Waitrose caters for festive feasts with Christmas 2024 bakery range

Adorable Santa-themed snacks, alcohol-laced cakes, and sparkling desserts are among the bakery items set to shine in the Christmas line-up at Waitrose this year.

The retailer has unveiled a total of 175 new products for 2024 as part of its 544-strong Christmas range. Latest food trends have been employed across the line-up, including new nostalgia, ‘boujee boozy’, and celebratory centrepieces.

Waitrose noted it was clear that its customers were already starting to think about their festive menus, with searches for ‘Christmas’ on its website nearly quadrupling over the past month. It was anticipating an even bigger yuletide trading period in 2024 as searches for Christmas Food to Order had increased by 180% compared to the same period last year.

“Whether you want options to elevate further or fuss-free good food with no prep, we have created a range that ticks the box for everyone this Christmas,” commented Maddy Wilson, director of own brand at Waitrose.

Here we unwrap the best of the bakery presents launching at Waitrose stores over the coming months:

Mini Mulled Cranberry Pork Pies

Comprising cured British pork in hot water crust pastry, the pies are topped with a tangy mulled wine cranberry glaze and hand-finished with a pastry star.

Rsp: £4 (four-pack)

Santa Bao Buns

As an eye-catching buffet bite, these hand-made mini bao buns are pillowy soft and dual-decorated with either Saint Nick’s face or his rotund, red-suited belly. They are filled with shredded vegetables in a sweet, sticky hoisin sauce.

Crab & Brown Butter Crumpets

Another option for a Christmas party spread is these mini crumpets topped with a rich crab gratin, which includes spiced brown butter, crème fraiche, cheese, lemon juice, chives, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, and smoked paprika.

Christmas Spiced Wiltshire Ham and French Brie Sandwich

A food-to-go feast of festive flavours! The ham is honey roasted and blood orange spiced, and paired with creamy Brie, cranberry sauce, mayonnaise, and spinach on oat and barley bread. Also stocked by Waitrose from November is the Merry Club’mas Sandwich filled with shredded chicken, bacon, gravy mayo, Cheddar, and onions on malted bread.

Waitrose No.1 Red Velvet Bauble Dessert

This “truly decadent” showstopper rolling out in mid-December is made up of creamy white chocolate and mascarpone mousse, tangy raspberry, and redcurrant compote, with a crunchy feuilletine and cocoa sponge base. “It’s finished with a red lustre (because what’s Christmas without some sparkle?), and we’ve also added decorative bauble shells so that customers can have fun adding their own finishing touch at home,” said Emily Bundy, partner & dessert product developer.

It will also be available as a smaller two-pack (rsp: £4.50)

Waitrose Limoncello Fizz Panettone

Made to a traditional recipe in a family-run bakery in Piedmont, Italy, this panettone takes over 24 hours to create. In contains candied lemon peel and pockets of limoncello filling, and is infused with sparkling wine syrup. Fizzy sherbet lemon sugar can be sprinkled over to finish before serving.

Rsp: £12 (750g)

Jewelled Cointreau & Cranberry Christmas Pudding

A traditional Christmas pud with a twist, it’s laced with a warming hit of Cointreau and topped with cranberries, glacé cherries and almonds.

Rsp: £15 (800g)

Golden Limoncello Stollen Bites

These sweet treats feature plump golden sultanas and golden cherries, with a marzipan centre, and dipped in melted butter and zingy Limoncello liqueur.

Rsp: £4 (nine-pack)

Brown Butter Frangipane Mince Pies

Another twist on tradition, these pies see brown butter adding a nutty flavour to the pastry that perfectly complements a rich mincemeat laced with amaretto, and a sweet almond frangipane on top. They are hand-finished with crunchy caramelised almonds. There’s also an even boozier version with cognac.

Rsp: £4 (nine-pack)

Sweet Snowman Cupcakes

Tipped to become a Christmas family favourite are these cute chocolate cupcakes, which are topped with vanilla buttercream and hand-piped decorations.

Rsp: £4.40 (four-pack)

Waitrose is also set to give its in-store bakery a festive makeover from November. New grab-and-go items will include:

• Christmas Spiced Bun – Danish pastry with a sweet, spiced filling, topped with vanilla flavour fondant and a sweet ginger dusting
• Cranberry and Orange Pastel De Nata – crisp puff pastry filled with cranberry compote and orange custard, finished with dried cranberries
• Florentine Mince Pie – all-butter pastry with vine fruit, candied mixed peel, glacé cherries and festive spices, finished with a crunchy almond topping
• Giant Cinnamon Knot – buttery biscuit with cinnamon and caramelised sugar