Even the most dedicated cooks pepper in a few readymade options at Christmas. There are plenty of excellent products to choose from and, with our guide to the best, you can be sure of making quality choices. It took a lot of tasting, quibbling and honing down, but here at your service is a round-up of our favourite nibbles, puds, snacks and ready-meals… Enjoy!
The big taste test.
ALDI
1. Specially Selected Five-Year Cheddar Bake Oozy, cheesy bakes for dipping are all the rage, and this one has good depth of flavour from the aged cheddar. £5.99 for 300g; from 8 Dec
2. Specially Selected Rostis A great freezer buy for a special brunch. Choose between Sweet Potato & Butternut Squash or Carrot, Beetroot & Broccoli. Just add a poached egg on top. £2.99 for 300g
WAITROSE
3. Chestnut-fed Galician Serrano Ham Editor Karen’s top choice: a rich taste of northern Spain for party nibbles – no prep required. £6 for 80g; from 29 Nov
4. Cinnamon Bunettone Panettone meets cinnamon bun: a buttery Italian cake with pockets of mascarpone sauce and a cinnamon icing sugar topping. £8 for 500g
LUXE ROAST BEEF
5. Beef Fillet with Truffle & Porcini Butter Dish up an umami explosion with this exquisite beef fillet. The meat is ultra-tender and the flavour outstanding. £14 for 630g (serves 4); from 13 Dec
ALSO LOOK OUT FOR...
Crumble Mince Pies with Orange and Cranberry So zesty... £3.75 for 4
SAINSBURY’S
6. Smoked Haddock Rarebit Generous and luxurious, ideal for a chilly betwixtmas evening. Serve with sourdough bread or baguette for dipping. £10 for 500g; from 8 Dec
GLUTEN-FREE TREAT
7. Taste the Difference Free From Caramelised Chocolate Orange Cookies A delightful balance of citrus, spice and chocolate, with a soft, shortbread-like texture. £2.50 for 150g
ICELAND
8. Maltesers Bubble Dessert One of Iceland’s Mars range of puds (including corner shop favourites such as Bounty and Snickers). A fun bubbly-shaped chocolate shell encases moreishly malty, airy mousse. Not suitable for vegetarians. £10 for 560g (serves 9)
9. Mary Berry Iced Fruit Cake Another Iceland exclusive. Just as you’d hope, this cake is uber moist, with plenty of fruit, a pleasing hum of booze and crunchy nibs of almonds. Also available as a bar. £10 for 900g (serves 12) or £4.50 for 400g (serves 8)
BOOTHS
10. Venison Lasagne with Pancetta and Red Wine Tender venison and rich bechamel marry harmoniously in this comforting dinner, a standby treat to keep in the freezer. £12 for 800g (serves 2; online o
