Supermarkets at opposite ends of the price spectrum have had their products named best buys for the festive season in an annual Christmas taste test.

Rating the best Christmas staples from 13 of the UK's top supermarkets, judges for BBC Good Food magazine blind tested more than 150 products across 20 categories from leading UK supermarkets.

Marks and Spencer took home the most wins in the 2020 Christmas Taste Awards, but discount supermarket Aldi triumphed over other high street brands.

And while 12 supermarkets entered the contest for the best mince pie, it was Spar's luxury version at £2 which won the top prize in the category for the first time.

Waitrose was beaten overall, while Aldi picked up several commendations (

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Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)

The judges said: "These have a lovely golden colour and crumbly, buttery pastry.

"The filling is sweet and jammy, with nice big chunks of plump, soaked fruit and a good hit of citrus from the candied peel."

Morrisons The Best deep-filled mince pies (£2) and Aldi's specially selected mince pies (£1.49) were highly commended in the same category.

Marks and Spencer ran away with a total of eight wins in the categories of gravy, vegetarian main course, vegan main course, gluten-free mince pies, Christmas cake, stollen, yule log and vegan dessert.

The best mince pies of the year come from SPAR (

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Getty Images)

Awarding the supermarket's turkey gravy (£4) the top prize, the judges said it "could pass as homemade".

Waitrose was awarded four wins, including for best pigs in blankets with their No.1 free-range pork chipolatas wrapped in bacon (£4.25), praised as attractive and succulent.

Aldi won two awards, including for best Christmas pudding with their Specially Selected Damson, Plum and Pink Gin Pudding, at £8.99 for 800g, described as sweet and fruity with an almost jelly-like plum centre.

Booths also won in two categories, including best turkey centrepiece for their Ultimate Turkey Feast (£85 for 3.5kg).

Judges said: "With turkey, two types of stuffing and pigs in blankets all in one package, this truly is a feast.

"A succulent turkey crown is stuffed with moist, well-flavoured pork, sage and onion."

M&S was the unanimous winner for gluten free pies (

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Getty Images)

Tesco, Asda and the Co-op took home one win each and both Morrisons and Sainsbury's were highly commended in three categories each.

BBC Good Food editor-in-chief Christine Hayes said: "Getting the most for your money will be more important than ever this Christmas so be sure to check our winners before planning your big shop.

"It's good to see some great-value wins in this year's taste test, all blind-tested by the expert BBC Good Food team."

The mince pie winners:

  • Overall winner: SPAR Luxury Mince Pies (370g), £2, SPAR

  • Highly commended: Morrisons 'The Best' Deep Filled Mince Pies (pack of 6). Buy from Morrisons (£2); Aldi Specially Selected Mince Pies (6-pack). Buy from Aldi (£1.49)

  • Flavoured mince pies: Waitrose Mini mince pie selection 9s, £3, Waitrose & Partners

  • Highly commended: Aldi Specially Selected Millionaires Mince Pies (6-pack), Buy from Aldi (£1.99)

  • Gluten-free mince pies: M&S Made without Wheat gluten-free 4 mince pies (205g), £2.50, M&S

  • Highly commended: Morrisons Free From The Best Maple Crumble Mince Pies (pack of 4). Buy from Morrisons (£2.50)

Panettone winners:

BBC Good Food Magazine Christmas edition is out soon

  • Winner: Waitrose Apricot & Peach Bellini Panettone (500g), £10, Waitrose & Partners

  • Highly commended: M&S Triple Chocolate Panettone (750g). Buy in-store at M&S (£10)

Christmas cake winners:

  • Winner: Collection Perfectly Matured Rich Fruit Cake (907g), Buy in-store at M&S (£10)

  • Highly commended: Waitrose No.1 richly fruited Christmas cake (1.3kg) Buy from Waitrose & Partners (£15); Lidl Deluxe Luxury All Over Iced Christmas Cake (1kg). Buy from Lidl (£6.99)

Vegan dessert  winners:

  • Winner: M&S Gastropub chocolate torte (twin pack, 140g), £3.50

  • Highly commended: Asda Extra Special Vegan Chocolate Cherry Cottages (twin pack, 240g), Buy from ASDA (£3); Waitrose Elderflower, Raspberry & Blackcurrant Jelly (625g) Buy from Waitrose & Partners (£4)

Sharing dessert  winners:

  • Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Belgian Chocolate & Praline Bombe (500g), Buy from Aldi (£5.99)

  • Highly commended: M&S Taste the Difference Tiramichoux Dessert (746g) Buy from Sainsbury's (£12)

Christmas pudding winners:

  • Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Damson, Plum and Pink Gin Pudding (800g), Buy from Aldi (£8.99)

  • Highly commended: Waitrose No.1 12-month matured Christmas pudding with Courvoisier. Buy from Waitrose & Partners (£2 - 100g, £7 - 400g, £12- 800g)

Stollen winners:

  • Winner: M&S Collection Stollen Slices (250g), Buy in-store at M&S (£3)

  • Highly commended: Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Fruit and Nut Stollen (545g). Buy from Sainsbury's (£7); Tesco Finest Cherry & Almond Stollen. Buy from Tesco (£7)

Yule log winners:

  • Winner: M&S Woodland Yule Log (1.05kg), £20, M&S

For your ultimate Christmas guide, pick up the Christmas bumper issue of BBC Good Food, out 29th October