Classic festive flavours and formats with some European influences star in the new bakery items across Tesco’s Christmas line-up this year.
Predominantly rolling out as part of the Tesco Finest range, these include the likes of hearty pastries with cranberry inclusions, as well as both vegan and gluten-free creations. There’s also a dazzling array of decadent desserts for group gatherings and individual indulgences.
Once again, the retailer is the earliest to rise among the major supermarkets, rush down the stairs, and excitedly unwrap all the presents for its shoppers.
Find out more below about the items that are set to spread some yuletide cheer this December (note: prices for the majority have yet to be confirmed).
Centrepiece & Sides
The Chicken & Pork Pate en Croute, which joins Tesco’s exclusive Chef’s Collection, features marinated British chicken layered between British pork, smoked bacon and caramelised onion. These are encased in a rich, herb-infused pastry and finished with a Kentish cider and chicken stock jelly – chef’s kiss! Available in a pack of two.
The Winter Cranberry Pork Pie is made with British pork seasoned with smoked bacon & rosemary, encased in a rich hot water crust pastry and delicately finished with a lightly spiced cranberry & port jelly.
Shrunken from the original large format into individual portions, the Beef Fillet Wellingtons comprise tender beef fillets topped with a rich porcini mushroom duxelles. They are hand wrapped in butter-enriched puff pastry and hand decorated with pastry stars for a festive finish.
The new Brie, Bacon & Cranberry Galette has all-butter puff pastry filled with creamy brie and camembert sauce, cherrywood smoked bacon, and sweet cranberries.
Vegan & Vegetarian
The Butternut Wellington goes back to the standard sharing size, and contains sweet butternut squash topped with a herby mushroom duxelles, enveloped in a flaky, lattice puff pastry.
Another member of the Tesco Finest Chef’s Collection is the Three Cheese & Caramelised Leek High-Wall Quiche, created with a rich blend of Somerset vintage Cheddar, Regato, and Emmental cheese. This is paired with a sweet layer of leek and onion jam, slow baked for a silky texture, within a buttery vintage Cheddar enriched pastry.
A striking centrepiece in a tear-and-share format is presented by the Roasted Vegetable & Cranberry Star. It’s brimming with sweet roasted butternut squash and parsnip, has chestnuts and cranberries adding a festive flavour, and is crowned with puff pastry stars.
The Christmas Veg Fest Wrap on Tesco’s Plant Chef range is inspired by Boxing Day leftovers. A spinach tortilla wrap is crammed with all the veggie hits of Christmas: roasted carrots, sweet parsnips and spiced red cabbage, brought together with a dollop of savoury vegan gravy mayo.
Party Food
Finger food at its British best, the Mini Beef & Gravy Yorkshire Puddings (rsp £3.50, 12-pack) contain pulled beef brisket, rich red wine gravy and horseradish sauce topping.
There’s also Pigs in Blankets Yorkshire Puddings (six-pack) featuring the familiar bacon-wrapped sausages.
Kicking things up a notch of the spicy scale are the Mini Nduja & Pork Wellingtons (rsp £5.50, eight-pack), which come with a hot honey drizzle.
Free From
The Free From Almond & Orange Mincemeat Slices (rsp: £2.50, four-pack) have a gluten-free pastry base with mincemeat, topped with orange and almond frangipane and flaked almonds.
With gluten, wheat and milk all removed from the recipe, the Free From Sticky Toffee Tarts (rsp: £3, four-pack) comprise pastry cases with a sticky toffee filling, topped with shimmered pecan nuts.
Lastly, there’s the Free From Honeycomb Bauble (rsp: £10, 605g), an eye-catching design featuring Belgian dark chocolate, gluten-free shortbread, and honeycomb pieces, hand finished with a bronze lustre.
Sweet Treats & Desserts
Available in a six-pack, the Tesco Finest Mince Pies are made with rich, crumbly, all-butter pastry packed with a mix of plump vine fruits and glace cherries. The filling is infused with French brandy and ruby port, plus a refreshing twist of lemon zest, tangerine oil, and festive spices, while the pie is finished with a gentle dusting of sugar.
The Frangipane Mince Pies (four-pack), meanwhile, feature all-butter pastry filled with layers of citrus-infused mincemeat and Frangipane sponge, hand finished with flaked almond and a sugar dusting.
There’s also the Crumble Topped Mince Pies (six-pack), which have rich all-butter pastry filled with a mic of vine fruits, festive spices and citrus peel, topped with an all-butter crumble.
The Authentic Panettone (750g) is a sweet and buttery Panettone enriched with sultanas and zesty candied citrus peel.
Ready to ignite the festivities is the Vintage 18 Month Matured Christmas Pudding (800g), infused with brandy, Amontillado sherry, and ruby port.
Yet another part of the Chef’s Collection at Tesco is the Morello Cherry Chocolate Delice, which is said to have been inspired by French patisseries. Velvety Belgian chocolate mousse and spiced morello cherry compote is layered on a rich chocolate sponge and crisp cocoa feuilletine base. It is finished with a dark chocolate mirror glaze and a drizzle and flick of liquid gold shimmer.
The Speculoos & Belgian Chocolate Highwall Cheesecake is a deep-filled spiced caramelised Speculoos mascarpone cheesecake with a hidden oozing Belgian chocolate sauce.
Tesco honours Christmas tradition by offering a Create Your Own Gingerbread House (613g), or a Mini Gingerbread Village Kit that includes stencils, icing, and colourful chocolate decorations. Just add butter and golden syrup, and presumably a steady hand and patience. There’s Mini Gingerbread Men (100g) for purchase too.
The Abominable Snowman Cupcakes (four-pack) are made with vanilla sponge, a white chocolate-flavoured filling, vanilla-flavoured frosting, and an adorable sugar decoration.
Even fluffier are the Abominable Snowman Coconut Mallows, mallow cakes with a biscuit base dipped in a chocolate-flavoured coating sprinkled with coconut flakes.
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