For many households across the UK, a lavish tray of chocolate biscuits is as much a part of Christmas as the tree itself. The festive season calls for an upgrade from the everyday malted milk, inviting indulgence with thick layers of chocolate and a generous variety to choose from. But with so many options on the supermarket shelves, which selection truly delivers the Christmas spirit?
The Festive Biscuit Showdown
To find the ultimate Christmas biscuit tin, we put selections from three major supermarkets – Tesco, Aldi, and Marks & Spencer – up against the classic big brand, Fox's. The test considered flavour, quality, chocolate thickness, variety, and, crucially, value for money. The results offered some surprising insights for savvy shoppers.
Tesco's Classic Assortment
Tesco's offering cost £6 for a 400g box and presented a classic line-up of nine Christmas biscuits. The mix included milk chocolate-coated crunchy varieties like a shortcake wheel, Viennese wheel, and club crunch. Festively wrapped gold and red biscuits added more adventurous flavours, such as orange chocolate sundae and vanilla sundae.
While the sampled biscuits did not disappoint, the chocolate coating was not as silky smooth as some rivals and leaned towards a crumblier texture, as did the biscuits themselves. However, they provided a good chocolate hit and a generous coating. The bright red festive box certainly looked the part, though at £6, it wasn't the cheapest option on the shelf.
Rating: 6/10
Aldi's Budget-Friendly Winner
Aldi's nearly identical selection came in at just £4.39 for 400g, offering nine different types of chocolate biscuit. The lower price tag did not compromise on richness; the biscuits were decidedly chocolatey, light, and crumbly with a satisfying crunch. For a selection that mirrored Tesco's but at over £1.50 less, Aldi's tray presented a compelling, value-driven choice.
Rating: 7/10
Marks & Spencer's Indulgent Choice
Positioning itself as a premium option, M&S charged £6.50 for a larger 450g tray containing 10 decadent varieties. The brand promises more chocolate than biscuit, and the claim holds true. The chocolate is super thick and has a notably silky, smooth texture for a seriously indulgent bite.
Beyond the standard milk chocolate regency and fudge cream biscuits, M&S included three wrapped varieties: clementine cream, honeycomb, and vanilla cream. This slight step up in sophistication and flavour innovation justified its position as the most luxurious—though most expensive—pick.
Rating: 8/10
Fox's The Classic Contender
In a surprising twist on value, the well-known Fox's brand offered the largest pack at 550g for £4.50. However, the selection differed in style. It included solid choices like the milk chocolate round and a chocolate-covered milk chocolate fudge sundae, but the rest of the tray was filled with classic Fox's biscuits like Viennese, crunch creams, and jam & cream varieties.
This makes it an excellent option for families with diverse tastes or for Christmas hosting, but it doesn't cater specifically to chocoholics in the same way as the supermarket selections. Its major strength was undeniable value for money.
Rating: 7/10
The Verdict: Value vs. Indulgence
The taste test revealed a clear split between sheer indulgence and smart spending. Marks & Spencer secured the top spot for its luxurious, chocolate-heavy biscuits, making it the winner for a pure festive treat. Yet, for those watching their pennies, Aldi's offering was virtually identical to Tesco's for a significantly lower price, marking it as the best value choice.
Fox's, while excellent value and full of familiar favourites, came in last place for those specifically seeking a chocolate-centric Christmas feast. Ultimately, your perfect biscuit selection depends on whether your priority is premium indulgence, clever budgeting, or a reliable classic assortment for all the family.
