I tested supermarket Christmas puddings – bargain winner is high-end and worth every penny, plus it beats Aldi

CHRISTMAS pudding is falling out of favour - with many Brits preferring to indulge themselves with a Panettone over the festive season.

Upmarket department store Selfridges claimed to be selling three times more Panettone than puddings - and sales were falling at Waitrose too.

Asda though said Christmas puddings were still selling well, with many of us still including one on our Christmas menu.

Christmas pudding is a rich and dense dessert, usually made with fruit, spices, breadcrumbs, egg and a generous helping of brandy or rum.

Most can be microwaved in just minutes on the big day, so they are easy too.

Shop-bought puds will of course vary in the amount and type of booze they put in, the level of fruit and nuts they contain and moistness and texture.

But which is best?

We asked Lynsey Hope, 42, from West Malling, Kent, to try out some supermarket offerings and share her verdict:

M&S Food Collection Perfectly Matured Christmas Pudding (907g)

• £15
• £1.65 per 100g 

Full of flavour with a generous splash of alcohol as well as good helpings of fruit and whole almonds The Braeburn apple flavour goes well with the brandy and cognac.

At the pricier end of the scale, but it comes in a handmade tea towel which makes it a nice gift.

• Taste: 9/10
• Value: 8/10
• Overall score: 8/10

Tesco Finest Christmas Pudding (400g)

• £5
• £1.25 per 100g

Quite a boozy offering from Tesco, this pudding is made with vine fruits, glace cherries, cider, brandy, Amontillado sherry, cognac AND port.

All that alcohol really packs a punch and gives this a deep flavour.

It's packed with flavour and nicely spiced.

The sponge was a bit dry and perhaps too boozy. This one is best reserved for grown-ups.

• Taste: 4/10
• Value: 6/10
• Overall score: 5/10

Asda Extra Special Jewelled Topped Christmas Pudding (800g)

• £12
• £1.50 per 100g

Quite a show stopper, Asda's pud has a beautiful jewelled fruit topping which makes it stand out from the crowd.

Taste wise it is quite traditional with hints of candied orange peel and a moist, sweetly spiced dough.

There's a strong brandy presence too, which went down a treat.

• Taste: 10/10
• Value: 9/10
• Overall score: 9/10

Waitrose No 1 Christmas Pudding (400g)

• £7.50
• £1.88 per 100g

Dome-shaped with a lovely sheen, this pud looked very appetising and I couldn't wait to tuck in.

You can microwave for two and a half minutes or steam for an hour.

It's made with plump vine fruits, cream, pecan nuts and a generous splash of cognac, which give it a rich and creamy flavour.

It's light and not sickly at all, with a slight hint of marmalade.

It's expensive though - £1.90 more than a similar pud from Waitrose in 2022 - and the most expensive per 100g.

• Taste: 8/10
• Value: 6/10
• Overall score: 7/10

Aldi Specially Selected Christmas Pudding (400g)

• £4.49
• £1.12 per 100g

Aldi's pud had a lovely sweetness and I enjoyed the fruity aroma of the sultanas, currants and raisins.

The texture as light and moist and it was very boozy thanks to the cognac, rum, stout and brandy soaked glace cherries.

It's also the cheapest pudding per 100g, and for the price, it's a great budget option.

• Taste: 9/10
• Value: 10/10
• Overall score: 10/10

Morrisons The Best Christmas Pudding (400g)

• £5
• £1.25 per 100g

Not "The Best" but not the worst either.

It has a lovely aroma and lots of vine fruit, which was the overriding flavour.

The sponge was lovely and rich and but it was lacking sweetness and spice.

There wasn't enough booze either. It looked darker than a traditional pud, but the texture was nice.

• Taste: 6/10
• Value: 7/10
• Overall score: 6/10

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference 18 Month Matured Christmas Pudding (800g)

• £10.50
• £1.31 per 100g

Sainsbury's offering had the most homemade feel, thanks to plump sultanas, raisins and currants.

It had a well-balanced flavour with lots of sweetness and tasted perfect with a dollop of cream.

The price isn't bad, I'd go back for more before Christmas Day.

• Taste: 9/10
• Value: 8/10
• Overall score: 9/10

Lidl Deluxe 22 Month Matured Christmas Pudding (800g)

• £9.99
• £1.24 per 100g 

This is Lidl's higher end pud but it's still one of the cheapest, beaten only by Aldi on price per 100g - and it's worth every penny.

It had an appealing smell, a classic look and it was moist and light.

The flavours were delicate and not overpowering and the level of alcohol was spot on - just enough to give you a kick after your turkey.

Loved it, definitely my favourite. I think this would be a hit at any Christmas gathering.

• Taste: 10/10
• Value: 10/10
• Overall score: 10/10