All the supermarkets have brought out their Christmas lines, and with them, too many options to choose from! It’s overwhelming to see all the different mince pies, simple starters and gingerbread houses that are on offer at each store.
So, we’ve condensed it for you. Bringing you the best of the best, the creme de la creme of supermarket shops – we’ve ranked our favourite Christmas foods from Coles, Woolies, ALDI and IGA, giving each product a rating out of ten. Here’s what we thought of each one:
Meet the taste testers
- Jade Coull, Senior Content Producer, is a journalist who specialises in food news and culture, from MKR to David Beckham’s jam.
- Sophie Al-Bassam, Managing Editor, has been in the media industry for more than 20 years and her signature recipes are chocolate brownies and Moroccan chicken tagine.
- Sarah Murphy, Senior Food Editor, has been working in the food space for 14 years and she can usually be found in the BHG Test Kitchen experimenting with new recipes.
- Rachel Iorfino, Senior Content Producer, is a journalist who loves getting to taste everything that comes across her desk, and specialises in curating the perfect recipe collections for the BHG audience to feel inspired by.
ALDI Christmas Range
ALDI has got you covered for all the different parts of Chrissy lunch. If you’re going for easy, traditional and delicious, the ALDI Christmas range should be your go-to this year. From bite-sized appetisers to fancy seafood mains, there’s something quick and affordable to whip up, no matter the type of food you enjoy.
Senior content producer, Jade Coull, had the privilege of getting to taste them all! Here are her top picks:
01
Mini turkey Kyivs with cranberry and camembert
Our rating: 8/10
Best for: starters that require no prep
“These bite-sized turkey kyivs might just be the most delicious starter I’ve had. The coating was perfectly golden and crisp, with a centre that oozed camembert, cranberry and turkey. It’s a flavour combination made in heaven with an ideal balance of savoury and sweet. I know they’ll be an absolute crowd-pleaser this Christmas.” – Jade Coull
02
Split rock lobster with French-style sauce
Our rating: 9/10
Best for: showstopper main
“Lobster is one of those dishes I’ve always considered overpriced and intimidating to cook at home… until now. ALDI’s recipe tastes like something straight out of a 5-star restaurant with buttery, delicate meat and a rich French crumb and sauce. The best part is it’s only $29.99 for 2 servings.” – Jade Coull
03
Chocolate caramel deluxe pudding bombe
Our rating: 7/10
Best for: decadent dessert
“If you’re a dessert lover who can’t resist something decadent, this is for you. The outer layer is light and fluffy, giving way to a thick, velvety caramel centre that melts in your mouth. I had mine with a side of vanilla ice cream to cut through the richness.” – Jade Coull
Coles Christmas Range
The Coles Christmas Range is not yet in stores, but our managing editor, Sophie Al-Bassam, managed to get a sneak peek. With tables upon tables of delectable dinner and desserts, her standouts crossed into the vegetarian and even a cheeky alcoholic drink!
You’ll be able to shop this range in stores now, and here are the standouts:
01
Coles pulled ham with smokey maple glaze
Our rating: 7/10
Best for: Christmas ham lovers
“I’ve never seen pulled ham before, and it was so full of flavour, I kept going back for more! The smoky maple glaze was perfect for giving it that Christmasy feel.” – Sophie Al-Bassam
02
Libertas limoncello spritz
Our rating: 8/10
Best for: easy holiday cocktails
“I love anything lemon-flavoured, and this spritz is ready to pour straight into your glass, no cocktail mastery required. And at only 9% alcohol, it’s a refreshing drink without packing too much of a punch.” – Sophie Al-Bassam
IGA Christmas Range
IGA has got desserts down pat. If you’re the type to make all your dinner from scratch, but sweet is where you fail, then head straight to IGA come Christmas time. This food line is beginning to hit stores right now, but it’s definitely encouraged to check your local store to see if your favourites are in stock. If they’re not, you can always ask to have them ordered in!
Our food editor, Sarah Murphy, got to taste-test and decide on her favourites early, and by God, there are some strong contenders. Here’s what she loved best:
01
Yarrow’s espresso martini mince pies
Our rating: 7/10
Best for: a twist on the traditional
“The coffee flavour in these pies really surprised me, it was smooth and delicate and didn’t overpower the traditional fruit mince flavour either. If you love espresso and fruit mince pies, you’ll love this clever twist.” – Sarah Murphy
02
Jon Jon gluten-free Christmas pudding
Our rating: 9/10
Best for: GF pals
“It’s always great to see more gluten-free options to add to the dessert table at Christmas! This traditional pud is ready in under 2 minutes with a zap in the microwave as well.” – Sarah Murphy
03
Yarrow’s mini lemon tarts
Our rating: 10/10
Best for: satisfying your sweet tooth
“I love the little size of these tarts. They’re the perfect bite-sized dessert to serve up for Christmas dessert, and they would work perfectly for a special treat with a cuppa. They have a cute star pastry cut-out on top, which makes them feel extra fancy, and I thought the lemon curd was the perfect level of freshness and zing. If you’re looking for a quick hack, I think these would be amazing topped with some fresh meringue, then torched for a cheat’s lemon meringue pie!” – Sarah Murphy
Woolworths Christmas Range
Woolies is the last of the pack to release their Christmas range, but that’s definitely not to say they’re the least! All of their dessert products for Christmas are now in stores, and my gosh they’ve got some fun ones. Here’s what the team got to taste test in the office, and how Rachel rated them:
01
Dubai-inspired chocolate and pistachio tarts
Our rating: 10/10
Best for: on-trend deliciousness
“I know that the trendy ‘Dubai-chocolate’ phase is coming to an end, but these tarts from the Woolies Gold Collection are the perfect close. A biscuit base filled with pistachio and kataifi, and a dark chocolate topping make for a delicious little treat after dinner.” – Rachel Iorfino
You may have to shop this one in store, it’s already sold out online!
02
Mixed berry mince pies
Our rating: 6/10
Best for: a twist on the traditional Christmas dessert
“Mince pies are a classic choice for your afternoon tea snack, and these ones from Woolies are no exception. They are very berry heavy, but leaning quite cranberry, meaning that the flavour is extra tart. If you love mince pies, you’ll definitely love these!” – Rachel Iorfino
03
Caramelised biscuit pudding
Our rating: 10/10
Best for: warm and comforting dessert
“If cosy Christmas is your theme this year, then your dinner table won’t be complete without this biscuit pudding. It’s absolutely delicious, and the caramel sauce that you pour over the top is to die for. Be warned though, there’s lots of caramel sauce, it may spill over the plate!” – Rachel Iorfino
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