Christmas has officially arrived at Greggs, at least as far as the bakery chain is concerned. After launching its first batch of festive treats at the start of October, the high street favourite has now revealed the rest of its seasonal menu. The headline news is that the much-loved Festive Bake is coming back, and it’s had a bit of a makeover for this year. Alongside it are new sandwiches, doughnuts and drinks, giving fans plenty of reasons to pop in over the coming weeks. Here’s everything on the menu, how much it costs and when you can get your hands on it.
The Festive Bake returns next week.
Mark Thursday, 22 October in your calendar because that’s when the Festive Bake lands in shops across the country. Greggs says this year’s version comes with a new and improved recipe, though the familiar flavours are all still there. Inside the flaky puff pastry you’ll find chicken, smoked ham hock, and bacon mixed with soft cheese.
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That’s joined by pork, sage, and onion stuffing and a creamy sauce made with sage and cranberry, giving it the taste of a Christmas dinner in one handy square. It’ll cost £2.50, making it one of the cheaper ways to get a festive fix while you’re out and about. For many shoppers, it’s the most exciting part of the whole seasonal line-up.
Fans can’t get enough of it.
Few bakery items get people talking quite like this one. Every year, social media fills up with fans celebrating its comeback, with some saying they count down the days until it’s back on the shelves. Others call it the best time of the year, and there’s even an online forum where people chat about little else.
For some, it’s become part of their Christmas traditions. One fan explained that she always puts up her decorations on the same day she eats her first bake of the season. Others describe it as a small bit of joy that only sticks around for a couple of months, which may be part of the appeal. Knowing it won’t be around forever makes it feel like a treat.
A brand-new toastie joins the line-up.
Among the fresh additions this year is the Pigs Under Blankets Toastie, priced from £4.10. It’s packed with smoked bacon, pork sausage, cheddar, and a cranberry and red onion relish, all sandwiched in white bread made with sourdough. On top sits a layer of béchamel sauce and a blend of melted cheeses.
@phoebeisginger1 this is why england is the best. greggs festive bake #fyp #greggs #britishfood #uk #british ♬ original sound – Phoebe🧡
It’s a hearty option that should keep you going through a cold afternoon of Christmas shopping. Not everyone is convinced by the white sauce on a toastie, and that could divide opinion, but fans of a rich, cheesy lunch will probably be keen to try it. It’s set to arrive in stores on the same day as the Festive Bake.
Baguettes, flatbreads ,and a spicy pizza are also coming.
The Festive Feast Baguette is back too, costing from £4.10. It’s loaded with chicken, bacon, pork, sage and onion stuffing, and cranberries in a seasoned mayonnaise, with ham hock, Cheddar and crispy onions on top. If you’d prefer something a little lighter, the Festive Flatbread returns from £3.75, wrapping chicken, bacon, dried cranberries and stuffing with mayonnaise and herbs.
Pizza lovers aren’t left out either. The new Pepperoni Pizza with Hot Honey, priced from £2.70, comes on a focaccia-style base with cheese, tomato sauce, jalapeños and red onions. It’s finished with a drizzle of sweet and spicy honey, a flavour combination that’s become hugely popular over the past few years.
Sweet treats finish things off.
If you’ve got room for something sweet, there’s a White Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie from £1.70. It’s topped with white chocolate buttons, chocolate beans, crystallised ginger and little caramel balls, then finished with a white chocolate coating. It’ll be interesting to see how it stacks up against other festive cookies on the high street.
Doughnut fans have two choices. The new Millionaire’s Doughnut, from £1.50, is filled with gooey caramel and topped with salted caramel icing and pieces of chocolate-coated shortcake biscuit. For a serious chocolate hit, the Double Chocolate Doughnut costs from £1.40 and comes with a chocolate filling, chocolate icing and both white and milk chocolate coatings.
Festive drinks, hot or iced, are on offer this season.
Four seasonal drinks are joining the menu from next Thursday too. Coffee drinkers can choose a Hazelnut Crunch Latte or a Salted Caramel Latte, with each starting at £2.85 for a hot one or £3.35 if you’d rather have it iced. Both are a fair bit cheaper than many festive coffees at other high street chains.
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If coffee isn’t your thing, there’s a Candy Cane Mint Hot Chocolate for £2.90, which can also be served cold. Matcha fans can try the Candy Cane Mint Iced Matcha Latte, priced from £3.60. Minty flavours are a classic at Christmas, so these could prove a refreshing change from the usual gingerbread and caramel options.
What’s already on the shelves
Several festive favourites have been available since 1 October. Pigs in Blankets made a big comeback, with six pork sausages wrapped in smoked streaky bacon served in a takeaway pot for £2.50. They first appeared in 2018 but hadn’t been sold for four years, so many fans were delighted to see them return.
On the sweet side, the new Sweet Mince Pie Roll costs from just £1 and wraps fruity mincemeat in puff pastry with a dusting of icing sugar. Traditional mince pies are back too, priced from £2.60 for six, and they’re suitable for vegans. There’s also a Christmas Cake Slice from £1.50, layered with apricot jam, marzipan and white icing, plus Christmas Mini Caramel Shortbreads from £2.50 for a pack of six.
How to get your hands on the festive menu
Everything in the second wave will be available from Thursday 22 October in Greggs shops across the UK. Prices are listed as starting from a certain amount, so you might pay a little more in some locations, such as train stations, airports and motorway services. Popular items can sell out quickly at lunchtime, so heading in earlier in the day gives you a better chance.
If you can’t make it to a shop, the festive range will also be available for delivery through the usual apps. Downloading the Greggs app can be handy too, as it often comes with rewards and freebies for regular customers. With items like the Festive Bake only around for a limited time, it’s best not to leave it too late if there’s something you’ve got your heart set on.
