Unexpected budget item from Coles' snack aisle so good it could be its own Christmas dessert: 'A crime how addictive these are'

Any Christmas lunch or dinner cook goes into crunch time knowing one simple fact: With the heroes of the dining table being your main meal, making a satisfying dessert is something that can feel impossible – even if you prepare it in advance.

It's no surprise then that supermarkets across Australia each year release a more extensive pre-made dessert range the second the calendar moves past Halloween.

But not all pre-made grocery store desserts are made equal, as keen 9honey Kitchen taste testers ultimately found out. In fact, the one dessert item from Coles' range stood out from all the rest – but it's not one you'd expect.

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Coles' dessert range this year, of course, features all the classics: fruit pies, puddings, ice creams and more.

But not even the avant-garde twists on the traditional treats – Sicilian Lemon Sponge or Belgian Chocolate & Orange Sponge puddings, anyone? – came close to an item that's not even meant to be the main part of the dessert.

Yes, out of the 13 sweet delights our taste testers sampled, it was what's meant to be a small component of a dish that impressed above all.

The Festive Brandy Baskets.

At $6.50 for a six pack, the Festive Brandy Baskets – and the $6/eight pack Christmas Brandy Snaps – are meant to be served as an ice cream bowl, and pair well with the Burnt Butter Pecan & Caramel Swirl ($7.50) and Fig Rum & Mascarpone (also $7.50) ice creams.

But they're so delicious that soon our whole team of taste-testers began forgoing the ice cream altogether in favour of having the Festive Brandy Baskets on their own.

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"It should be a crime how addictive these are," one taste tester said.

Another salivated: "I don't even think these need to be served with anything, I'd be happy if my Christmas Day dessert was a single Festive Brandy Basket on a plate."

Multiple taste testers simply spat out strings of expletives in good news for Christmas cooks who are looking to save time and money this year, but bad news for our publishing standards.

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If you're not satisfied with only serving a fancy ice cream cone this Christmas, that's alright – we have it on good authority that the Festive Brandy Baskets and Christmas Brandy Snaps taste delicious with ice cream too.

Our taste testers, however, want you to know that if you're choosing between two flavours, they preferred the Burnt Butter Pecan & Caramel Swirl to the Fig Rum & Mascarpone flavour.

See our full Coles Christmas dessert rankings below.

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9honey Kitchen's very official Coles Christmas dessert ranking

1. Festive Brandy Baskets – $6.50 for six pack (and the Christmas Brandy Snaps – $6 for eight pack)

2. Burnt Butter Pecan & Caramel Swirl Ice Cream – $7.50

3. Finest Salted Caramel & Chocolate Star Dessert – $20

4. Christmas Apple & Rhubarb Pies – $5.50 for six pack

5. Christmas Toffee Date & Ginger Pudding – $7.80

6. Christmas Apricot & Peach Pies – $5.50 for six pack

7. Coles Finest Lime Berry & Coconut Layered Sorbet Tree – $20

8. Fig Rum & Mascarpone Ice Cream – $7.50

9. Christmas Mini Fruit Mince Pies – $8.50 for pack of nine 

10. Coles Finest Luxury Sicilian Lemon Sponge Pudding – $16.50

11. Coles Finest Luxury Belgian Chocolate & Orange Sponge Pudding – $16.50

12. Coles Finest Luxury Christmas Pudding – $15.50

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