Christmas might still feel a long way off, but Waitrose has already given us a sneak peek at its festive food collection – and now we can’t resist planning our December shopping list.
You’ll have to wait until 21 September for the main Christmas range to start landing in stores, but that isn’t going to stop us from doing a little festive window shopping.
This year’s range includes more than 380 new or improved products, so there’s plenty to get excited about. From pistachio-packed bakes (still one of the biggest food trends of the year) to adorable Polar Bear Bao Buns and an indulgent carbonara dip, these are the launches we’re most excited to try.
Christmas party food
If this summer has been all about picky teas, Waitrose is betting that trend will continue into Christmas. From adorable bao buns to molten sharing dips and DIY grazing platters, we can’t wait for silly season to begin.
No.1 Handmade Polar Bear Bao Buns, £8.50 for 8
These fluffy bao buns are shaped like tiny polar bears but filled with shredded vegetables in a sweet and sticky hoisin sauce. Cute enough for Christmas Eve nibbles with the family, but sophisticated enough for grown-up entertaining, too.
Creamy Carbonara Hot Melting Dip, £4 for 170g
We’ve lived off loaded dips this summer, so we’re pleased to see they’re sticking around for Christmas. This indulgent carbonara-inspired version is designed to be baked until molten before serving with bread, crudités or crisps.
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Spicy Marg Olives, £4 for 145g
While dirty martinis have dominated cocktail menus recently, spicy margaritas haven’t gone anywhere – and they needn’t be reserved for summer. These citrusy, chilli-spiked olives are made for festive drinks parties.
Create Your Own Grazing Garland, £25 for 707g
Packed with cheese, charcuterie, olives and antipasti, this DIY grazing garland comes with its own marble-effect serving board and step-by-step instructions. It’s a guaranteed talking point and the sort of centrepiece you’ll want to show off on Instagram.
The main event
Sure, turkey will always have its place on the Christmas table, but let’s be honest – it’s everything that goes with it we’re really excited about. These are the mains and sides we’d happily make room for this year.
No.1 Turkey, Chicken & Duck Pie with Champagne Sauce, £40 for 1.6kg
Christmas pies have become A THING over recent years and this luxurious combination of three meats finished with Champagne sauce feels particularly indulgent. Ideal for Boxing Day or smaller festive gatherings.
Waitrose No.1 Wagyu Beef Roast Potatoes, £7.50 for 800g
Roast potatoes are already the best bit of Christmas dinner, so cooking them in Wagyu beef fat sounds like a festive upgrade we can definitely get behind.
No.1 Woodfired Tartiflette Sourdough Pizza, £6.75 for 437g
Tartiflette on a pizza? We’re listening. This indulgent sourdough is topped with creamy Brie, maple-smoked bacon, roast potatoes, confit onions and garlic béchamel – making it one of the cosiest launches in the range.
The sweet treats we’re saving room for
Even if you think you don’t have a sweet tooth, you will after reading this!
Polly the Polar Bear Cheesecake, £14 for 1kg
Waitrose is going all in on polar bears this year and this chocolate cheesecake, complete with Polly's signature golden nose, is guaranteed to raise a smile with guests of all ages.
Orange Spritz Panettone, £12.50 for 750g
If Aperol has fuelled your summer, rest assured it will still be around at Christmas, albeit in panettone form. Cheers!
No.1 Pistachio & Sour Cherry Frangipane Mince Pies, £4 for 4
If you thought the pistachio craze might have peaked, think again. Waitrose is bringing one of this year’s biggest food trends to the festive aisle with its Pistachio & Sour Cherry Frangipane Mince Pies. We’d be surprised if these weren’t among the first bakery launches to sell out.
Maple & Pecan Blondie Pies, £4 for 4
Think of these as the love child of a mince pie and a blondie. Need we say more? If traditional fruity mince pies aren’t your thing, these could be the festive bake for you.
If this first look is anything to go by, we can’t wait to book our Christmas delivery slot and will be counting down to 21 September when the first products land in stores.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
