The much-loved Greggs Festive Bake is back for 2024.
Following the usual annual anticipation, the savoury favourite returned to shelves on Thursday, November 7.
Greggs announced the return of its signature bake via social media, posting: "The Festive Bake is back, and you're going to want to get your hands on one."
And that's not all - there is a whole host of festive treats to satisfy your seasonal hunger at Greggs.
Over the last few weeks I have tried the savoury offerings from Gregg's Christmas menu.
I visited the Greggs in Deeside, Mold and Dobshill, but there are Greggs throughout North Wales.
This is what I thought:
Festive Bake
The classic bake is filled with chicken breast pieces, sage and onion stuffing, sweetcure bacon, and a creamy sage and cranberry sauce, all wrapped in a pastry shell topped with breadcrumbs.
The bake does taste Christmassy, the sauce gives a refreshing zest that brings the rest of the flavours and textures together.
Generous pieces of chicken, delicious stuffing, and salty bacon, the Greggs Festive Bake does not disappoint.
The breadcrumbs on the top are a nice, festive touch.
Vegan Festive Bake
A plant-based version, the Vegan Festive Bake, is also back on the menu.
This year, the product is made with vegan puff pastry and filled with Quorn pieces, sage and onion stuffing balls, vegan bacon, and cranberry and red onion sauce.
The pastry is pale - in colour and taste - by comparison and there is no sprinkle of breadcrumbs making it seem less seasonal and special.
It's still a good pasty but, unless you're on a plant-powered diet, there are better options.
Christmas Lunch Baguette
Greggs Christmas menu also includes the return of the Christmas Lunch Baguette, a freshly baked baguette filled with sage and onion-flavoured chicken breast, bacon, onion gravy, cranberry and onion relish, and cheese.
This is a quality sandwich, although a bit pricey by Greggs standards.
The baguette is the same as Greggs other sandwiches though, and I think this is a missed opportunity to make the sandwich stand out.
Festive Flatbread
New to the menu this year is the Festive Flatbread, a warm flatbread stuffed with sage and onion-style chicken mayo, sweetcure bacon, and cranberry and red onion relish.
Although the filling is much the same as the baguette, this is a far more satisfying sandwich.
Definitely my favourite item on the Christmas menu.
Mince Pies
A delicious treat, nothing marks the start of the festive season quite like a mince pie
Made from crumbly shortcrust pastry, filled with a sweet mincemeat made from vine fruits, Bramley apple, candied orange and lemon peel, and finished with a light dusting of icing sugar.
A vegan option is also available.
More
The North East-based bakery has also introduced a range of drinks to its Christmas menu, which I have yet to try.
These include a Mint Hot Chocolate topped with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles, a Mint Mocha, a Gingerbread Latte (hot or iced), and a Gingerbread Flat White.
Again, I haven't tried these but if you're tried any of the sweet treats from Greggs you'll know what to expect.
Nigella Lawson
Greggs has also launched its first-ever Christmas advert, featuring Nigella Lawson.
The 60-second video shows Lawson enjoying various items from Greggs' Christmas menu, including its popular festive bakes.
The TV chef references "sweet mince pies, aromatic gingerbread lattes, and gorgeous Christmas baguettes" in the video.
The festive offerings are available across UK stores, but fans are encouraged to check local availability online.
Whether you're a fan of the original or the vegan version, this year's offerings are sure to satisfy.
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