Im new to Lidl and Aldi at Christmas .

Why have I always been wary of these shops ? I doubt that I've been in either above twice------and it wasn't for food.

Nandalot - we too buy their iced fruit bar at this time of year, think it's delicious. Also like the Mini Christmas Mincemeat pies but they don't always have them, when they do I stock up. Yummy!

I buy all my baking ingredients from Lidl and they are of a high quality. As I bake a lot, I save a substantial amount.
My son won't shop in LIDL, turns his nose up! However recently he commented to my DIL that the icing on my baking was nicer than hers. "It comes from LIDL", said I. That put his gas at a peep. .
I also buy items like pitta bread and wraps, as they have a long sell by date, good to keep if you need to rustle up something quickly. .

Beware the tempting looking frozen desserts....big box, small content....

I love those crackers Missadventure, especially the pepper ones.

Lots of mouthwatering suggestions already. I'm going to write them down.

Lidl Christmas pudding is the best ever, lots of lovely fruit and some nuts walnuts I think ,

Both stores have very good smoked salmon. Good selection of quality cheese cheaper than the usual suspects. Both have 4 or 5 weekly offers around 49p on fresh fruit/veg. Kettle chips and dips are also cheaper. Once you get used to the stores you'll know what you want to buy from there. Just be aware that they have their own branding so you'll see very few famous names.

For the last couple of years, we have had the Aldi fruit cake which I have then marzipaned and iced. It is quite small, so no chance of over-indulging, but absolutely delicious.

Aldis have some lovely biscuits and crackers for cheese (or on their own)
Black pepper and rosemary flavour; all rich and crumbly.

We had a three bird roast from Aldi a couple of years ago. It was just a small one that we had on Christmas eve. It was very good though.
Our Aldi is closed a for three weeks for a refit and extension. I miss it, as we buy quite a bit from them.

Thank you!

This thread did remind me of one year when people "raved" about Lidl's whole lobsters. I bought them and they were tasteless and awful, ended up in the bin.

Aldi Grannyknot. Don't know why but I've never got on with Lidl. But Aldi is my 2nd home!

Chewbacca that sounds good. is the gammon from Lidl or Aldi, please?

For several years now I've bought ready made parfait type single serving desserts in a disposable container from Lidl. The family love them and they look good when served, because they are various flavours and therefore colourful.

Gammon joint, in a foil tray, ready to shove in the oven. Comes studded with juniper berries and the honey and orange glaze, in a pouch, that you pour over the joint 15 minutes before end of cooking time. Last year it was far £4.00. Buy 2. One will get eaten by everyone else before you've even left the kitchen.