In our quest to eat our way through the entire M&S Christmas food catalogue (we once heard it described as the Argos catalogue for adults, and never has anything been more spot on), the new-for-2026 Pistachio Star was next on our hit list.
We had pretty high hopes. Dubai chocolate might have gone viral years ago now, but we’re still obsessed with anything pistachio. And we know we’re not the only ones.
M&S has already proved it can make magic with pistachio. First came the Pistachio Crème, which we’ve drizzled over everything from pancakes to waffles – and scooped straight from the jar, if we’re honest. Then came the Pistachio Big Daddy bar, which we’ve bought on repeat in both big and mini formats.
And this year, the pistachio treats kept coming: the Strawberry, Chocolate & Pistachio Sandwich and Chocolate & Pistachio Dip both went viral in summer. Then there was the Pistachio Big Daddy Cookie Cup, Pistachio Crème Dipper and Choc Marks Blond Chocolate & Pistachio Bar. Phew. Don’t make us choose a favourite.
And now there’s a new treat to add to the list: the Pistachio Star.
At just £3, it’s a little more affordable than some of the fancy pistachio chocolates out there. It’s 45g, shaped like an eight-point star and finished with a swirly design. Very pretty, obviously. But we’re here for what’s inside.
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The milk and white chocolate surrounds a pistachio crème, white chocolate and wafer centre. The filling is smooth and creamy, with a little saltiness to stop it being too sweet. It has some of the same appeal as Dubai chocolate, but we think it’s better: smoother, with no sticky caramel getting in the way.
Big Daddy fans should be pleased, too. The flavours have a familiar feel, but the Pistachio Star has a much smoother bite.
It’s just the right size to tuck into a stocking – if it makes it that far. At £3, we reckon it’s a bargain, and another very good reason to keep an eye on M&S’s pistachio releases.
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
