Sainsbury’s has unveiled its upmarket Taste the Difference Christmas range, with party food, desserts and festive drinks.

Highlights include mini wagyu beef cheeseburgers, a 35-day dry-aged Aberdeen Angus rump joint, and chicken bao buns. On the sweet side, there’s an Irish coffee ‘Tira-Merry-Su’, a glossy chocolate Sleigh de Noel and a jewelled stollen wreath.

“While food sits at the heart of our festive traditions, it’s fair to say most of us want maximum flavour and impact without compromising on time spent with nearest and dearest,” says Sainsbury’s director of innovation James Campbell. “We’re excited to be launching a new range of innovative Taste the Difference drinks and dishes that will help make it even easier for you to wow guests with fantastic flavour at great value.”

In drinks, the NPD team has taken inspiration from the Dubai chocolate trend with a new pistachio & chocolate Irish cream liqueur, as well as new launches to its Discovery range from wine to cognac. 

Sainsbury’s is also hoping to capture shoppers looking for gifts, with new Italian panettones, free-from chocolate shortbread tins and allergen-friendly chocolate baubles in the lineup.

Party food

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Party Food - Christmas 2025

Wagyu Beef Cheeseburgers

£6/pack of eight
Available from 19 November

Mini wagyu burgers made with West Country vintage cheddar and smoky tomato ketchup.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Party Food - Christmas 2025

Crispy Chicken Bao Buns

£6/pack of eight
Available from 19 November

Bao pockets made with British chicken coated in a Japanese style crumb.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Party Food - Christmas 2025

Vegetable Money Bags

£5.50/pack of 12
Available from 19 November

Handmade multi-coloured vegetable dim sum parcels filled with vegetables.

 

Starters

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Starters - Christmas 2025

Lobster Prawn Cocktails

£6.50
Serves two
Available from 20 December

Prawn cocktail with Canadian lobster, cold water prawns and a marie rose sauce.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Starters - Christmas 2025

Lobster Mac & Cheese

£4.75
Serves two
Available from 10 December

Mac & cheese featuring Canadian lobster, cheddar cheese sauce, with lobster stock, double cream and English mustard. Topped with garlic breadcrumbs.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Starters - Christmas 2025

Speyside Whiskey & Ginger Smoked Scottish Salmon

£4.75
Serves two
Available from 10 December

Scottish salmon, cold smoked over whisky barrel chips and marinaded in ginger and Taste the Difference Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky. 

 

Mains

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Discovery 35-Day Aged Rump Joint - Christmas 2025

Discovery 35-Day Dry Aged Aberdeen Angus Rump Joint

£25
Serves eight to 10
Available from 20 December

Taste the Difference Discovery 35-Day salt dry aged Aberdeen angus rump joint with a tarragon and pepper cream sauce. 

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Dry Cure Gammon - Christmas 2025

Dry Cure Gammon with a Bramley Apple & Caramel Sauce

£25
Serves eight to 10
Available from 12 December

Dry cured gammon joint covered in a spiced apple rub, chunky bramley apple and sweet caramel glaze. Cooks in 150 minutes.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Mushroom Wellington - Christmas 2025

Mushroom Wellington

£8
Serves four
Available from 3 December

Seasoned portobello and chestnut mushrooms wrapped in puff pastry.

 

Food to go

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Sandwiches - Christmas 2025

Festive Cheddar & Chutney Sandwich

£4.25
Available from 20 October

Stuffing-flavoured cheddar, stuffing gravy mayo mix and apple & grape chutney between slices of onion bread.

Shredded Duck & Stuffing Brioche Roll

£4.50
Available from 20 October

Shredded aromatic duck, gravy-soaked stuffing, mayo, mulled wine pickled cabbage and spring onions in soft brioche. 

 

Gifting

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Shortbread & Panettone - Christmas 2025

Cherry & Amaretto Panettone

£12
Available from 8 October

Italian panettone filled with cherry and amaretto, topped with hazelnut glaze and almonds.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Present Tin

£8
Serves nine
Available from 29 September

All-butter shortbread rounds with Belgian chocolate chips, made in the Scottish Highlands, in a marble-effect gift tin.

 

Free From

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Free From Treats - Christmas 2025

Free From Chocolate Baubles

£4.50
Serves three
Available from 7 September

Mini chocolate truffles with salted caramel filling, free from gluten and milk, packaged in a Christmas tree-shaped box.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Free From Treats - Christmas 2025

Free From Chocolate Tiffin Bauble

£10
Serves six
Available from 7 September

Golden caramel-flavoured chocolate tiffin bauble made without gluten or milk, with biscuit pieces and fruit with a lustre finish. 

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Free From Treats - Christmas 2025

Free From Chocolate Orange Brownies

£4.50
Serves three
Available from 7 September

Gluten-free chocolate brownies with orange flavour.

 

Desserts

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Desserts - Christmas 2025

Irish Coffee Tira-Merry-Su

£12
Serves six
Available from 20 December

Layered with savoiardi sponge fingers, Irish coffee-soaked sponge and a mascarpone cream infused with whisky, finished with chocolate flakes and cocoa powder.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Desserts - Christmas 2025

Sleigh de Noel

£25
Serves eight
Available to pre-order from 18 September

A chocolate and orange mousse with a dark chocolate and wafer base, finished with a chocolate mirror glaze and gold flecks.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Desserts - Christmas 2025

Polar Peak

£20
Serves eight
Available from 20 December

A caramelised biscuit sauce, chocolate mousse and crunchy milk chocolate base hidden beneath peaks of white chocolate.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Puddings & Stollen Wreath - Christmas 2025

Jewelled Stollen Wreath

£15
Serves 12
Available from 8 October

Spiced stollen in a festive wreath with brandy-soaked fruits, orange liqueur and marzipan centre, topped with cherries, apricots and almonds.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Puddings & Stollen Wreath - Christmas 2025

By Sainsbury’s Toasty S’mores Pie

£14
Serves eight
Available from 20 December

A Belgian chocolate ganache, cookie and fudge brownie base and toasted marshmallows topping.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Puddings & Stollen Wreath - Christmas 2025

Toffee Nutcracker Christmas Pudding

£8.50
Serves six
Available from 8 October

Brandy and rum, almonds and walnuts, vine fruits, candied citrus and fudge pieces finished with toffee sauce.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Carol-mel Treats - Christmas 2025

Carol-Mel Mince Pies

£3.50/pack of four
Available from 8 October

Spiced caramel mincemeat pies with all-butter pastry and a layer of spiced caramel sauce.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Carol-mel Treats - Christmas 2025

Salted Caramel Frangipane Tarts

£3.50/pack of two
Available from 8 October

Caramel and almond frangipane in buttery pastry.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Carol-mel Treats - Christmas 2025

Caramel Custard & Mince Pie Tarts

£3.50/pack of two
Available from 5 December

Mincemeat and buttery shortcrust pastry topped with muscovado caramel custard and crumbly flapjack.

 

Alcohol

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Fizz - Christmas 2025

Christmas Prosecco Rosé

£12/75cl
Available from 12 October

Blush pink prosecco with notes of white peach, wild strawberry and zesty citrus. 

Rhubarb, Raspberry & Clementine Bucks Fizz

£4.50/75cl
Available from 12 October

A blend of white wine, orange, rhubarb and raspberry juice.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Irish Cream Liqueurs - Christmas 2025

Pistachio & Chocolate Irish Cream Liqueur

£10/70cl
Available from 28 September

Made with triple-distilled Irish whiskey and fresh cream, with pistachio and chocolate flavours inspired by Dubai chocolate.

Banoffee Pie Irish Cream Liqueur

£10/70cl
Available from 28 September

Cream liqueur with triple-distilled Irish whiskey, fresh cream and banoffee pie flavours.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Spirits & British Cheeses- Christmas 2025

Discovery VSOP Calvados Pays D’auge

£26/50cl
Available from 28 September

Crafted from 100% pays d’auge apples and aged in French oak casks with notes of toffee apple, candied citrus, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Discovery XO Cognac Fine Champagne

£38.50/50cl
Available from 28 September

Crafted with 100% ugni blanc grapes and aged over 10 years in French oak barrels. Notes of candied fruits, cacao and cinnamon.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Discovery Wines - Christmas 2025

Discovery Rousette de Savoie No 50

£14/75cl
Available from 12 October

Crisp and aromatic white wine with a balance of freshness and subtle richness.

Discovery Patagonian Chardonnay No 48

£16/75cl
Available from 12 October

Cool-climate chardonnay with bright acidity, ripe orchard fruits and a touch of oak.

Discovery Terrasses du Larzac No 51

£14/75cl
Available from 12 October

Southern French red with dark fruit and herb notes. 

Discovery Loire Sparkling No 49

£12/70cl
Available from 12 October

Sparkling wine with citrus zest and floral notes, fine bubbles and a crisp finish.

 

Sainsbury_s Taste the Difference Blackcurrant Spritzes - Christmas 2025

Non-Alcoholic Blackcurrant Spritz

£4
Serves six
Available from 5 October

Alcohol-free spritz with natural blackcurrant flavouring.

Blackcurrant Spritz

£6.50
Serves six
Available from 28 September

Lightly sparkling wine with natural blackcurrant flavouring.