Last year, M&S caused quite the stir when it launched a Strawberry & Crème Sandwich, inspired by the fruit sandos that are hugely popular in Japan. Some shoppers were immediately intrigued, while others couldn't quite get their heads around the idea of a sweet sandwich.
This year, the retailer is back with a much more indulgent sequel, and after putting it to the test, Team GH has been won over.
Launching today in M&S Foodhalls, the new Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Crème Sandwich (£3.50, 168g) is a limited-edition creation that feels like it was tailor-made for Wimbledon season (it starts on Monday, FYI). And while it might sound unusual on paper, the reality is much closer to a dessert than a sandwich.
The "bread" itself is chocolate-flavoured and has a soft, sweet texture that's much more similar to sponge cake than anything you'd use for your lunchtime sando. Inside, the filling is impressively generous. One side is packed with a rich Belgian dark chocolate sauce that tastes remarkably similar to a thick chocolate ganache, while the other features a smooth pistachio crème made from 100% roasted pistachios. Running through the centre are M&S's famously sweet and perfectly ripe British strawberries, which bring freshness and juiciness to every bite.
The result is something that tastes remarkably like a chocolate-covered strawberry, with the pistachio adding a subtle nutty richness to the mix. Our team had mixed expectations before trying it, but most were pleasantly surprised.
"Not that bad! I feel like because it's in a sandwich it really freaks me out, but it's actually quite nice," said Frankie.
What to read next
Maddie agreed, adding: "It's more like a cake than a sandwich. That's really good!" Although she did note it was "a bit messy to eat" moments before dropping a piece into her lap.
For Mel, it was the filling that stood out most. "There's loads of filling and it really reminds me of chocolate-covered strawberries. It's really quite good, but I'm not getting much pistachio flavour through."
Alongside the new launch, M&S has also brought back its original Red Diamond Strawberry & Crème Sandwich (£2.80, 136g), which sold an astonishing 75,000 sandwiches in just five days when it launched last summer.
The Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Crème Sandwich is only available as a half sandwich, but given how rich and satisfying it is, that's probably all you'll need. If you were sceptical about sweet sandwiches last year, this might just be the one that changes your mind. Consider us fans.
Mel is the Senior Food & Drink Writer for Good Housekeeping UK, covering all the delicious new product launches that come her way, writing about food and drink topics, and curating gift guides for the best foodie products to buy. Alongside that, she can be found developing and creating cocktails for GH and holds her WSET Level 2 in Wine and Spirits. She was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute food testing team for over four years before moving over to the digital side, so knows a thing or two about great food products. You'll find her scouring the supermarket shelves in her spare time for new and exciting ingredients to experiment with in her kitchen.
