The year of the DIY mince pie! Britons are baking nearly twice as many of the traditional Christmas treats this year

We’ve had bags of time to burnish our baking skills in 2020. And, with the festive season almost upon us, it seems we’ve moved from banana bread to more traditional treats.

Figures have revealed that Britons are baking nearly twice as many mince pies this year as they did in 2019. 

At Tesco, sales of shortcrust and puff pastry are up nearly 90 per cent, mincemeat has risen 80 per cent and home baking ingredients are up 100 per cent this pre-Christmas season.

Britons are baking nearly twice as many mince pies this year as they did in 2019 and Tesco sales of home baking ingredients are up 100 per cent this pre-Christmas season (stock image)

It has also seen a 60 per cent rise in demand for spices used in festive baking, including cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg and up to a 30 per cent increase in sales of dried fruit. 

Supplier British Pepper & Spice has also seen a boom in sales of home-baking ingredients, with cinnamon sticks up 420 per cent and whole nutmeg up 75 per cent. 

In Tesco’s annual Christmas report, one in three people say the festivities have never seemed more important to make special.

Tesco has also seen a 60 per cent rise in demand for spices used in festive baking, including cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg and up to a 30 per cent increase in sales of dried fruit (stock image)

And about 85 per cent will cook at least part of the Christmas dinner from scratch, with more than a quarter even intending to make their own pigs in blankets.

Paul Curtis, of Tesco, said: ‘Judging by sales in the last few weeks, many people will be putting their hearts into cooking up a feast this Christmas.’ 

Rachael Bouch, of British Pepper & Spice, said: ‘For many people, Christmas 2020 will be more special than usual because of the challenging year it’s been and cooking is a great way of bringing the family together.’