It’s time to get your stores of Christmas food and drink in so you’re all set to welcome friends and family round the table, for a New Year’s Eve party, in front of the fire – or round the telly come to that. Where better to shop than Aldi? Aldi Christmas food has been lauded in professional taste testing, its wines and spirits often win awards, and we can vouch for the fabulous selection of Christmas party food.
So, here's our best picks for you to grab on your festive trolley dash.
Aldi Christmas dinner best buys
Of course, you can find a tasty turkey or turkey crown in the range at Aldi, but how about the store’s British turkey parcel? It’s made with turkey breast (thus pleasing everyone who prefers this part of the bird), plus it has a pork and cranberry stuffing and is finished with streaky bacon (thus pleasing the chef who can spend less time prepping and more time enjoying). The stuffing’s gluten free, too.
The main event has to come with all the trimmings, including pigs in blankets, we say. For the spectacle, though, it’s hard to beat Aldi’s take: the two metre long pig in blanket. Yes, that’s really two metres of British pork seasoned with spices.
Vegan in the family – or perhaps that’s you? We love Aldi’s vegan wreath centrepiece, which will look the part at the centre of a festive spread. It’s made with a chestnut mushroom, butternut squash and fruit stuffing – delicious. And don’t just take our word for it, BBC Good Food made this the winner in its vegan main course category of the Christmas taste awards 2019.
Aldi Christmas pudding best buys
The Aldi exquisite vintage pudding has been praised for its wonderful flavour and we second that. This is a proper traditional pud, handmade with currants, sultanas, raisins and, of course, a bit of booze as well. We can’t wait to set this beauty alight.
Good Housekeeping’s testers were ‘hooked on the balanced flavour of sweet fruit, gentle booze and nuttiness of the almonds’ in the Aldi mulled morello cherry pudding, and we’re huge fans as well. This pud will make an impact at the table then get lots of requests for seconds.
We know not everyone’s a fan of Christmas pudding, so here’s a brilliant alternative dessert from Aldi. The exquisite chocolate bauble is made with Fairtrade white chocolate and gingerbread and has a cranberry and hazelnut filling. Oh, and there are 12 hand-decorated chocolates as well to keep everyone happy.
Aldi mince pies best buy
You don’t want to run out of mince pies to serve to drop-ins, stayers, and the family now, do you? And what better tasty nibble to have ready than Aldi’s specially selected mince pies? They were highly rated in Good Housekeeping’s Christmas testing, and we think they’re a top buy, too. They’re fabulously festive set out on a cake plate with their snowflake top, and they taste as good as they look.
Aldi Christmas cake best buy
Didn’t make your own Christmas cake? No problem: this beauty will fill the gap. The Aldi luxury all over iced cake is traditional in style with sultanas, raisins, glacé cherries and almonds, and a brandy infusion. It’s finished with white icing and marzipan with an edible icing decoration. Who’d turn down a slice? Not us.
Aldi Christmas party food best buys
Mini burgers look cute on a serving plate, and these are packed with taste, too. Opt for Aldi’s mini sliders and you can choose from Mexican versions made with British pork, jalapeño melt and a spicy red pepper and tomato relish, or 10 cheeseburgers made with British beef, Cheddar melt and smokehouse ketchup. Yep, we’ll just help ourselves to another, if you don’t mind.
Here’s a tasty looking treat your party guests won’t hesitate to help themselves to. This cranberry, sage and onion tear and share bread with Camembert has a whole ready-to-bake French cheese at the centre. Excuse us while our mouths water.
These dim sum will satisfy vegans – but buy extra because we can guarantee that everyone will be picking up these delightful nibbles. The selection includes four char siu mushroom and jackfruit bao buns, four curry vegetable shuimai and four five-spice jackfruit dumplings. Oh, and these got the Good Housekeeping Institute seal of approval, too.
Aldi Christmas wine best buys
Fizz fans, Aldi’s Lot Folletto D'Oro Prosecco DOCG is ideal for all sorts of meals and get-togethers over the festive season. At £9.99, it’s a purse-friendly price, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be compromising on taste – it was commended in the International Wine Challenge. It promises elegant nuances of apple, peach and acacia flowers on the nose, and that it’s supple, full bodied and rich on the palate. Cheers.
Here’s another brilliantly priced tipple commended in the International Wine Challenge. This red Iron Horse Barossa Valley Shiraz is a great partner to red meats. Flavours of dark fruit, creamy chocolate and cracked pepper and a price of £6.99 a bottle are a winning combo in our book.
Also award-winning, this Aldi Freeman’s Bay New Zealand Pinot Gris white wine is off-dry with flavours of melon, yellow pear and a Christmas-appropriate twist of spice. It’ll keep visitors happy, and, at £6.99, it‘s kind on your bank balance as well.