I tested supermarket apple pies – the winning dessert costs just 60p a slice and tastes better than homemade
APPLE pie is one of the UK’s most popular desserts, but which supermarket offering is the tastiest?
The treat – which dates back to 1381 – is a comforting pud during the cold winter months.
It’s usually served warm with cream or custard – or ice cream – but it can be delicious when eaten cold, too.
If you don’t have granny’s recipe, or the time to make your own, you could buy one from a supermarket that can be ready to eat in a matter of minutes.
But which is best?
Here Lynsey Hope, 42, from West Malling, Kent, tries out some own-brand apple pies and rates her favourites.
Sainsbury’s Bramley Apple Pie (550g)
£3.65
66p per 100g
Lynsey says: “I was really impressed with this Sainsbury’s apple pie, which is not only great value, but delicious too.
“It had plenty of tangy apples which were cut into nice, sweet juicy slices and the pastry was beautifully cooked and had a nice crunch with a sugary top.
“My favourite. The perfect balance of sharp and sweet.”
Rating: 10/10
M&S Bramley Apple Pie (485g)
£3.50
72.2p per 100g
Lynsey says: “Made with beautifully coloured golden puff pastry, this M&S pie had a lattice design on top which meant you could see the generous amount of apples peeking through.
“It had a mild, sweet aroma, the pastry was buttery and crisp and the apples were tart and sweet.
“Perfect if you have a sweet tooth, but overall, I thought it could have done with being a bit sharper.”
Rating: 8/10
Waitrose Bramley Apple Pie (550g)
£3.95
71.8p per 100g
Lynsey says: “This pie is made with shortcrust pastry and topped with a delicious sprinkling of demerara sugar, which gave it a lovely crunch.
“This contrasted well with the flavour of the tangy apples, of which there were lots. In fact, 47 per cent of the ingredients in this pie are apples.
“It is at the higher end of the price scale, but worth a few extra pennies.
“Worth noting that the Waitrose one is better value per 100g than both Tesco and Asda.”
Rating: 9/10
Tesco Apple Lattice Pie (500g)
£3.85
77p per 100g
Lynsey says: “Fewer apples than most and dangerously sweet.
“The pastry on top was crisp and golden and whilst the lattice design was very attractive, the Tesco pie fell down on flavour.
“The apple flavour was too mild and the filling was dry and underwhelming. And alas, it had a soggy bottom.”
Rating: 4/10
Morrisons Bramley Apple Pie (540g)
£1.50
27.7p per 100g
Lynsey says: “Made at their Market Kitchen counter, this Morrisons pie looked the most home-made and it’s amazing value at just £1.50 and less than 28p per 100g.
“It was intensely tart, so perfect if you love a strong zing.
“The flavour of the apples was quite overpowering and it had a slightly bitter aftertaste.
“In spite of this, I still found it to be quite more-ish, but it might not be for everyone.”
Rating: 6/10
Aldi Bramley Apple Pie (550g)
£2.79
51p per 100g
Lynsey says: “An amazing price from Aldi and this looked really appetising, but I found the apple mushy, with little flavour, and it wasn’t sweet enough.
“The pastry didn’t crisp enough either – it was too pale and soggy.”
Rating: 5/10
Asda The Bakery Bramley Apple Pie (550g)
£4
72.7p per 100g
Lynsey says: “Lovely, buttery pastry but I thought the apple pieces were a bit large, which made this a bit tricky to eat.
“The apples needed more seasoning too. It was also quite hard to cut and looked a bit sloppy on the plate.
“Not the best value either – in fact, even Waitrose and M&S were better value per 100g. I wouldn’t rush back for this Asda treat.”
Rating: 3/10