Good Food reveals the winners of its 2024 Easter Supermarket Taste Test - after panel of judges blind-tasted more than 100 hot cross buns, chocolate eggs and simnel cakes
- The judges blind-tasted over 100 items, giving each a score out of 10
- READ MORE: The great hot cross bun taste test! We sample 39 Easter treats from supermarkets to see which bake comes out on top
Good Food, the UK's number one food media brand, has revealed the winners of its Easter Supermarket Taste Test 2024.
The company invited nine supermarkets to submit their best treats across 15 categories, including hot cross buns, chocolate eggs and simnel cakes.
The judges blind-tasted over 100 items, giving each a score out of 10.
The winners include Aldi's hot cross buns, Asda's cook in the bag lamb, and Sainsbury's giant honeycomb Easter egg.
In addition to the winners, the Good Food judging panel recognised high-scoring products with a 'highly commended' status.
Good Food has revealed the winners of its 2024 Easter Supermarket Taste Test
The products were put through a rigorous testing process, with all packaging removed before being presented to the judges.
The comments and score out of 10 were submitted for each product via anonymous online judging forms - and the entire process was overseen by an independent adjudicator.
Lulu Grimes, managing editor at Good Food, said: 'Every year the Good Food Supermarket Taste Test Awards prove that you can eat well, and save time in the kitchen at Easter without spending a huge amount.
'The best Easter treats we found were not always the most expensive, and there's a lot of creativity with flavour combinations.
'Or you can use some of the winners to make one of our thoroughly-tested Good Food recipes - social media is loving our hot cross bun bacon butties!'
Winners of the Good Food Easter Supermarket Taste Test Awards 2024
Best milk chocolate egg: Sainsbury's Belgian Honeycomb Corn Crunch Giant Easter Egg, £8
Sainsbury's Belgian Honeycomb Corn Crunch Giant Easter Egg has been named the best milk chocolate Easter egg by Good Food
Judges loved the unique flavour of this luxurious egg. Aiming to recreate the flavour of a nostalgic cornflake cake, this has a moreish balance of sweet-salty flavour.
They said: The chocolate is studded with nuggets of honeycomb and crunchy roasted corn.
Best dark chocolate egg: Morrisons The Best Dark Chocolate Himalayan Sea Salt Easter Egg, £5
Morrisons The Best Dark Chocolate Himalayan Sea Salt Easter Egg has been named Good Food's best dark chocolate egg
The judges said: A good dark chocolate for an Easter egg, this has a really smooth texture, subtle balanced bitterness and hint of salt.
Best white chocolate egg: Waitrose The Cracking Pistachio, £14
Waitrose The Cracking Pistachio has been named Good Food's best white chocolate Easter egg
Judges loved the unique design of this egg, shaped to look like a giant pistachio nut.
They said: The winning element is the ultra creamy blonde chocolate 'shell', which was incredibly moreish - but it is worth noting that the green pistachio inner has quite a weak flavour despite the vibrant colour.
Best vegan egg: Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Free From Extra Thick Rocky Road Easter Egg, £8
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Free From Extra Thick Rocky Road Easter Egg has been named Good Food's best vegan alternative
The judges said: This chocolate has a good thickness, studded with crunchy biscuit pieces and fluffy marshmallows to add interest.
The chocolate is sweet and has a simple ridged design on the outside.
Best children's egg: Sainsbury's Choc-a-lot Bunny Box, £6.50 (joint winner)
Sainsbury's Choc-a-lot Bunny Box was the joint winner of Good Food's chocolate Easter egg for children
The judges said: This box of goodies contains everything you need to throw an Easter egg hunt – large and small eggs, plus chocolate lollipops too. The box is a fun concept with games on the packaging and a guide to making an Easter bunny costume from the box too.
Best children's egg: Asda Belgian White Chocolate Charli The Chick, £4.40 (joint winner)
Asda Belgian White Chocolate Charli The Chick was the other joint winner in the children's category
The judges said: Kids will love this sweet white chocolate egg with a cute chick design.
The white chocolate is impressive quality - rich, creamy and sweet. A great gift.
Best chocolate bunny: M&S Nibbles The Bunny, £3 (joint winner)
M&S' Nibbles The Bunny was the joint winner in Good Food's chocolate Easter bunny category
The judges said: This adorable design is sure to be popular with children – almost too cute to eat! The chocolate tastes a little bit darker than some others we tested, for a touch more depth of flavour.
Best chocolate bunny: Aldi Specially Selected Milk Hazelnut Bunny, £1.69 (joint winner)
Aldi Specially Selected Milk Hazelnut Bunny was the joint winner in Good Food's chocolate Easter bunny category
The judges said: Easter bunnies aren't just for kids. This hazelnut bunny has a more grown-up flavour, with lots of crunchy nuts throughout and smooth chocolate on a simplistic design.
Best miniature eggs: M&S Collection Swiss Mini Eggs, £3.50
M&S Collection Swiss Mini Eggs won Good Food's mini eggs category in their Easter top picks
These smart foil-wrapped milk chocolate eggs have a soft hazelnut centre for a distinctly grown up treat.
Best classic hot cross buns: Aldi Specially Selected Hot Cross Buns, £1.25
Aldi Specially Selected Hot Cross Buns won the best classic hot bun category in Good Food's Easter picks
The judges said: These attractive hot cross buns have a shiny glaze and generous amount of fruit dispersed throughout.
The raisins are plump and the dough has good squishy texture.
Best alternative hot cross buns: Waitrose Belgian Chocolate Hot Cross Buns, £2
The judges said of Waitrose's chocolate hot cross buns: 'A good twist on a classic hot cross bun that any sweet tooth will enjoy'
The judges said: These have a rich chocolate flavour with big chocolate chips - a good twist on a classic hot cross bun that any sweet tooth will enjoy.
Best savoury hot cross buns: M&S Extremely Cheesy Hot Cross Buns, £2
M&S' Extremely Cheesy Hot Cross Buns won Good Food's savoury hot cross bun category
The cheese flavour of these buns appealed to all judges, with good texture to the bread and slight chew.
They said: One of these buns would make an extremely decadent grilled cheese sandwich.
Best Easter dessert: Aldi Specially Selected Banoffee Hot Cross Bun Pudding, £3.99 (joint winner)
Aldi's Specially Selected Banoffee Hot Cross Bun Pudding was the joint winner of the Best Easter dessert category
Judges loved this comforting pud - crispy top, squidgy custardy centre and lots of fruit and spice from the hot cross buns.
They said: It is very indulgent and sweet.
Best Easter dessert: M&S Easter Lamb Meets Colin The Caterpillar, £12 (joint winner)
M&S' Easter Lamb Meets Colin The Caterpillar was the joint winner of Good Food's best Easter dessert
The judges said: Who doesn't love a Colin the Caterpillar cake? For this Easter makeover, you get two signature chocolatey cakes as Colin meets a lamb.
It's a fun Easter centrepiece that would make a great dessert if you've got lots of kids to feed over the Easter weekend.
Best simnel cake: Waitrose Easter Simnel Cake, £13
The judges said of the Waitrose simnel cake: 'The cake is generously spiced and the marzipan gives good depth of almond flavour'
The judges said: This classic simnel cake has a pretty design and lovely texture. The cake is generously spiced and the marzipan gives good depth of almond flavour.
Best Easter lunch centrepiece: Asda Succulent Cook In The Bag Lamb Shoulder (joint winner)
Asda's Succulent Cook In The Bag Lamb Shoulder was the joint winner of Good Food's Best Easter Lunch Centrepiece
The judges said: If you want lamb at Easter, this is a super-easy pick. The 'cook in the bag' method keeps the meat really juicy and it is well seasoned.
Best Easter lunch centrepiece: Waitrose No.1 Lamb Leg With Rosemary, £34.20 (joint winner)
Waitrose's No.1 Lamb Leg With Rosemary was the joint winner of Good Food's Best Easter Lunch Centrepiece
The judges said: If you've got more people to feed at Easter, this Waitrose lamb leg is a great way to feed a crowd.
We were impressed by how easy it was to cook and carve, whilst the herbs on top give the juicy meat flavour.
