is subtle and adds a little sweetness which carries through the whole joint, not just at the top. Would serve 20-30 but there are smaller joints available for a more modest gathering.”

Veggie main

Filled with a tasty mix of butternut squash, parsnips, chestnuts, cranberries and herbs, the meat eaters will want to tuck in too!

The pastry is rich and flaky, Jen Bedloe, described it as “Tasty” adding “The puff pastry works well and the attractive star shape lends itself to the festive spread. The flavour is traditional and works as an extra stuffing.”

The best alternative roast

If you’re looking to switch up your usual turkey dinner, this would make an impressive alternative. Succulent and tender, the cut of meat had a good fat marbling.

Jen enjoyed this “wonderfully tasty piece of meat” and Jess was impressed too saying “This is rich and tender with a great depth of flavour from the Cornish sea salt and peppercorns that add a subtle seasoning”. This well-seasoned joint leaves plenty of room for additional flavour from your sides.

The best side of salmon

The glaze adds a festive flourish and fresh orange zing that’s just right with the fish. An impressive centrepiece on the Christmas table (it would serve six or more as part of a buffet spread).

Our taste-test cooks noted that it required less cooking time than suggested. Rose Fooks says “This salmon is really easy to cook. It comes with an orange glaze to smother on top before cooking which adds a festive feel and means the salmon stays juicy as it cooks.”

The best condiments

Our winning condiments will amplify your Christmas spread. These are our winners…

A delicious addition to your festive spread, this creamy sauce was a hit with the judges. They particularly enjoyed the lightly spiced flavours, that weren’t overpowering compared to others they had tried.

Georgia Sparks said, “Nice and creamy with subtle nutmeg and clove flavours that are not too intense”. Plus this can be popped in the microwave just before serving so saves on washing up too!

Add a pop of colour to your plate with this tart and sweet sauce that would work well with traditional Christmas dinner.

Jen Bedloe commented, “This tasty sauce has a great balance of flavours, not too sour or sweet. It also has a good consistency, similar to homemade!”

Crunchy, tangy and sweet, garden vegetables are tossed in a zingy mustard sauce spiced with turmeric. This would make a great addition to a Boxing Day feast.

Jess Meyer said, “This is one of the best shop-bought condiments you can buy. The veg has retained its crunchiness and the zingy flavours are so well balanced.” If you’re as much of a fan of it as we are, you can also buy it in a 480g Kilner jar for £12.50.

The best trimmings

Our winning trimmings would be a great addition to your festive feast….

The best pigs in blankets

Juicy, savoury and a winner with our judges – the higher welfare cocktail sausages wrapped in smoked black treacle bacon stood up to the blind taste test.

Jen Bedloe said, “I loved these, my star buy for a really good pig in blanket, they are well seasoned and the bacon is not too sweet.” Jess Meyer also said, “The bacon crisped up nicely, adding a welcome crunch”. The ultimate PIB, we say!

The first pig on the high street to be double-wrapped! Extra snug in a double layer of bacon, Jen Bedloe said, “These have a more smoky flavour and reminded me of a Frankfurter. The meaty bacon was great and we later discovered that's because it's double-wrapped!”.

Jess Meyer suggested they “Would be good dressed up with a sweet glaze and stuck on a cocktail stick for an easy canape”.

The best stuffing

Traditional sage and onion stuffing that will add plenty of flavour to your festive feast.

Jen Bedloe said, “I love this, it’s such a classic sage flavour which makes a lovely alternative with a lighter pork filling. It makes a great alternative to more sausagemeat-led stuffing available on the market.”

Nicola Roberts added, “This is less greasy in comparison to others we’ve tasted. It also comes as a block of stuffing rather than balls making it a good option for stuffing a bird.”

Tasty parcels of goodness that judges praised for their looks as well as flavour.

Rose Fooks commented, “These taste delicious and look pretty, with a rosemary and cranberry on top, the tart cranberry adds a nice contrast to the fattiness of the meat”.

The best veggie sides

Add extra indulgence to your trimmings with these golden delights. Light and crisp, judges also enjoyed the flavour from the beef dripping.

Jen Bedloe added, “I liked these, they’re not too heavy, quite light and crisp. The beef dripping is tasty without being too greasy.”

Tossed in a sweet honey glaze and coated in batter, judges applauded these tasty parsnips.

Jen Bedloe said, “Crisp and tender, these are almost fluffy inside. They would make a great addition and reduce hassle on the day.” Rose Fooks added, “Really tasty with a nice balance of sweetness.”

Vibrant shredded cabbage is given a festive twist with warming blackberry and cherry glaze with flavours of cinnamon, allspice and ginger.

Judges enjoyed the balance of spices and liked that the cabbage still had a bit of crunch.

Georgia Sparks said, “The flavours of this cabbage are well balanced, it’s not too sweet or tangy like others have been.” It’s also served with a delicately spiced honey butter that rounds off the flavours nicely.

The best seafood starters

The smoked salmon category is always a tough competition, but this was our favourite! With a smoky aroma and mild flavour, it's perfectly cured for a great balance of flavour and texture.

Nicola liked the “Nice cure that made the edges have a slight contrast in texture without being chewy.” A bonus is that it comes in a generous pack size with nice thick slices. For something a little different, we also highly rated Booths Yuzu, Shiso & Ginger flavoured option.

For an indulgent start, serve these scallops in a rich and cheesy, winey sauce, topped with a silky-smooth mash that just crisps at the edges.

Jen Bedloe liked the “Good level of seasoning and the wine flavour” and suggested serving with a chilled glass of vino. They’re also cooked from frozen, a bonus!

A delicious whole smoked side of salmon that comes ready-sliced. Rose Fooks enjoyed the “Clean and subtly smoked flavour and the great texture”.

Make this party-ready by garnishing with dill and lemon and serve with thin slices of buttered brown bread. Perfect for everyone to tuck in!

Push the boat out for Christmas with this fresh, sweet and plentiful starter. Layered in individual pots with brown and white crabmeat, juicy cold water prawns, oodles of Marie Rose sauce and topped with succulent British lobster.

Jess Meyer commented, “These are a nice portion size, and the sauce is rich and creamy with a bit of a kick. I found the seafood flavoursome and think the layering is attractive.”

The best delicious desserts

For a light and refreshing finale to your meal, we were big fans of this zingy lemon ice cream topped with soft meringue.

Briefly pop under the grill or use a blowtorch to toast the meringue on the top and leave the underneath frozen for a contrast.

Jess thinks this would be a good dessert on Christmas day explaining, “The Lemon Meringue Baked Alaska is refreshing and zingy, this is just the ticket for finishing off a rich Christmas meal.”

A giant chocolate-mousse-filled house complete with Santa. Lovely and rich this makes a fun novelty dessert perfect for all ages.

Rose Fooks says, “This is a lovely milk chocolate mousse that the whole family would enjoy. The top isn't excessively sweet and the crispy popcorn base is a novel twist which we enjoyed.”

A fudgy sponge with rich chocolate buttercream. We didn’t spot that this cake was also vegan until the reveal!

Although Rose did point out “This is distinctly more plank than log. But any points it lost in looks more than made up for in taste.”

A great gluten-free option, this is bulging with juicy vine fruits and nuts.

Georgia thinks, “Any gluten free guests will be happy with this”. It’s gently laced with alcohol, but once it has been doused in flaming brandy, we think it would be just right!

Sticky toffee and white chocolate will charm all ages. A crisp chocolate exterior surrounds a wonderful toffee sponge. Serve instead of Christmas pudding or enjoy with a cuppa for a crowd-pleasing alternative to Christmas cake.

Jen says, “This fun little snowman is sticky toffee flavour. Not too sweet, or sickly and the design will appeal across the generations”.

The best Christmas pudding

We tasted so many puddings this year we almost turned into one, but this was our standout favourite.

It has all the hallmarks of a classic with a nostalgically boozy rich flavour that all the judges loved, plus a pleasing, traditional domed shape. Jen was a big fan of this one. She liked the level of booze and described the texture as, “Smooth and unctuous”.

The best festive food hampers

This spectacular hamper charmed the judges. Packed with 22 Italian specialties including 5 bottles of wine and a selection of other treats from The Fattoria, a two-century-old Tuscan farm that makes its own delicious produce.

We thought it was great value! This can only be bought directly from lavialla with free P&P.

This incredibly generous hamper from DukesHill is packed full of tasty goodies to enjoy around the festivities. Sensational quality, everything is utterly delicious.

The mince pies were some of the best we tasted, and a DukesHill ham and smoked salmon is always a highlight.

The best cheese

We tasted a lot of very good cheeses, and this selection stood out for both its quality and choice.

It’s a flavour journey around the cheeseboard, starting with an oozy goat’s cheese, a nutty Gruyère, a creamy French Camembert, vintage British Cheddar and finishing with a creamy blue made in Bavaria. We couldn’t believe the price!

Jess Meyer says this is “A lovely selection for the cheese lovers who want to make their board extra special at Christmas. Excellent value for money with a wide selection of artisan cheeses that are familiar but slightly elevated. The camembert was deliciously soft and flavoursome, and the creamy blue”.

This would be a great cheese selection for a party grazing board, or equally lovely as a gift.

It comes with a pair of melty cheese bakes, two Cheddar truckles and two chutneys, as well as a box of fig crackers. Rose Fooks says this would also be “a nice thing to send as a gift to the Cheddar lover in your life, great for a boxing day get together or pepper it through the festive season for a savoury supper.”

The best party food

Great food plus good cheer equals an amazing party. And when the food is this easy it really will be a blast.

A selection of our favourite savoury and sweet with some larger options for a buffet style party, canapes and nibbles. So whatever your style there is a great option to be had.

Unbelievably good pastry, filled with a savoury and slightly sweet filling. Jen Bedloe described this as, “A lighter take on trad pork pie. It’s a nice size to add to a spread of cheese and bread.”

Jess Meyer enjoyed the filling and pastry saying, “The spice is subtle but nice and the butternut squash that adds both sweet and savoury notes is a welcome addition. The pastry was a triumph - proper old fashioned water crust with a pleasing crunchy texture. Not too fatty or rich, this is a winner!”

We loved these sweet delights, served in their pots straight from the fridge, making them super easy to serve.

Rose Fooks said, “These little pots are delicious! The coffee-soaked sponge isn’t too overpowering and the creamy mascarpone balances out the flavours perfectly.”

Gently warming these in the oven reveals a squidgy, chocolatey bake that’s a hit with all ages.

Jess Meyer said, “A nice 2-bite delight, these are a treat for the mince pie-averse at your Christmas gatherings. Tasty warm or straight from the packet, they are super chocolatey and rich, without being too sweet.” Make these more substantial by serving with a dollop of cream or custard.

If these don’t scream Christmas, we don’t know what will!

Handmade pastry cones filled with fragrant Thai-flavoured chicken and veg get the ultimate Christmas makeover as Santa Hats.

Jen Bedloe said, “The mildly spiced Thai curry filling is fresh and aromatic and the crunch from the outer shell is extremely satisfying. Great with a beer or sparkling wine.”

This tasty selection includes sliders with cheese and chimichurri sauce options as well as horseradish-spiked bon bons.

Jess Meyer commented, “A nice selection for a party, there's a good variety of flavours. The sliders look tasty and the flavours work well.” Made with Wagyu beef, they are slightly fiddly to assemble, but judges thought they were well worth the effort. Rose Fooks added, “These are worth the faff! Delicious!”

Better than homemade, according to one of our judges, this is great as it is, or halve and fill with ham and more cheese to warm as tasty sliders.

We loved the festive tree design – it would look great as part of a spread or for Boxing Day turkey sarnies.

The best festive nibbles 2024

These Jolly tree-shaped tortillas will be a hit with children and adults alike! With a meaty turkey flavouring, why not try a festive take on nachos?

Sweet caramel popcorn with a dusting of cinnamon for a festive treat. The perfect addition to a Christmas movie marathon.

The perfect mix of salty and sweet, with pretzels, popcorn, nuts and chocolates. Keep out of arm’s reach or resist the temptation to snaffle the whole pack!

A classic Christmas choc-orange flavour combo in a different guise: almonds enrobed in milk chocolate with an added zesty zing. Super moreish, these stood out from the crowd with our judges.

The Best Drinks

The drinks category was a hard one to judge as there is so much variety, but we have included five of the best across the spectrum, so hopefully there’s one you will love, too.

Great for gifting, this includes a variety of individual serves, from classics like Negroni to new twists like Kumquat Margarita, ready to shake or pour over ice and complete with garnishes.

A great non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine – who needs a kick of booze when you have a kick from fiery ginger? Serve chilled or warm.

This scrumptious apple liqueur is made in Hampshire from local apples and matured over two years.

Warm with apple juice for a longer mulled drink or serve with cheeses as an alternative to port.

All the flavours of Christmas in drink form. A spice-infused vodka-based tipple with flavours of citrus, cardamom and chocolate. Serve over ice with a slice of orange or add to hot chocolate for a boozy chai twist.

Tastes as good as the bottle looks. A rich, smooth liqueur made with Irish whiskey and fresh dairy cream.

When life gets busy, convenience often has to come first, and we can easily reach for calorific, sugary treats. With a perfect combo of velvety smooth cream and sun-ripened fruit, these new dessert pots from Dole will satisfy your sweet cravings without all the added sugar. Indulgent and entirely plant-based; they're available in two tasty flavours.

TRY THE FRUIT & CRE*M RANGE

DOLE APPLE CINNAMON FRUIT & CRE*M

Like an apple pie in pudding-form. Sun-kissed apples and warming cinnamon marry perfectly with an indulgent plant-based cream. We love the smooth velvety texture of the cream and comforting sweetness of the apple topping.

TIP: Perfect chilled on its own, or try as a tasty topper for your morning porridge.

DOLE PEACH AND VANILLA FRUIT & CRE*M

Savour the taste of Summer year-round with this indulgent take on peaches and cream. Sun-ripened peaches top a smooth plant-based cream in this family-favourite. It makes a decadent dessert, yet is light enough to enjoy any time of day.

TIP: Enjoy chilled, or use to top a meringue for a show stopping dairy and gluten-free dessert.

Four more reasons why we’re loving these sweet pots of sunshine…

1. A SWEET FIX TO-GO

Made for busy lifestyles, Dole Fruit and Cre*ms come in a convenient four-pack of single-serve pots for easily portioned, snacking on-the-run. The puds taste great either chilled or at room temperature, but most importantly, they are shelf-stable, so there’s no need to store them in the fridge…perfect for packed lunches, a post-gym pick-me-up or dessert on demand.

2. ALL-NATURAL INDULGENCE

There’s nothing fake about these delicious Dole Fruit and Cre*m pots, which are made with real fruit pieces. Each serving counts as one of your recommended five-a-day for fruit and veg, so it’s easy to keep track when you’re trying to eat a balanced diet. They’re sweetened with natural, unprocessed fruit sugars, and are free from artificial flavours and colouring. So what you see is really what you get.

3. TREATS FOR ALL!

Catering for different diets in your weekly shop? These tasty puddings are completely plant-based (coconut), making them suitable for everyone, including vegetarians and vegans, and they’re gluten-free and halal too. The Dole Apple Cinnamon Fruit & Cre*m contains a mere 118 calories per serve, while the Dole Peach Vanilla Fruit & Cre*m has just 103 calories. Plus, with just 2g of fat per serve, these creamy fruit pots are a guilt-free dieter's dream!

4. WASTE-LESS CONVENIENCE

Whether it be for financial or environmental reasons, we’re all looking to be more mindful in our shopping habits. With a far longer shelf life compared to similar fresh products, Dole Fruit and Cre*m products make a brilliant addition to your store cupboard, helping to reduce food waste without compromising flavour. Retailing at just £2.49 for a pack of four, they’re a budget-savvy and healthy way to indulge, whenever your sweet cravings arise.

DOLE FRUIT & CRE*M RANGE

Peach & Vanilla, Apple & Cinnamon

Pack size: 4 x 123g

Price: RRP £2.49

Stockists: Sainsbury’s, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose, Amazon

Try it now

Christmas is rapidly approaching, and we're feeling more festive than ever here at woman&home – and tucking into the best Christmas foods of 2025 is certainly a favourite part of the season for us.

Fun fact: whether or not Yorkshire puddings have a place at Christmas dinner was a hot topic of debate at the team Christmas party last week. There's no right answer to that question (though I personally always have time for Yorkshires) but you will find a bumper quiz of the day below with 25 food and drink questions and definitive answers. Challenge your family and friends to best you, or work together as a team at the Christmas party to get a perfect score and win a spot on the leaderboard...

How did you get on? See how your score compared with others' by registering to see the leaderboard.

And if you want more brain teasers, catch up with all our previous quizzes here. The woman&home Quiz of the Day is our fun, quick quiz you'll find here every Monday to Friday, which will test what you know about the biggest talking points and topics of the moment, so be sure to tune in again tomorrow.

For now, here's a festive treat for your eyes that relates to one of the questions above!

The festive season is a time of year when the market is saturated with new food launches all fighting for your attention. It can be difficult to wade through aisle after aisle of festive products and decide which to spend your money on to make your Christmas feast fantastic.  

That's where the woman&home Festive Food Awards comes in. Hundreds of products were submitted to woman&home and our panel of experts shortlisted 30 of the best Christmas food products, drinks and retailers for 2023 from these entries.

Our team boasts many years of experience cooking and tasting new and innovative food and drink products. This makes them especially well suited when it comes to finding the best buys for Christmas, making the curation of your shopping list much easier. 

In addition to our specific product awards, our judges have highlighted five of the best brands and retailers which have an exemplary range on offer for Christmas 2023. 

From the best major retailers to artisanal producers who champion quality British produce, each of the winners has a wonderful selection of food and drink items which will ensure you have the most delicious Christmas yet.

Special Recognition awards winners

Best Christmas supermarket 2023: M&S

Whether you are cooking from scratch or looking for an easy fix, Marks & Spencers really stood out from the crowd this year with a range that offers exceptional quality and value for money. Nailing the balance between tradition and innovation, you can expect plenty of classics with a slight twist.  

From show-stopper mains like the Collections Lightly Smoked Salmon en Croute, to ready-to-serve puddings like the Snowy Winter Yule Log, the Christmas range is thoughtfully designed to make life simple over the busy festive season. Judges thought the impressive range of veggie and vegan offerings, and festive drinks were particular standouts, offering plenty of new flavours and thoughtful solutions for a most inclusive Christmas, no matter your guest’s dietary needs. 

With much of the range available in-store and online via Ocado, the M&S range is easy to get your hands on, no matter how you choose to shop this Christmas.

Best independent retailer 2023: Parsons Nose

With everything you need for a spectacular Christmas feast, we were blown away by every product we tried from this exceptional butcher. Alongside stunning free-range roasting joints and whole poultry (their Turkey offering was a strong contender for the top bill this year), and other festive centrepieces such as beautiful hams and wellingtons, you’ll find an excellent array of trimmings including stuffing, gravy and pigs in blankets, all expertly made in their London store. 

Judges were further impressed with this retailer’s commitment to championing quality British producers, and excellent ethical farming credentials, with easily traceable supply chains. 

Beyond the meat selection, Parson’s Nose offers a selective but beautifully curated range of seafood, cheeses and deli products, making them a convenient one-stop-shop for all your big-ticket items this Christmas. Dressed crabs, lobsters and of course, a fine selection of smoked salmon products are all available. With nationwide delivery, they also offer gift cards, subscriptions and butchery courses for last-minute gifts with love.

Best artisanal supplier 2023: Dukeshill

Famous for its traditionally made hams, Dukes Hill offers a brilliant handcrafted range, from cheeses to mince pies and, of course, those award-winning pork products, which earned the company a Royal Warrant back in 2004.

This year, the Dukes Hill Cranberry Glazed Ham with Pork & Cranberry Stuffing was our overall top-scoring product, and judges were equally delighted with the rest of the range, from quality smoked salmon and deli products to beautifully crafted condiments and an enviable cheese offering.

If you're in the market for a foodie gift for a special someone, we'd highly recommend the Dukes Hill build-your-own hampers, or one of the ready-made hampers, available in a range of sizes and price points. And for the hard-to-buy-for recipient, they also offer gift vouchers from £25.

Best cakes and bakes 2023: Betty's

For sweet treats with a generous sprinkling of nostalgia, Betty’s outstanding festive selection really stood out from the crowd this year. Expect gorgeous Christmas-themed chocolates, buttery shortbread, spicy gingerbread, and of course, their timeless puddings, cakes and mince pies. 

Judges were charmed by the beautiful packaging across this range, which starts at prices as little as £5 - perfect for Secret Santa gifts and stocking fillers - and extends up to elaborate and generous hampers for the High Tea devotee. Lovingly handmade, the quality of every product in the Betty’s range speaks for itself, offering that homemade taste and charm without the effort. With nationwide delivery, it couldn’t be easier to spoil yourself and your loved ones this Christmas.

Best edible gifts 2023: Daylesford

Whether it be tasty stocking fillers or a knockout hamper, Daylesford impressed us this year with their beautiful selection of foodie gifts. The generous hampers - filled to the brim with festive essentials - as well as the all-new advent calendars were a real highlight, offered in decorative boxing you will be proud to display around your home. 

When it came to flavours, judges thought Daylesford nailed the balance between traditional and innovative, with products like the beautifully hand-finished Chocolate Clementine (a classy take on a certain brand of chocolate orange) and fun pre-mixed cocktails like the Cranberry and Cherry Margarita.

For the practical gift giver, the selection of themed Christmas food hampers offers everything you need for a given meal, from a festive brunch to the aptly named ‘Christmas Day Hamper’ containing everything from cheese and crackers, to ham and condiments, to a selection of booze. Some of the range is available on Ocado, while the rest can be purchased via the Daylesford online shop, with easy delivery making gifting a breeze.

A Starbucks barista recently revealed what is unanimously the most annoying drink that customers can order at the international coffee establishment.

If you're a fan of Starbucks, you might be familiar with some of their more complicated menu items that span beyond your usual cup of drip or iced coffee. You have your usual suspects (latte, cappuccino, americano) - but then, on a separate level, you have your cold brews with cold foam, your frappuccinos, and a slew of other fairly complicated drinks. 

If you've ever wondered which drinks are the most annoying and hardest for Starbucks baristas to make, look no further - we got the word straight from the source, and the answer in regard to the number one most annoying drink a customer can order may surprise you.

Monica MacDonald, who worked as a barista at Starbucks for over two years, told Insider that when she worked there, she could remember a few drinks that made her and the other baristas give a little eye roll when they received the order. 

First and foremost, she said, were the S'mores Frappuccinos, as they were "inconvenient."

"The Frappuccino starts with marshmallow-infused whipped cream, which is specially made. This means that if you've run out, you have to prepare a new canister of it before you even start making the Frap," Monica said. "After that's prepared, the drink is made with layers of chocolate sauce and vanilla-flavored Frappuccino, then topped with the special whipped cream and graham-cracker dust."

So, while it is delicious, it's really time-consuming - and therefore, quite irritating to make, according to Monica.

Monica also noted that it can be difficult and ineffective to order a cappuccino with non-dairy milk, as nut milks, coconut milk, and soy milk don't froth the way that dairy milk does. 

"The proteins in non-dairy milk are not as strong as they are in cow's milk and thus it can't keep air bubbles quite as well," she said. "So when you try to froth a non-dairy milk, like coconut milk, the results aren't exactly the same — you get some airy sort of foam, but mostly just steamed liquid."

She also mentioned that sometimes an iced matcha latte can be a nuisance to make, especially if you ask for no ice. 

"To make an iced green tea latte, the matcha is added to a cup with ice and milk and then physically shaken. This can be an imperfect method that sometimes results in a clumpy drink," she said. Plus, when you ask for no ice in this specific drink, there's "practically no way to make sure the drink is homogeneous and it often results in a clumpy matcha latte."

Ordering food at a restaurant you've never been to before can be stressful - but it doesn't have to be, according to a restaurant critic. These are the best dishes to order at an unfamiliar restaurant for a fail-safe dining experience. 

Going out to dinner can be quite the fun and luxurious experience, especially if you're a person who loves to explore new dishes and new cuisines. But, when trying a new restaurant or a new type of cuisine, how can you know if the risk you're taking is worth it? Will you like the food, the flavors? 

We don't all have the luxury of being able to attend Michelin-star restaurants on a frequent basis, so we're always trying to find the next best places that are local to us. Luckily, a restaurant critic recently gave some advice about how to navigate this situation, and gave some insight into what the best dishes to order at unfamiliar restaurants are, so you can get an immediate understanding of the quality of the restaurant.

And, if The Bear season 2 taught us anything, every detail counts. 

Restaurant critic Alice Levitt told Insider that there are a handful of foods that are likely to make a good impression, or will help you gauge the quality of the restaurant. Her "crib notes for any restaurant diner" include how to spot high-quality traditional items, as well as more creative and inspiring dishes from restaurants that have a bit more of a unique vision. 

One item she says specifically can give a lot of information about the quality of the restaurant is a pepperoni pizza. 

"I would argue that when tasting a pizza, the quality of the pepperoni and how it's crisped tells its own very illustrative story," she said. "That's why, when I order pizza, it's always a pepperoni pie. From there, it's OK to try something with more creative toppings but to get a baseline, I want to eat pizza in its most basic, and arguably also most compelling, form."

Another dish Alice recommends trying to see if a restaurant lives up to expectations is to try a dish with a creamy sauce. 

"Cream sauces can break, so a chef always wins points in my book when they turn out right," she said. "The same applies to buttery but creamless Béarnaise sauce — it's one of my most beloved things, but matters can go south quickly, so it's always worth my appraisal."

Another thing she says is a no-brainer for testing food quality is a chocolate dessert. "I opt for a chocolate dessert unless there is something far more creative or interesting. I love tasting the breadth of what pastry chefs can do with the most crave-able of ingredients," she advised.

And finally, she recommends ordering a chicken parmesan, as there are many aspects to consider when tasting this classic Italian dish. "Like a pepperoni pizza, it tells me practically everything I need to know about a place in a single dish," she said. "How thinly pounded is the chicken? How brown and blistered is the cheese? Is the pasta al dente? This is one of the dishes I judge most harshly, but when a chicken Parm hits right, it can make my year."

Starbucks released their new drink, the cinnamon caramel cream nitro cold brew, on Tuesday, March 7 - and we tried it for ourselves to see what all of the hype was about. 

Let me start off by saying that, typically, I'm a person who prefers Starbucks over any other national coffee chain (sorry, Dunkin') - so when I heard they were releasing a new spring drink, I sought out my nearest Starbucks to give it a try myself. 

Their new drink, the cinnamon caramel cream nitro cold brew, offers a new take on the already famous Starbucks cold brew, infusing flavors of caramel and cinnamon into it. According to the Starbucks press site, the nitro cold brew is topped with cinnamon sweet cream cold foam and a "dusting" of cinnamon dolce topping. 

I am a cinnamon fanatic, and this concoction sounded incredibly appealing to me. Although I'm not typically someone who loves coffee drinks that air on the sweet side (my go-to is an oat milk cappuccino with cinnamon on top), the concept of this drink, although a mouthful to say out loud, seemed promising to my savory-preferring taste buds. Plus, I've loved some of Starbucks' other seasonal drinks, like their sugar cookie iced latte and the brown sugar shaken espresso despite my aversion to sugary coffee, so I figured this one would be worth a try, too. 

In the interest of keeping in mind those who'd like a brief review - it's pretty good. I'd try it if you're in the market for switching up your coffee order and want to try something new. 

However, for those of you who usually can't be bothered to spend more than $5 for your coffee and need convincing, I've laid out my honest thoughts below. 

Cinnamon caramel cream nitro cold brew doesn't taste good unless you add this one thing

Unfortunately, I think my experience was tainted by the fact that the baristas at my local drive-thru didn't put ice in my drink. I don't feel strongly about Starbucks' iced coffee vs. their hot coffee - I tend to drink iced in the summer and hot in the winter - but I knew this drink wasn't supposed to taste lukewarm.

Regardless, I had to take the first sip, as by this point I had been waiting in the drive-thru for 10 minutes and felt myself craving afternoon caffeine more and more. I popped my metal straw into the cup and indulged - and as soon as the liquid hit my tongue, I made a stank face.

Imagine for a second, if you will, drinking orange juice or lemonade warm. It still tastes okay, but not nearly as good as it could be if it were cold. Essentially, that's the experience I was having.

The temperature of the drink sans the ice completely clouded my opinion of the taste. It was fine, but it wasn't quite as good as I believed it could be.

I didn't know if this "no ice" thing was intentional or not, so once I got home, I looked up other people on social media who had tried the drink, and realized it definitely was supposed to be over ice. When I returned home, I poured the drink out of its container and poured it into a tall glass over ice.

Problem solved. Suddenly, the drink was exactly what I wanted. Cold, perfectly and mildly cinnamon-y without comprising the integrity of the coffee, not too sweet.

I love the taste of coffee by itself, and this drink does a great job of still giving that strong coffee flavor without letting the black cold brew overtake the overall flavor. Once that cold foam and the cold brew have swirled together in the drink, I could almost compare it to the taste of homemade coffee ice cream - making it perfect for a warm day. 

Overall, I'd rate this drink a 4/5 - and the only reason it gets one point off is because of my ice mishap. Point blank, ensure you get it over ice - otherwise, it's just going to taste like ice cream that you left out for too long. 

A huge Starbucks recall has been issued on over 300,000 of its popular bottled Frappuccino drinks over fears they may contain glass. 

PepsiCo, who distributes Starbucks' beverages, recently announced a recall for one of its top-selling products: the bottled Vanilla Starbucks Frappuccino.

The drinks, which can often be found in Target, Walmart, on college campuses, and other vending machines across the country, are pretty popular. However, the beverage company reported recently that 25,200 cases of the drink, with 12 bottles per case, were being recalled for possibly having pieces of glass in them. 

The bottles started being recalled on January 28, after glass was specifically detected inside the 13.7 oz bottles. According to People, the affected cases include products with a "best by" date of either March 8, 2023, May 29, 2023, June 4, 2023, and June 10, 2023.

This recall is a class II according to the FDA, meaning exposure to the product could potentially cause "temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote." 

However, representatives from PepsiCo have ensured that the initiative to remove all recalled products from shelves is ongoing. "The removal of these products from the marketplace is currently underway. The products are not sold at Starbucks retail locations," they said in a statement. 

Although there are a handful of other flavors of this product, including mocha, and even matcha in some areas of the world, the only flavor that has been specifically recalled for potentially obtaining glass is vanilla. 

This is, however, not the first time Starbucks products have been recalled. In August of 2022, PepsiCo had to recall 221 cases of Vanilla Espresso Triple Shot drinks in multiple states after metal fragments were detected in the bottles. 

If you have purchased bottles or cases the vanilla Starbucks Frappuccinos and have concerns, the FDA recommends reaching out to PepsiCo or Starbucks directly for more details. 

The world's most famous fast food chain is getting a drive-thru makeover, and people aren't too thrilled about it. 

Every once in a while, you might crave McDonald's french fries, or maybe even a 10 piece nugget meal. So, you get into your car, pull up to the screen with the menu displayed on it, and scream your order into the microphone so that the drive-thru employee can hear you. 

This whole drive-thru ordering process will still be possible - except a human won't be taking your order. McDonald's is testing out their new AI-powered ordering systems, made in conjunction with tech company IBM, and has been placing them at various McDonal locations across the country. 

McDonald's has said in the past that these AI ordering systems are meant to accelerate the time spent in drive-thru lines, and will ultimately help fill in gaps in the workforce. McDonald's has called the plan "Accelerating the Arches."

TikToker Ren Adams posted a video on February 10, voicing complaints about McDonald's new AI-powered drive-thru system as they were trying to get her breakfast from the fast food chain in the morning. 

"I was gonna get a hash brown, a sweet tea, and a Coke," Ren says, "So, I order, and I'm at the first drive-thru line when I order and they're giving me my total, and then a second car pulls up in the drive-thru lane next to mine."

"Mind you, it's all robot," she says, adding, "She adds the diet Coke from her order to my screen." 

Then, when she tried to tell the AI robot to take the diet Coke off her screen, the ordering machine added nine large sweet teas instead. 

"I saw this sh*t and I pulled out of the drive thru and drove away," she concludes.

Another TikTok user, Caitlin Sykora, posted a similarly frustrating (but honestly, hilarious) video of McDonald's AI ordering system creating inaccurate orders. 

"Stop!!!" Caitlin says in her video, where her and her friend are laughing in their car, observing how the McDonald's ordering technology severely misunderstood her order. Instead of what was likely supposed to be one 10 piece nugget meal, the ordering robot picked it up as 19 10 piece nugget meals, making her grand total out to be over $200.

"This McDonald’s robot is wild," reads the text on her TikTok.

"And this is exactly why a person should take your order," one TikTok user commented, adding, "We all know when we talk to computerized people even on the phone we gotta scream at our phone just for them to hear us correctly."

McDonald's isn't the only fast food chain to dabble in replacing their drive-thrus with AI-powered machines - but will they last? According to a report from Restaurant Dive, McDonald's AI technology was only about 80% accurate when tested in different restaurants in the state of Illinois. 

Today, January 19 is National Popcorn Day! Here are all of the movie theaters offering popcorn discounts and freebies today. 

There's nothing like stepping into the movie theater and taking in the addictive aroma of buttery popcorn. Seriously, it's an absolute must to get a bag of popcorn before seeing a movie — we don't make the rules. 

And since today, January 19, is National Popcorn Day (yes, it's a real holiday!), certain movie theaters across the country are offering some sweet deals on popcorn to celebrate the nostalgic movie snack. Because honestly, who wants to make popcorn in an air fryer or microwave at home? It's just not as good. 

Read below to find out which theaters are participating.

Where can I get free popcorn on National Popcorn Day?

AMC Theaters

AMC theaters across America are offering 50% off all popcorn purchases for today only. However, if you're an AMC Stubs member, you get free, large popcorn refills all the time — which pretty much makes every day National Popcorn Day for those people. 

"National Popcorn Day is next Thursday 1/19! We're celebrating with 50% off our delicious buttery popcorn," AMC posted to their Instagram.

Cinemark Theaters

Cinemark Theaters is offering guests a chance to win a free large popcorn today, just by entering through a giveaway link, according to their Instagram. but, if you don't win the giveaway, no need to worry - they're still offering 50% off all popcorn purchases all day long. 

"THIS THURSDAY, 1/19, celebrate National Popcorn Day with us! Large 🍿 are 50% ALLLLLL DAY 👏👏👏," the Cinemark account posted. 

Marcus Theaters and Movie Tavern

Both Marcus Theaters and Movie Tavern, who are run by the same company, will be offering a free (that's right, free) complimentary size popcorn per person for today only at all locations. "Here's what's poppin at Marcus Theatres on January 19 for National Popcorn Day!" the cinema chain posted to their socials.

Regal

Regal is doing a 50% off popcorn deal for National Popcorn Day. "On January 19, National Popcorn Day gives this mainstay of theatre snacking the recognition it deserves. To celebrate, we’re taking 50% off the price of all Regal popcorn for the holiday. Go get the biggest, most buttery bucket of popcorn you can — for half price — in honor of popcorn for making the movies even better," their website says.

Landmark Theaters

Landmark Theaters is offering a buy one, get one free popcorn deal - but they're going to make you work for it. If you show any cashier this image on their website, they'll award you one free popcorn with the purchase of another popcorn. 

If those deals don't get you excited to go to the movies, we don't know what will. And with so many great movies out in theaters right now, like Babylon, The Fabelmans, M3GAN, The Whale (starring Golden Globe nominee Brendan Fraser), and much, much more, there's no reason to not go grab a bag of popcorn (with as much or as little butter as your like) and take a few hours to relax. 

Pink Sauce went viral on TikTok months ago, causing controversy for its uncanny resemblance to Pepto-Bismol and other unappetizing liquids - and now you can try it yourself by taking a visit to your local Walmart. 

Bizarre food items continue to remain a curious topic for consumers - for example, remember when was everyone talking about the Kraft mac and cheese ice cream? Chef Pii, who wanted to hop on the "weird foods" bandwagon, went on TikTok in June 2022 to unveil her newest creation: Pink Sauce. 

After months of mixed reviews, concerns, TV appearances, and press in general, Pink Sauce has officially made its way to the shelves of Walmart, ready for your consumption. 

The sauce itself, according to the website, includes ingredients like dragon fruit puree, coconut cream, distilled white vinegar, and garlic, along with other ingredients to create a sauce that many say tastes akin to ranch. 

Originally, Chef Pii (real name: Veronica Shaw) went on TikTok to promote her Pink Sauce by putting it all over widely-loved foods like pizza, wings, gyros - and people had THOUGHTS.

"I wanna try it but I'm scared," someone commented under one of her TikToks.

Initially, people had concerns with the sauce while Chef Pii was manufacturing it on her own. Some people said that the sauce looked like it had different consistencies or textures depending on the video Chef Pii posted - in some videos it would be really thick, and in others, really watery. 

"Girl why is it so watery," someone commented on one of her videos. 

In addition, folks were noticing that the color of Pink Sauce also was inconsistent, and that while sometimes it would be a true bright pink hue, it would be dull and less pigmented other times. 

"It’s a diff shade every time bro I got hot pink, baby pink, salmon, Barbie pink, white pink, rose gold pink," someone else commented.

And, with all of this controversy, Chef Pii continued to sell it - with a going rate of $20 per bottle. 

Eventually, Dave's Gourmet was able to start manufacturing the viral sauce. Dave's Gourmet president, David Neuman, said the company's R&D staff was able to "re-formulate the sauce to match Chef Pii's exact color and flavor profile for the product and at the same time change some of the ingredients to make the sauce less complicated, dairy-free, and clean of any preservatives, artificial colors or flavors."

With this, Chef Pii's viewers started to notice that the sauce, once again, changed colors. "I’ve never seen a sauce change colors so many times," someone commented on one of Chef Pii's TikToks in November after Dave's Gourmet took on the product.

But, despite all of that, the sauce still ended up on Walmarts shelves with the help of Dave's Gourmet. On January 11, their Twitter announced that the sauce would be available for purchase in the American retailer.

"Pink Sauce is NOW available in stores and on http://walmart.com. You can find Pink Sauce in over 4,300 Walmart store locations!" the account tweeted.

Welcome to the first ever woman&home Wine Awards, designed to make it easy for you to find great-tasting, top-quality wines for any occasion – the ideal glass of bubbly to serve to party guests, a special bottle for a midweek treat or a pull-out-the-stops number to wow dinner-party guests or special occasions.

We’ve chosen wines that are food-friendly, ones that can fuel a party and ones that stand proudly beside your festive centrepiece. Enjoy them with friends, with family – or make a quiet dinner for two extra-special.

We’ve selected reliable standbys from traditional regions across France, Italy, Spain and the New World – but you will also find wines from less-familiar grape varieties and upcoming wine regions, all ripe for discovery. Each of the wines selected by our tasting panel can be trusted to deliver on taste and value for money.

How we tested

Our tasting panel, led by the wine experts at our sister title, Decanter, joined by members of the woman&home food and lifestyle team, selected wines for their quality and taste. The tasters knew the prices of the wines at the time of tasting so that we could make straight judgements about value for money. We also judged the wines on how well they would work with food, with a few suggested food pairings.

Best Sparkling

White, Rosé, and Dessert Wine

Best Red Wines

Best Alternative Wines

Special Recognition Awards

This part of the wine awards recognises the wine ranges and styles that stood out to the judges during panel tastings.

Best classic range: Waitrose No.1

Wines from Waitrose’s No.1 range are made in collaboration with top wine producers around the world. Winning wines such as Waitrose No.1 Piccini Estate Chianti Classico Riserva 2017, Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore DOC 2018, Castillo Perelada Cava Brut, and Sauternes Château Suduiraut AOC 2015 give drinkers a taste of classic wine styles, and based on our tasting, that’s what these well-made wines deliver. 

Others in the range to look out for include Waitrose No.1: Douro Valley Reserva Quinta da Rosa (£12.49), a great dinner party red; Pouilly-Vinzelles Joseph Drouhin (£26.99), a special white Burgundy for friends; and, for your festive table, Symington Crusted Port (£19.99). 

Most innovative range: M&S Found

M&S launched its Found range in 2021 to shine a spotlight on ‘hidden gems’ from around the world – that could be unfamiliar grape varieties or lesser-known wine regions. We applaud M&S for encouraging wine drinkers to be more adventurous. The winning wines we tasted, M&S Found Weissburgunder 2021 from Germany, Alicante Bouschet DOC 2021 from Portugal, and Zweigelt 2021 from Austria certainly fit the bill. 

Others to look out for? Try M&S Found: Blanquette de Limoux (£10), a well-made sparkler from France; Ribolla Gialla (£7.50), a citrus-fresh, crisp white from Italy; and Xinomavro & Mandilaria (£9.50), a supple red blend from Greece.

Ensure you buy the best Christmas turkey this year with our carefully selected and rigorously tested picks of the best birds of 2022. 

Our judging panel tested and tasted all the turkeys available at major supermarkets this year to discover which is the very best Christmas food you can buy for your dinner table this month.

Whether you're looking to buy a whole turkey to feed a large family or favour a smaller turkey size or a crown for a more intimate gathering, these are the very best birds on the market.  

However, don't delay your purchase any further this year. There is a shortage of turkeys available this Christmas because 80% of the Christmas Goose flock in the country have died and hundreds of thousands of turkeys due to Bird Flu. So pre-order your turkey if possible, or buy one now and freeze it until you need it to ensure you don't miss out.

How we tested and selected the best Christmas turkeys for 2022

Every year we gather together a panel of food experts to test all the Christmas products that are on the market, from turkeys to the best Christmas cakes and best mince pies.

Samples of each product are delivered to our test kitchen where they are prepared and then blind tasted by the panel, to ensure impartial results. 

The taste, look and feel of each product are taken into account as well as how clear and accurate the preparation and cooking instructions are, then the panel must come to an unanimous decision to crown the winner in each category.

When judging the turkeys the panel looks out for a number of factors including: moist and flavourful meat, a well coloured and crisp skin after cooking and a plump and tender texture. 

To ensure that the testing process was fair we do not add any other ingredients of flavourings to the turkey and cook them each according to the packet instructions that are provided. 

The best Christmas turkey winners for 2022

Winner of the best whole turkey was from Pipers Farm. Although this has a slightly higher price point than the supermarket turkeys, we all agreed that if you have the money it is worth spending on a well sourced turkey this year. The turkeys are reared on a small scale farm in Devon with plenty of space to roam. The ‘bronze’ breed thrives in outdoor areas and is traditionally slow growing. Pipers Farm honour the slow rearing of the turkey, allowing them to reach natural maturity with a diet free from artificial chemicals and additives. The birds are also hung for at least 12 days which helps mature their flavour even further. 

All of the measures put into place by Pipers Farm are shown within the flavour of the bird. Food editor Jess Meyer said, "This bird has a lovely plump shape and rich golden colour. The meat is tender and juicy with a rich flavour that’s distinctively turkey." Junior food writer Georgia Sparks added, "This golden bird was deliciously succulent and would look impressive as the centrepiece of any Christmas feast." We also loved the packaging. Wrapped in brown paper and tied with string it looks very traditional and gets delivered straight to your door.

If you’re looking for a delicious whole turkey, but want to spend a little less, this is the turkey for you. Reared on a rich diet of corn for fuller flavour, we enjoyed the taste and texture of this bird. Jess Meyer praised this turkey’s plump shape and juicy meat. She said, "This bird has a good flavour with succulent meat and an even golden colour." Jen Bedloe added, "This bird would make a lovely Christmas centrepiece. The golden colour and plump shape of the bird make it very enticing, delicious with all the trimmings.The meat is succulent, juicy and tender just as it should be."

Despite its great flavour, we will add a slight word of caution regarding the bird's cooking time, Jess Meyer commented, "The suggested timing was a little inaccurate so make sure you probe the bird with a thermometer before removing it from the oven. It should reach 70C in the thickest parts and the juices should run clear."

If a whole turkey just won't get eaten in your household, a crown is a great alternative and M&S have designed this clever crown so you won’t miss out on any of the flavour that you may get from a whole bird. 

Although smaller than a whole bird, it is definitely not lacking in flavour. The turkey is basted with chicken stock, turkey stock and buttermilk helping the meat to retain its moistness. They have also stuffed it with sage and onion stuffing and topped the crown with oak smoked bacon. 

Giving high praise of the crown, Jen Bedloe commented, "This cooked brilliantly and is one of my favourite products this year for ease and innovation. It comes with gravy and produces lovely roasting juices which delivers even more flavour. There is plenty of stuffing so you don’t need to buy more for the side of your feast. Plus, it’s baked in its own foil tray so there’s minimal mess too." One thing we noted was that you may want to cover the crown with foil partially through cooking to prevent the bacon on top burning. 

Grown to maturity and reared in Britain, this Aldi bird is dry hung by experts for at least 10 days to improve its flavour. Moist and tender with a delicious, intense flavour, Rose Fooks, Deputy food editor said, "This is a magnificent bird with juicy, succulent meat and a wonderful appearance." Georgia added, ‘"This meat has a really nice depth of flavour, it's a deep golden colour so looks great too." 

Aldi have also ensured that even the worst timekeepers won’t overcook their turkey. Packed with a handy pop-up timer, this is a great way to ensure your bird stays wonderfully juicy even if your oven timings may vary from the instructions supplied. 

As well as a timer, turkey also comes with the giblets so you can make your own glorious gravy. If you don’t know how to make gravy we have a delicious easy recipe. Make sure you add any juices from the turkey once it has finished resting for a more intense, meaty flavour.

These Tesco turkeys are reared in East Anglia using traditional methods and are fed a varied diet. With the freedom to roam and forage on rich pastures, the meat retains a delicious flavour. Rose commented, "This plump golden bird has a rich flavour but was a little fattier compared to others. The skin still crisps up, though it may take a little longer to cook than instructed on the pack." Jen also noted, "the brown meat on this turkey is rich, delicious and moist, but the skin could be a little crispier." To buy this turkey you need to check out online by 11.45pm on 14 December as it is part of the Tesco Food to order collection. Beyond this date you will not be able to order the turkey online. 

Similarly to Pipers Farm and ASDA, Waitrose have also used Bronze turkeys. Known for their flavourful and tender meat, this turkey certainly delivered. Jess Meyer commented, "this has a wonderful gamey flavour and the leg meat was particularly tasty, it has a nice colour and shape too." Rose adds, "the leg meat of this bird has a delicious intense flavour. Leg meat is often overlooked but I think it's one of the best parts." 

Like the Tesco turkey, judges also commented that the skin was a little fatty and didn’t crisp all over. In this situation judges suggested that slower cooking would enable the fat to render down more evenly and allow the skin to crisp. Alternatively, you could stuff the bird allowing the stuffing to absorb more flavour from the fat under the skin. Rose also suggested smothering the bird in butter before cooking and regular basting to enhance the flavour. 

Like the Pipers Farm turkey, this is slightly more expensive than supermarket offerings. Named as one of the most awarded Christmas Turkeys in Britain, it’s easy to see why. The KellyBronze turkeys are reared in Essex, similarly to the other Bronze turkeys, they are slow reared and free range. Jen commented on the delicious meat saying, "this turkey is so deliciously moist and succulent, you can also tell from its appearance that it is well reared, it’s so visually appealing." 

Jess Meyer added, "this is some of the best meat we’ve tasted, succulent, tender with a wonderfully crisp skin." Similarly to Aldi’s turkey the package also includes a useful meat thermometer, so you can ensure you get great results. 

The expert woman&home food team have hand-picked the very best Christmas cakes for 2022 after putting all the most popular products in the supermarkets this year through a blind taste test process.

Our pick of the very best Christmas cakes that you can buy this year from supermarkets and independent producers has been carefully curated based on rigorous testing and careful tasting to ensure you get the best products for your money.

Christmas is always a busy time of the year, so cross one thing off your to-do list and instead of baking, buy one of these wonderful Christmas cakes instead. 

Tested along with the very best Christmas food on offer this year, our expert panel of judges with years of experience in the food industry between them have chosen the best Christmas cakes out of this year's batch in the shops. 

A more traditional Christmas dessert idea like the best mince pies, we've focussed mainly on classic Christmas cakes in this guide, but we've also rounded up our favourite alternative Christmas cakes at the end - for those who would rather tuck into chocolate rather than fruit cake on Christmas Day.

How we tested and chose the best Christmas cakes for 2022

Our panel of taste testers are all food experts who are tasked with tasting multiple products throughout the year for quality, affordability and, of course, flavour. Christmas cakes were sourced from all the main supermarkets and as many independent retailers as possible for the test. To avoid bias every cake is tasted blind, and the scores are not shared until the tasting is over. 

When scoring Christmas cakes the judges award points based on the decoration, look, texture and taste of all aspects of the cakes. 

The best Christmas cakes must look the part. We favour those with attractive festive decorations. We also consider how easy the cake is to slice. A crumbly cake is often a sign that it has not matured long enough, or not enough booze was added. The quantity of fruits visible is also a good indication of the quality of a Christmas cake. Generally, those cakes more densely packed with fruits are superior. However, it is a fine balance, as too much fruit can cause the cake to be overly rich and crumble. 

Taste is the most important factor when choosing the best Christmas cakes. We are looking for a good balance. The flavours of vine fruits, spices and booze must all be evident, without overpowering one another. A good traditional Christmas cake should be packed with flavour. But the very best will transport your tastebuds to a Christmas memory of homemade cakes long ago. 

Although we are not aware of the price of the cake during the judging, we do also take it into account. If two cakes are awarded the same score, but one is cheaper, then the cheaper of the two will automatically score higher, as it represents better value for you, the reader.

As well as this year's best traditional Christmas cakes we have also included some fantastic alternative cakes for those not a fan of fruit cake. Again the most important element is the flavour, but we have taken into account the decorations too. The M&S Helter Skelter Cake for example is a simple-tasting cake, but we were charmed by the decoration.

Best Christmas Cake 2022

Choose from classically iced Christmas cakes below or opt for a 'naked' cake that you can then use for your own Christmas cake decorating ideas for a personal touch.

Best Christmas cakes for 2022 as chosen by woman&home

Waitrose & Partners Christmas cakes are consistently great, scoring highly year after year. This year’s with its classy minimalist decorations has an unmistakable wow factor. But it’s what’s inside that counts and it was the taste that really won us over. We awarded this cake the top spot for its great rich and well-balanced flavour, great texture, and generous ratio of brandy-soaked plump vine fruits. Georgia Sparks womanandhome.com Junior Food Writer commented, "the flavours of festive spice and zest really sang in this cake. A perfect balance with the rich molasses and boozy brandy flavour. This was a clear winner."

One of the larger cakes in our round-up, this cake is ideal for feeding a crowd as it would serve up to 22 people. 

It is iced with marzipan and fondant icing. A thick layer of each, so those with a sweet tooth would be pleased. The marzipan tasted good quality as it has a strong almond flavour. This cake also has a fabulous texture. Food Editor Jess Meyer observed that, “despite being fruit packed this cake holds together well when cut and has a pleasant moist crumb texture.”

Although this Christmas cake sits at the higher end of this products price range, we think that the price of £18.50 is justified for the quality of ingredients and presentation

A classic fruit cake topped with a layer of marzipan and an attractive ‘jewelled’, glazed candied fruit and nut top. We really like the look of this cake. It’s smaller than many of the others in this guide, but ideal if you don’t want Christmas cake hanging around after Christmas. Similar to the winning Waitrose Christmas cake, the flavour of this version by M&S was popular with all of the judges, who enjoyed this cake's rich and decadent feel. In my notes when tasting this product blind I wrote: “delighted with the rich and buttery flavour of this cake.” Lighter on the boozy flavour, the brandy and Cognac are subtle but lift the fruity and spicy flavours in the cake.

Thanks to the lack of icing on this cake it is not overly sweet. Therefore we think it would be nice to serve with cheese at the end of the meal or equally delightful saved for tea time. This cake is certainly a good classy choice that we would highly recommend.

Bonus points as it comes in a sweet little metal tin, making it ideal to give as a Christmas food gift. This year M&S are selling Christmas hampers that you can fill yourself in-store to create a lovely personalised gift and this Christmas cake can be added. Alternatively, keep it for yourself and use the unbranded tin to store your future bakes or for general storage.

This cake really proved its fantastic value. Costing a tenner (and even cheaper with a Clubcard) it’s half the price of the smaller M&S cake that won second place. So if you’re on a budget this year then this is the cake we recommend. 

The design is very minimal with a simple gold star motif on top. However, if you favour a more busy appearance it would be a good one to dress up a little more at home with extra decorations.

The winning element of this cake was the texture and taste. The texture of this cake is great and Food Editor Jess enjoyed the consistency saying, “I really that this cake was moist and rich, with a great mouth feel”. It’s filled with vine fruits, nuts and glacé cherries and laced with Cognac and brandy. I noted that I liked that “the glacé cherries give this cake a lovely nostalgic feel” adding “it’s everything you expect from a Christmas fruit cake”.

The cake is covered with marzipan and fondant and serves 12 so will be sufficient for most on Christmas day. However, if you require a larger cake we suggest you opt for our winner, the No. 1 Rich Fruit Cake from Waitrose cake, which will serve 22.

The benefit of a traditional Christmas cake is that it will keep until the big day. So we recommend buying this one as soon as possible before it sells out.

This cake from Morrisons has the perfect balance of spice that contributes to the rounded flavour. We also enjoy the contemporary look. Embossed white snowflakes adorn the top, and it’s decorated with an ice-blue ribbon. Georgia was taken with the design and ribbon commenting, “this is the cake I would choose on looks, it’s fun and modern looking and I love that the ribbon adds a pop of colour." 

This cake is made with Cognac-drenched currants, raisins, sultanas and glace cherries. Food Director Jen Bedloe added, “the glace cherries give this cake a charming nostalgic feel”. We felt it could have been more generous with the booziness, but for the price, we still think it's a fabulous option. And we would certainly be very content sitting down with a chunky slice of this, and a lovely cuppa on Christmas day.

Well, it’s really no surprise that Bettys made it into our roundup of the best Christmas cakes. Everything that comes out of the iconic Harrogate tearooms is sensational. Bettys offer a range of Christmas cakes of different prices, but if you are looking for the most spectacular the Royal Iced Wreath Christmas Cake is the one for you. 

I really love the traditional look of this cake, it screams Christmas with a real nostalgic charm. The piped edges, holly, ivy and rose decoration are hand iced on each cake making it extra special. This cake has a 21cm diameter, Bettys suggest it would serve 16-20, but it’s so gorgeously rich we think it would serve many more. So there will be plenty to go around if you’re planning a big celebration this year. 

If money was no object this is the cake we would choose to enjoy at Christmas. It's the most expensive in the round-up. It's definitely worth every penny, but for a more affordable option, the smaller version is adorned with a pretty floral holly motif and costs £22.

Alternatively, if you’re hunting for a really lovely gift the Bettys Soft Iced Christmas Cake, which comes in a cute branded tin, is the perfect Christmas gift for a mother-in-law, parents or host this festive season. 

Best alternative Christmas cakes for 2022

If classic cakes aren’t your thing, here are our top alternative picks that the whole family will love. 

This showstopping cake stood out at the tasting and caught the eye of the judges. The chocolate truffle decorations looked very tempting and as a chocolate fanatic, I was drawn to this cake. It looked so decadent and chocolaty it was calling to me, I couldn’t wait to cut into it to see what the inside had in store!

Inside four layers of moist chocolate fudge sponge sandwich is a chocolate cream and caramel filling, reminiscent of butterscotch and Angel Delight. The sponge and icing are rich, which is balanced nicely by the fresh creamy fillings. We loved that there is so much going on in this cake every mouthful tastes different. 

The Madame Valerie Gateau is a biggie, it would happily serve 20, making it ideal if you are planning a festive bash. Out of all of the cakes that we tasted this one oozes the most wow factor, it’s sure to be a talking point too.

Patisserie Valerie offers delivery options from £6.95 too.

This Belgian Chocolate Orange cake from Co-op would be a spectacular alternative to a fruit cake at tea time, or we think it would even be a lovely festive dessert. The jaffa combination of orange and chocolate is an iconic Christmas favourite. And was popular among the tasters. Jess said, “the surprise chocolate and orange centre is a real joy. It just gives that instant festive feel.” 

The orange-flavoured milk chocolate ganache buttercream in the centre is nestled between rich chocolate sponge cakes. The cake is then covered in a glossy chocolate glaze adding a real lux feel. It almost looks like it’s come straight from a fancy french patisserie. On top chocolate bulbuls and curls give this cake an unmistakable celebratory feel.

One to enthral the little ones. This charming Helter Skelter Christmas Cake from M&S comes with edible chocolate balls that can whiz down the chocolate run. But the fun doesn’t stop there. When you remove the chocolate structure to cut the cake you reveal a cute edible snowy penguin scene hidden underneath. 

As you can imagine the taste of this cake is nice but pretty basic. It’s made with a delicate Madeira sponge filled with raspberry jam and sweet vanilla buttercream. But the overall innovative design really impressed our panel. 

I think kids would adore this, it’s so fun they would enjoy playing with the chocolate run. Plus the flavour is very child friendly, sweet and spongy. It reminds me of children’s birthday cake. It makes me want to be a young'un again, but I would probably squabble with my sister about who got to eat the chocolate penguin!

A lovely Christmas gift idea for a family with children, if you're looking for something to take on Christmas Day that will contribute to the festive feast. 

The best mince pies for Christmas 2022 have been shortlisted by our expert panel of judges so you can seek out the finest festive fare this Christmas. 

During the Tried and Tasted awards, judges sampled over 500 products to shortlist the best Christmas food in the shops for 2022. The panel was made up of food experts and editors with years of experience in the industry between them.

As well as mince pies the team tested a range of Christmas dessert ideas, from the most irresistible yule logs to the best Christmas cakes the supermarkets have an offer.

Which are the best mince pies for Christmas 2022?

The winner of the best overall mince pie this year was Sainsbury’s Taste Difference Mince Pies. We all thought this was a great, traditional mince pie. Group Food Director, Jen Bedloe commented: "This is an excellent quality traditional mince pie. The filling is not too sweet and the pastry is lovely and buttery. The brandy flavour is subtle but strong enough to allow for a pleasant taste." Food Editor Jess Meyer also added, "The pastry on this mince pie tastes like it could be homemade. I also really like the mincemeat, it has a good amount of juicy fruits and it's generously filled too."

It’s not surprising we loved these mince pies so much. These melt in the mouth pies have an all butter pastry and are packed to the brim with a wonderful blend of juicy fruit, warming spices and infused with a generous amount of brandy. The pies also look great. Topped with a pastry star that is embossed with a snowflake, they have even finished it off with a dusting of icing sugar. It makes the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee.

Described by some of the judges as ‘the perfect mince pie’, these brown butter mince pies should definitely be added to your trolley. A slight twist on a classic mince pie, the brown butter pastry adds a different dimension, giving the pie a beautiful nutty flavour. This compliments the filling which is stuffed with vine fruits, apricots, glacé Amarena cherries and almonds. An extra layer of indulgence is added when they are all laced generously with Cognac.

In addition to being packed to the brim with fruits, the flavour stood out to us as well. Mince pies can often be overly sweet due to the amount of fruit in the filling, however, we thought the balance of sweetness was just right. Jen Bedloe said, "these mince pies have a wonderful flavour, the pastry is buttery with a slight nutty quality and the filling has a lovely variety of fruits which are not  too sweet and are generously soaked in just the right amount of booze." I also felt that the addition of almonds and cherries to the filling adds a great contrast in texture, something that is hard to get from a mince pie.

The appearance of the pie was also commented on by Rose Fooks, Deputy Food Editor, who said "mince pies can often be quite pale and uninviting. These have a lovely golden finish and the crimped edges give them a homemade look."

Whilst on the more expensive side, we were instantly won over by these charming mince pies and the whole judging panel agreed that they would be worth the investment if you were willing to spend a little more to get the best mince pies this Christmas. Deep filled and full to the brim with a matured mincemeat made up of cranberries, sultanas and currants, the fruits are delicately flavoured with warming spices like nutmeg and mixed spice. To top it off these juicy vine fruits are then soaked in brandy, rum, lemon juice and orange juice.

Not only do these pies have a lovely filling, they are also topped with an indulgent layer of sweet and nutty frangipane. Jess Meyer adds, "The mincemeat is full of juicy fruits and I love the layer of frangipane. It’s not often mince pies have frangipane in and it really works! I think it’s a great addition and has a subtle nod to bakewell flavours." Rose Fooks commented on their appearance saying, "The rustic topping and golden brown colour gives them a homemade feel, I especially love the flaked almonds on top, which adds a welcome crunch." 

These mince pies are, in fact, handmade. The bakers use a traditional vintage pie blocker to create these miniature masterpieces. Presented in a beautiful box, these would make a lovely Christmas gift for friends or family if you're visiting them for Christmas. 

Another top contender for the best mince pie this Christmas was the Morrisons. Unlike some of the other mince pies featured in this list, these mince pies are deep filled. This means they are even more liberally packed fruit. In this case, they were filled with a cider and brandy infused mincemeat and a warming spice blend. The addition of cider was a refreshing and pleasant twist, making the mincemeat feel a little less heavy than your usual mince pie. I thought these mince pies were nicely spiced, with a very generous filling. The mincemeat had a slightly refreshing quality to it that is hard to find in a mince pie.

As well as having a delicious filling, the all butter pastry case was marked highly by our judges too. Rose Fooks said, "The pastry on this mince pie is the perfect combination of buttery and crumbly, it balances out the refreshing mincemeat so well".

Our panel also noted that the pie had an enticing appearance. Jen Bedloe noted, "These pies are adorned with a star, which makes a nice contrast to the usual topping. They also have a deep golden colour which makes them even more appealing."

A bold twist on the classic mince pie, we applauded the creativity of these ones. Inspired by one of Heston Blumenthal’s favourites - Eccles cakes with potted Stilton - this savoury twist aims to recreate the elements of a cheeseboard in just one bite. We enjoyed the buttery pastry laced with Cheddar, Emmental and Italian hard cheese. Rose Fooks commented, "Cheese straw meets mince pie! This is everything you would want from a savoury mince pie, the pastry is buttery and light and the addition of cheese is a real winner which compliments the jam packed fruity filling so nicely."

The filling is stuffed with plump vine fruits, figs, apple, Ruby port, candied pears, nutmeg and ginger. Jess Meyer noted, "the addition of pears and ginger to this mincemeat is delicious. The fiery ginger works so well with the sweet vine fruits and cheesy pastry.’ These pies are also not conventional looking, rectangular in shape; they almost resemble a sausage roll. The pies have a lovely golden colour, making them even more enticing. We think they are best served warm alongside Heston’s Tipsy Potted Stilton.

Definitely worth a try if you fancy opting for something a little different this Christmas and we'd recommend serving with your best turkey leftovers on Boxing Day. 

Dukeshill are purveyors of some of the finest Christmas hampers and they describe themselves as ‘Champions of the Artisan’ - and we firmly agree.

Their St Clements mince pies are packed full of a delicious brandy soaked mincemeat. As well as the usual ingredients in mincemeat, they’ve also added extra orange and lemon peel to the mix which adds a subtle zestiness. Jen Bedloe said, "the mincemeat is delicious, there are strong citrusy notes which really cut through the rich mincemeat, this makes it lovely and refreshing." Rose Fooks adds, "I really like the texture from the orange and lemon peel, it makes a nice change." 

As well as a zesty filling, these mince pies have a pretty exterior. Unlike the deep-filled mince pies from Morrisons, Dukeshill have opted for a wider yet shallower mince pie with crimped edges. Jess Meyer commented, "These pies are a lot shallower than others we have tasted which makes a nice change. The pastry is a wonderful golden colour and is nice and thick, giving it an appealing rustic look."

A family run business based in Yorkshire, Rosebud preserves pride themselves in sourcing ingredients locally to give the best flavour. Their mince pies are filled with mincemeat that is packed with vine fruits, Bramley apples, orange and lemon. Instead of using traditional animal suet, Rosebud Preserves use ground almonds which makes these delights suitable for vegetarians. This mixture is then generously finished with a glug of brandy. We enjoyed the orange and almond flavours in the mincemeat, Jess Meyer commented, "I really like the orange throughout the mincemeat, it’s not too overpowering so you can still taste the other delicious flavours from the vine fruits."

As well as having a delicious filling, the pastry was also rated highly by our judges. The pastry was light and airy, yet strong enough to hold the filling. it comes as no surprise that the pastry is so delicious, given that they are handcrafted in a local bakery. You can also buy these as a lovely Christmas food gift for someone, neatly packaged in a pretty box, they can be delivered straight to the recipient's door. 

We couldn’t finish the list without mentioning our favourite gluten-free mince pie. If you are gluten free, it's likely you have been disappointed on many occasions with the cardboard-like pastry you are often faced with. Well, these are the opposite to that! Jess Meyer said, "We’ve tried a lot of gluten free mince pies and are more often than not we're left feeling disappointed - these are the closest to regular pastry I’ve tried!" 

Our judging panel also highly praised the appearance of the mince pies. Rose Fooks commented, "The colour of the pastry is golden, which is often not the case with gluten free mince pies. I also love the festive star design on top too which adds a nice touch."

As well as having a nice pastry, these pies are packed full of succulent raisins and warming spices. Jen Bedloe said, "gluten free mince pies can often be lacking in flavour, but these have a lovely balance." An added bonus? Not only are these lovely mince pies gluten free, they’re made with vegetable suet so are also suitable for vegans too. 

How we tested the best mince pies for Christmas 2022

We taste test all of our Christmas food blindly so that each product can be judged on its own merits without the panel forming any preconceptions based on branding.

When testing mince pies our judges considered the pastry, filling, appearance and flavour of each entry. 

Having good pastry is essential to a delicious mince pie. When scoring, judges were looking for a good, buttery flavour with a balanced texture somewhere between crumbly and firm. The filling should be generous and delicately spiced with no single ingredient overpowering another. Mince pies that were excessively sweet or jammy in texture would have scored poorly as judges like to see defined pieces of fruit and or nuts. 

While looks aren’t everything, they do say you eat with your eyes and an attractive finish is important when it comes to mince pies. The woman&home judges were enamoured with mince pies that boasted festive touches like stars, but the main focus was, of course, the flavours. 

This year the mince pie entries were all mostly traditional in their flavourings. These pies are easiest to judge and compare and there were some real standouts.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The Starbucks 2022 holiday drink menu has officially been released and fans are already flocking to the chain’s many locations to try all the returning (and new!) treats.

Just a few months after the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte return date was confirmed, the chain announced that its holiday drink lineup will be available in stores starting November 3. Woo hoo!

There are a total of six holiday drinks on the Starbucks menu this year, plus the usual Christmas Blend coffee that is sure to bring joy to any coffee lovers.

The Starbucks 2022 holiday drink menu:

• Caramel Brulée Latte
• Chestnut Praline Latte
• Peppermint Mocha
• Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
• Irish Cream Cold Brew
• Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte (the first non-dairy option on Starbucks' holiday menu!)

Caramel Brulée Latte

The drink is made with espresso, steamed milk and caramel brulée sauce topped with caramel brulée bits and whipped cream. Unfortunately, this is the one order that cannot be made dairy free since there is actual milk in the caramel sauce.

Chestnut Praline Latte

Topped with whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs, this menu item is relatively easy to make (at least compared to the directions involved in the preparation of the other concoctions). The recipe is pretty simple: espresso, steamed milk of your choice and chestnut praline syrup.

Peppermint Mocha

The classic Peppermint Mocha is actually celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, which is enough of a reason to order one for yourself the next time you're inside a Starbucks. Keep in mind that it was originally created as a hot drink but can also be ordered iced or in Frappuccino form. 

Toasted White Chocolate Mocha

Espresso, steamed milk of choice, toasted white chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and sprinkles make this a go-to option for many patrons. To note: there's no way to make this dairy-free.

Irish Cream Cold Brew

This is basically a classic Starbucks cold brew, albeit spiked with Irish cream syrup and topped with some cocoa powder and a cold foam of vanilla sweet cream. Yes, it's as delicious as it sounds.

Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte

Made with almond milk, blonde espresso, sugar-cookie flavored syrup and topped with red and green sprinkles, the festive drink is served iced but can also be made hot.

Are there any food items on the holiday menu?

Food-wise, you can expect more of the same with traditional holiday bakery items like cake pops, including a reindeer-shaped one, festive cookies, and the sugar plum Danish that was around last year.

Do be on the lookout for a new entry, though! The Chocolate Pistachio Swirl is made with creamy chocolate filling boasting notes of cinnamon and coffee that is swirled into a brioche-inspired dough with mint chocolate chips and topped with chopped pistachios, yum!

Will the red Starbucks holiday cups also be available?

On November 3, the same day that the holiday drinks and food will be available at Starbucks stores, the iconic red holiday cups will also make their first appearance of the season. 

As noted in an official press release, the four new Starbucks holiday cup designs "offer the comforts and cheer of the season, each wrapped up like a gift." The color palette specifically features classic seasonal colors with a flair of mint green.

The festive season is a time of year when the market is saturated with new food launches all fighting for your attention. It can be difficult to wade through aisle after aisle of festive products and decide which to spend your money on to make you Christmas feast fantastic.  

That's where the woman&home Festive Food Awards comes in. Hundreds of products were submitted to woman&home and our panel of experts shortlisted 30 of the best Christmas food products, drinks and retailers for 2022 from these entries.

Our team boasts many years of experience cooking and tasting new and innovative food and drink products. This makes them especially well suited when it comes to finding the best buys for Christmas, making the curation of your shopping list much easier. 

The taste tests cover several categories, such as the best Christmas cake, to Christmas turkey and of course, the best mince pies. In addition to this our judges have highlighted five of the best brands and retailers which have an exemplary range on offer for Christmas 2022. 

From specialist chocolatiers to artisanal producers who champion quality, British produce, each of the winners has a wonderful selection of food and drink items which will ensure you have the most delicious Christmas yet. 

Special Recognition awards winners

Best Christmas supermarket: Waitrose & Partners

This year, Waitrose have truly taken the pain out of prepping and hosting big gatherings over the silly season. The pre-cooked festive mains were a particular standout for our judges. These energy-saving centrepieces mean you don’t have to use your oven for long periods of time, but can still enjoy the results of a slow-cooked joint.

Judges especially enjoyed the Slow-cooked Ultimate Crackling Pork Belly which is new for 2022 and forms part of the Heston from Waitrose collection. All fresh Waitrose pork is from British farmers they know and trust so you can be confident you’re eating quality meat. Group food director Jen Bedloe described the pork as ‘sweet and juicy with fantastic crackling’. She also praised how easy it was to carve, something many cooks find stressful when hosting. 

Plus, judges felt Waitrose had innovative and exciting options which make catering for special diets and preferences a breeze. The jewelled roast with a fruity centre is a delightful vegan main we think would even tempt meat-eaters and the plant-based melting chilli bake ‘cheese’ was mind-blowing! 

Those with a sweet tooth with also be satisfied with the selection of Christmas dessert ideas available from Waitrose & Partners. A particular highlight for our judges was the Heston From Waitrose Chocolate Pennies. Eat them as they are, package them up as a stocking filler or, if you’re feeling adventurous, melt them into a mug of mulled wine. It’s jolly good! 

Best independent retailer: Riverford

A true champion for British produce and suppliers, Riverford’s festive offering covers all the bases. 

From Christmas food gifts, generously fruited mince pies which have a charming homemade feel, to cheese selection boxes which are to die for, everything grown, made and sold by Riverford is organic. 

This year, judges were impressed with the selection of festive cooking kits which take the stress out of preparing a showstopper from scratch. The Christmas pudding kit includes everything you need to make a carrot and apple twist on the classic and will show you how to make a Christmas pudding with ease.

The veggie wellington kit received high praise. Plus, the instructions explain how to prep the wellington ahead meaning you have little to do on the big day. All the kits include pre-measured ingredients and ensure food waste is at an absolute minimum. Some of the range has already dropped online but the rest will be available to order from the end of October. 

Best artisanal supplier: Dukeshill

Famous for their traditionally made hams which are among the tastiest we’ve ever had, DukesHill have a brilliant handcrafted range of products so you can have the most delicious Christmas yet. Plus, let’s not forget that in 2003 they were awarded a Royal Warrant to supply hams to Queen Elizabeth II. 

If you want to stock up on special essentials for your own gathering be sure to browse their selection of free-range bronze turkeys. They have been specifically reared for DukesHill by two farming families in Shropshire and Kent and the demand is always incredibly high. Order early online to avoid disappointment. 

When it comes to foodie gifts, DukesHill do some of the best Christmas hampers year after year. Judges highly recommend the build-your-own hampers as a way to create the perfect, personalised package of treats. Alternatively, The Star of Wonder Christmas hamper, pictured above, comes in a 20-inch wicker hamper with leather straps and contains 18 delightful food and drink items. While at £210 it certainly isn’t a budget option, it contains enough to keep a family going for a fair few days after Christmas and will no doubt be highly appreciated. 

Best cakes and bakes: Patisserie Valerie

This high-street favourite has pulled out all the stops this year with a fantastic selection of sweet treats that taste as good as they look.

Judges loved the traditional yule log which features a rich, handmade chocolate sponge, generously filled with Swiss chocolate buttercream and decorated with sugar snowflakes, a dusting of edible snow and some adorable edible festive figures. Deputy food editor Rose Fooks said: ‘The texture of this yule log is similar to chocolate fudge cake. It’s rich, nostalgic and well-balanced. Plus, it looks impressive and would be wonderful for any parties or gatherings over the Christmas period.’

The Madame Valerie Gateau also won high praise. Judges loved the fresh cream filling and rich chocolate flavour - some said it was almost like a wedding cake it was so decadent!

If you’re not catering for big crowds this festive season you can still indulge with some smaller treats from Patisserie Valerie. The mince pies are bigger than most supermarket offerings and come in a lovely Christmassy presentation box. The macaron selection box was also exemplary with flavours including raspberry, pistachio and salted caramel. If you’re feeling generous you could buy it as a gift but we wouldn’t judge if you add a box for yourself too. They are available in boxes of six or 12.

Best edible gifts: Melt Chocolates

Purveyors of fine chocolate products since 2005, Melt Chocolates really stood out in the sweets and treats category of our annual Christmas taste tests. From beautifully detailed truffles and chocolates to candied orange slices dipped in dark chocolate, the love, care and craftmanship of all their products is simply outstanding.

The Gianduja cake won lots of high praise with our judges. It’s rich, luxurious and would make the perfect accompaniment to an espresso after dinner. Deputy food editor Rose Fooks said: ‘Modern and minimalist in design, this is a sophisticated chocolate cake which delivers maximum flavour and indulgence.’ 

If you’re looking for a luxurious advent calendar for yourself or a loved one we love the Notting Hill House (£69), pictured above. Inspired by the neighbourhood in which the Melt Chocolate’s headquarters is located, the calendar features pastel-coloured houses filled with an array of sublime treats. A wonderful gift for anyone with a special affinity for this part of London or simply an appreciation for quality chocolate. 

We’re also impressed by Melt Chocolate’s commitment to sustainable and ethical practices and beautifully finished packaging, all of which is plastic-free. They use renewable energy in the kitchens and have an electric delivery van for London orders. 

There’s just something about Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte that makes everyone go ga-ga and it probably has a lot to do with the pumpkin sauce that the chain uses to create the concoction.

Of course, the company has yet to release the exact recipe for the sauce, especially now that the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is back in stores and the chain hopes to draw as many customers on-site as possible.

Starbucks did, however, release its recipe for the famous pumpkin spice latte and it includes ingredients and guidelines to making a homemade pumpkin spice syrup. The recipe probably doesn't yield exactly what is offered in store but it's certainly a good explainer of how the creation is overall prepared.

What is pumpkin sauce made of?

According to Starbucks, pumpkin spice syrup is a mixture of water, pumpkin purée, cinnamon sticks and a variety of other spices. Here are the ingredients and measurements listed on the company's official website:

• 1½ cups sugar
• 1½ cups water
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 4 Tbsp pumpkin purée

Below, a step-by-step guide on how to make the syrup at home:

Step 1: Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.

Step 2: Once sugar is dissolved, add cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ginger, nutmeg and pumpkin purée, and let simmer for 20 minutes.

Step 3: Remove from heat and immediately strain through cheesecloth.

These specific guidelines will yield enough syrup for 8 beverages and you can keep the mixture in your fridge for up to 7 days.

If you’re in the mood to go all the way and make your very own pumpkin spice latte at home, make sure to have the following ingredients on hand as well:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 oz. brewed Starbucks® Espresso Roast or Starbucks® by Nespresso® Espresso Roast
• 3 Tbsp homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup
• ½ cup whipped cream
• 1 pinch pumpkin pie spice (garnish)

To prepare the drink, you'll want to heat and froth the milk, brew the coffee in an espresso machine or stovetop moka pot, place the homemade pumpkin spice syrup into a mug and then pour the hot espresso on top of it. Stir everything and then fill the mug up with heated frothed milk until it is about three quarters full. Last step: top it all with whipped cream.

How many calories are in a pump of Pumpkin Spice Sauce from Starbucks?

The Starbucks website offers a pretty handy nutrition calculator that allows would-be customers to figure out details about each drink based on how they customize their orders.

According to the tool, a 12 oz. pumpkin spice latte (that would be a tall cup) is about 300 calories and that includes 3 pumps of the pumpkin sauce. A short cup of the drink (8 oz.) is usually prepared with two pumps and is about 210 calories. If opting for the 16 oz. grande, you'll get 4 pumps of the sauce and the drink will probably be closer to 390 calories. Finally, if opting for the largest size of cup available, a 20 oz. venti made with 5 pumps of pumpkin sauce, you'll effectively be drinking 470 calories.

Starbucks doesn’t reveal how many calories exactly are in each pump of the sauce. However, Yahoo has calculated that each pump adds around 30 calories and 7.5 grams of sugar to your diet. 

Word to the wise: ask for a simple pump of the good stuff no matter what size drink you order. It will be better for your overall health.

Fall is officially here: as of today, Starbucks is serving the customer-favorite pumpkin spice latte (PSL) across its stores in the United States of America. The drink will be available in the United Kingdom starting September 1.

Starbucks, who recently announced its plans to phase out single-use paper cups, will be serving the beloved drink for the 19th year in a row. 

The recipe stays the same: the company's signature espresso is prepared with steamed milk and added cinnamon, nutmeg and clove flavors to, according to an official press release, "complement the real pumpkin in the sauce." The concoction is then topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices. As usual, you can order the PSL hot, iced or blended while supplies last all throughout the season.

But that's not all, just as was the case when Starbucks launched its pumpkin spice fall menu 2021, the company this year has announced the arrival of a number of other delicious drinks to accompany the PSL on the menu.

First up is the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, which returns to the list of offerings for the fourth year but will only be available for a limited time. The drink is made with the company's cold brew, sweetened with vanilla syrup, and topped with pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice. 

There is also the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, which customers fell in love with for the first time last fall. This year, though, it will be made using oat milk instead of regular milk, plus Starbucks blonde espresso, apple, cinnamon, brown sugar, and a spiced apple drizzle. You can order it hot, iced, or blended.

According to Harvey Rojas Mora, a Starbucks beverage developer, "the oat milk adds a creaminess and brings forward the oat flavors of a traditional apple crisp topping." 

We're all in.

But imbibing options aren’t the only exciting additions to the world-renowned company's season menu. In fact, Starbucks also revealed changes to its bakery offerings and it’s all about pumpkins in that category as well. For a limited time, customers will get to indulge in their favorite drinks alongside a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin or a Pumpkin Scone, for example.

If you're looking for a slightly different flavor profile, though, opt for the Owl Cake Pop, which, according to the press release "combines vanilla cake and buttercream, dipped in purple chocolaty icing and finished with an owl design." Fair warning, though: the pop will only be available for a limited time while supplies last.

We'd be remiss not to point out yet another update, this one perhaps even more striking than the menu additions. For the first time in a decade, Starbucks has announced that it will launch new designs on its whole bean coffee packages, each one inspired by the history of the java blend it represents.

It’s a whole new Starbucks come fall, and we’re all for it.

If you've got a bunch of Wild Cherry Capri Sun drinks in your pantry or fridge, you probably want to get rid of them right about now: parent company Kraft Heinz just recalled about 5,700 cases of the delicious drink because of a contamination with a diluted cleaning solution used on processing equipment inside one of its factories.

To be clear, the recall applies to all products with a "best when used by" date of June 25, 2023. According to the company, who discovered the issue after it received consumer complaints about the taste of the product, the action affects about 5,700 cases of the item.

Considering that, on average, each case contains four cartons of the drink and each carton boasts 10 pouches... we're looking at about 230,000 contaminated drinks. That’s a lot.

"The voluntary recall comes after diluted cleaning solution, which is used on food processing equipment, was inadvertently introduced into a production line at one of our factories," reads an official statement by the company. "The issue was discovered after we received several consumer complaints about the taste of the affected product. The Company is actively working with retail partners and distributors to remove potentially impacted product from circulation. Consumers who purchased these items should not consume the product and can return it to the store where it was purchased."

If you're not sure whether the batch you bought is included in the recall, call Kraft Heinz at 800-280-8252 and they'll guide through the proper process.

This isn’t the first time that the company finds itself in hot water. Back in 2018, Cameron Hardwick took to Facebook to share his experience with a Capri Sun pouch. 

Cameron posted a video in which he poured a pouch into the cup and immediately noticed an "unknown substance floating around in the package." Needless to say, the clip caused major consternation across social media and beyond. 

"To say we are irate would be an understatement," Cameron wrote in the caption to his upload. "We don't give these to our children often but will NEVER again!"

In response to the viral thread, Kraft Heinz explained that, when punctured, the pouches could grow mold inside of it. Speaking to Today, the company also said that it ended up testing Cameron's drink and found a "micro-puncture in the pouch." 

Perhaps, we should just all collectively stay away from Capri Sun drinks for a bit?

Spicy rosés are the new spicy margaritas and fans are obsessed with this latest trend which feels like a fun and fancy new way to consume wine this summer.

Jalapeño wine is the most recent TikTok trend and fans are loving this spicy version of wine that is fun to drink in the sun. This trend began earlier in the summer but has remained a consistent trend over the past few months as fans are loving the flavor. 

But is this trend actually tasty? Or is it just aesthetic nonsense? I tried it so you don't have to, and this is what I thought...

There really is no denying that putting a few jalapeño slices is a fun aesthetic way to spice up (sorry for the bad pun) your rosé. But apart from looking cute there really isn't much to this drink. 

I invited a friend over to try out this trend and we had very different perspectives. For me, this was an over-hyped trend that I liked but didn't love. I liked the fresh smell of the chilies in the drink, but I really couldn't taste much by way of spice or chili flavor. We let the jalapeños soak into the wine for a bit longer and the spice started to come through a bit more. 

I love bloody Marys - particularly when they are spicy with extra tabasco - so I thought that I'd love this drink, it's wine but spicy - what's not to like? In actuality, I just didn't get it. Sure it looks pretty, but in my opinion, it took away from the flavor of the wine. I'm not a wine snob by any means, but I just like my wine as it is, without anything else added.

My friend on the other hand loved it. She insisted that this was the only way that she would be consuming rosé from now on and has gone on to tell everyone to give it a go. She loves spicy margaritas and is a big fan of heat in general, so this was a perfect drink for her.

I asked some experts about this trend and queried if spicy rosé a wine crime or a wine hack. Julien Lonneux UK CEO of winemakers, Vranken Pommery, said that while this trend wasn't a bad idea, there are definitely certain rosés that would work best with a bit of added spice. 

"To even put ice in a wine from Provence is not recommended! But jalapeños is a flat no! Rosé wines from Provence are dryer than other rosés so perhaps ice and jalapeños would be more suited to those other, sweeter rosés," said Julien.

Other experts agreed with this suggestion that paler wines would be less desirable for this trend. "We’ve all been tempted by this TikTok trend and if you’re planning on adding spicy jalapenos to your rose, make sure it’s nice and cold. A sweet rose will work best as this will balance the flavor – chili heat can decrease the perception of body and sweetness, making even the sweetest wine taste dryer," said Salvo Russo, Head of Wine at London's The Hippodrome Casino.

The expert then added that checking the ABV (alcohol by volume) of the wine is another helpful way to work out if the wine will be complemented by the added spice. "The higher the ABV of the wine, the stronger heat you’ll get from the jalapeno, so stick to a sweeter wine such as White Zinfandel that is typically around the 9% ABV mark," he suggested. 

So when you try this trend, experts recommend that you opt for a sweeter rosé rather than a paler Provence-style rosé. And if you want your spicy wine to really pack a punch you'll want to go for one with a high alcohol percentage. If you follow this advice you may love this trend - but there really is only one way to find out for yourself!