Ah, Christmas – the time for family, laughter, love, and most importantly… food. Supermarkets are stacked with festive bakes, and our favourite bakeries always bring their A-game, so we’re seriously spoilt for choice.
But with so many options, it’s worth knowing what’s actually worth picking up — especially if you’ve got a dinner full of people to impress. We’ve tried a selection of the most popular bakes from top bakeries, restaurants, and supermarkets to give you a shorter, curated list.
Think of it as a little cheat sheet to impress the mother-in-law without risking a Christmas disaster (because let’s be honest, attempting a homemade limoncello panettone probably isn’t the best idea). From panettones to mince pies, here’s what’s actually worth unwrapping this season.
Panettones
Carluccio’s Panettone al Cioccolato, 1kg (£29.95)
Carluccio’s is one of the more recognisable names in Italian food in the UK. While they have restaurants, their Christmas shop feels very much like a carefully curated Italian deli – they work with regional, family-run producers and small bakeries across Italy.
The Panettone al Cioccolato is a clear highlight: instead of the usual candied peel and dried fruit, it’s packed with milk and dark chocolate pieces and topped with a thin hazelnut glaze. It’s a Great Taste Award Winner, and after trying it, it’s easy to see why. Plus, the beautifully festive packaging makes it perfect for gifting.
Why we love it: Most chocolate panettones are either too sugary or too heavy; Carluccio’s is properly chocolatey while still tasting like a classic Italian panettone. It’s the most balanced version we tried.
Ottolenghi Sour Cherry & Custard Panettone 1kg (£36.00)
Ottolenghi doesn’t do anything half-hearted, and their festive baking is no exception. This year’s Sour Cherry & Custard Panettone comes from Pasticceria Scarpato, one of Italy’s heritage panettone makers known for slow fermentation and unbelievably light dough.
This loaf is packed with tart sour cherries and threaded with pockets of thick, silky custard. The combination sounds indulgent, but it’s surprisingly balanced: the cherries bring brightness, the custard adds creaminess, and the dough stays beautifully airy and soft.
Why we love it: Most flavoured panettones end up feeling like a gimmick. This one tastes genuinely premium – the cherries are sharp, the custard is smooth, and nothing overwhelms the soft dough.
Lina Stores Traditional Panettone, 1kg (£27.95)
Lina Stores is part of a Soho institution. Founded in 1944, their Italian deli and restaurants are deeply rooted in old-school Italian food culture in London. Their Christmas range leans into that classic heritage – not particularly inventive, but very well executed.
Their Traditional Panettone is made with flour, butter, eggs, natural sourdough, raisins, and candied orange peel – in line with the classic Milan recipe. The ingredients are high quality, and Lina explicitly says they’re sticking to a traditional formula, which shows in the final bake.
Why we love it: In a sea of flavoured panettones, this one gets the basics perfectly right – soft, slightly springy dough that pulls apart beautifully, balanced fruit and citrus notes, and just enough structure to feel satisfying.
Fruit cakes
Betty’s Soft Iced Christmas Tree Cake (£46.25)
This isn’t just a fruit cake with a picture-perfect design – it’s a full-on festive dessert. Topped with a hand-piped Christmas tree, there’s a thick layer of soft icing over marzipan that gives a sweet, slightly chewy hit before you even reach the cake.
Beneath the sugar layers is a rich, malty sponge packed with sherry-soaked vine fruits, sticky cherries, candied citrus peel, and a touch of black treacle for deep, warming sweetness.
Cutting into it is a joy: the icing softens slightly under the knife, the sponge holds its shape, and each slice has that perfect combination of fruity depth and festive sugar. This feels less like a traditional tea fruit cake and more like a celebratory dessert – the kind you’d proudly gift your fussy mother-in-law.
Why we love it: It’s visually stunning, decadently sweet, and indulgent – exactly the luxurious treat you want for proper festive mode. The hand-decorated design adds that extra personal touch that makes it feel truly special.
Betty’s Jewelled Fruits Christmas Cake (£25.25)
Not a fan of a thick layer of icing? We can’t relate, but do have an alternative for you: this cake is the more traditional, less sugary version of Betty’s Soft Iced Christmas Tree Cake. The sponge is similarly rich, dense, and juicy, with a satisfying chew and just the right amount of spring. Apricots, cherries, oranges, nuts, and vine fruits are packed throughout, with a hint of Cointreau.
The biggest difference is that, instead of the thick icing or marzipan, the top is studded with natural glacé fruits, a glazed, “bejewelled” finish. It’s just as strikingly beautiful as the iced cake, but a slightly more classic take on Christmas bake (and more budget-friendly).
Why we love it: We already know Betty’s rich sponge to be deliciously moreish – so we choose to go with a bakery we trust. Plus, the chunky slices of glazed apricots, oranges and cherries do give it a very regal look.
Morrisons The Best Iced Christmas Cake Serves 14 (£12.00)
If Betty’s Iced Christmas Tree Cake is the showstopper, Morrisons’ The Best Iced Christmas Cake is the practical, more budget-friendly alternative. The all-butter sponge is rich, malty, and lightly spiced, studded with vine fruits for that familiar Christmas flavour. The icing is sweet and thick, giving a proper festive sugar hit, but without the marzipan or hand-decorated layers of Betty’s.
It’s a large cake that serves 14, slices cleanly, and works perfectly on the Christmas Eve dinner table. It doesn’t really make a statement and may not be as ideal for gifting as Betty’s, but as a budget-friendly option, it really delivers in flavour.
Why we love it: It’s a generous Christmas cake that delivers classic flavour and festive indulgence at a sensible price – ideal for sharing at home.
Mince pies
Morrisons The Best Signature Collection Mince Pies 2-pack (£2.00)
Morrisons’ The Best Signature Collection Mince Pies are notoriously a step above your usual supermarket offering, so they had to make the cut. The brown butter pastry is buttery and dense, holding together beautifully, and the filling is rich, fruity, and perfectly spiced with a gentle hit of brandy.
It’s not just the average Joe and our entire team that think these are the best mince pies ever -Good Housekeeping does too. In 2023, it named Morrisons’ mince pies the Best Supermarket Mince Pie, scoring 77/100 in a blind taste test.
Why we love it: The pastry is buttery but holds together, and the filling is juicy, rich, and perfectly spiced. It’s also a very generous portion, so both your stomach and your heart will be full after having one.
Waitrose Brandy Buttercream Mince Pies 4-pack (£4.00)
Waitrose’s No.1 mince pies sit in that space between “just another supermarket box” and “I’m not paying £18 for two mince pies from an artisan bakery, thanks.”
While Morrisons goes full comfort-food, soft, buttery, almost pudding-like, Waitrose stands out for creativity and flavour. The brown-butter pastry is slightly nutty, a bit caramelised, and noticeably richer than standard shortcrust. The mincemeat is a mix of apricots, glacé cherries, proper vine fruits and a splash of Cognac, topped with brandy buttercream for a smooth (and boozy) warmth.
Why we love them: Among supermarket mince pies, these feel like the step up – thoughtful touches (brown butter, Cognac, apricots) without the artisan price tag. They don’t dethrone Morrisons overall, but they are absolutely one of the most polished supermarket options this year.
ASDA Exceptional by ASDA Exceptional 4 Toffee Apple Spiced Crumble Tarts (£2.98)
Part of Asda’s “Exceptional” range, these mince pies step slightly above the usual supermarket offering. If you’re not the biggest mince pie fan, you might actually fall in love with these (and some of the other versions, which include
They have all the festive comfort you want- buttery pastry, soft spiced fruit, and a touch of sweetness – without the traditional mincemeat. The filling tastes more like a classic apple tart with gentle toffee notes. The crumble on top adds a lovely crunch, and the pastry base is buttery and holds everything together beautifully, just like a good mince pie should.
Why we love them: They’re a fantastic festive alternative for anyone who finds mince pies too heavy or just isn’t a fan of all the clogginess of dried fruit.
Yule Logs
Pierre Marcolini Yule Log Coco Yuzu Shiso (£55)
Pierre Marcolini’s 2025 Christmas collection is inspired by Art Deco, with desserts that look as striking as they taste. Among the festive line-up of Yule logs, the Coco, Yuzu & Shiso version is the most tropical and unexpected. It’s a light, fruity, and slightly exotic twist on the classic log.
The base is a soft sponge with cashew and shiso, topped with airy coconut mousse, smooth yuzu cream, and a black sesame praliné crunch for texture. The layers balance beautifully: creamy, light, sweet but not sickly sweet, with a subtle herbal note from the shiso.
Why we love it: This yule log will transport you to Costa Rica at first bite. It’s tropical, lightly sweet, and just different enough from everything else you’ll see on the shelves or online. It also isn’t too heavy, so it’s a good palate-cleanser in the midst of so much treacle and chocolate.
Buy it here (currently sold out).
Cutter & Squidge – The Squidgiest Chocolate Salted Caramel Yule Log (£35.99)
Cutter & Squidge have been creating imaginative, indulgent bakes from their London kitchen since 2010, with a focus on handmade, natural ingredients and playful flavours. Their Squidgiest Chocolate Salted Caramel Yule Log is unapologetically indulgent, yet utterly shareable.
The log is built around a fudgy, rich chocolate sponge, rolled generously with creamy salted caramel buttercream, and finished in a smooth, velvety chocolate ganache. It’s decadence in layers: each bite combines gooey chocolate, sweet‑salty caramel, and a soft, squidgy texture that feels almost like a grown-up chocolate roulade.
Why we love it: It’s the kind of Yule log you want to dig into straight away, slice after slice, and keep coming back for. The chocolate is rich but not cloying, the salted caramel adds a perfect counterpoint.
Aldi Raspberry and Pistachio Yule Log (£9.99)
They say good things come to those who wait — and in this case, if you can hold out until the 21st of December, you’ll be rewarded with nothing less than a delicious raspberry and pistachio yule log from Aldi.
For just a tenner, this showstopper is a winning addition to any Christmas table. It’s an intriguing twist on the traditional chocolate-heavy, ultra-dense yule log — perfect for those who want something lighter after a day of festive indulgence.
The cloud-like soft sponge, layered generously with pistachio crema and raspberry jam, is a dreamy combination in a roulade-style dessert. And honestly, who doesn’t want to be on-trend this Christmas with the whole pistachio obsession?
Why we love it: The flavours might be unusual for a Christmas table, but they’re spot-on: the tartness from the raspberry cuts through the nutty sweetness of pistachio in the most moreish way.
Available on the 21st of December.
More Christmas goodness? See also:
Review – Inca’s Christmas menus are festive, flavourful, and full of theatre
The Queen’s House Ice Rink is back to Greenwich with VIP perks and a fresh feel
Review – Christmas at The Ivy Northcote Road
DIY-not? The best food and drink to build your own Christmas hamper this year