Cadbury Mini Eggs vs Aldi and M&S: can cheaper chocs compete on taste?

Looking for the best value chocolate mini eggs to enjoy this Easter? We pitted Cadbury against Aldi and M&S in a blind taste test to see how they compare.

We asked a panel of 106 people to taste and rate Cadbury's mini eggs alongside chocolate eggs from Aldi and M&S.

Although Cadbury was the overall favourite, M&S and Aldi are still worth considering if you're looking for a cheaper alternative.

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Best chocolate mini eggs

Cadbury Mini Eggs topped the scoreboard, but Aldi's aren't a bad alternative.

Cadbury Mini Eggs - 85%

£1.50 for 80g (£1.88 per 100g)

Cadbury was the clear winner in our taste test, with nearly three quarters picking its mini eggs as their favourite of the three. 

The mini eggs were rated head and shoulders above cheaper own label options from Aldi and M&S, scoring top marks for their great chocolatey flavour and well balanced sweetness.

The texture particularly impressed, with an impressive 96% of tasters finding the texture of the chocolate just right.

Cadbury's mini eggs are the most expensive per 100g, but they're also available in a bigger 270g pack size which offers better value at around £1.39 per 100g.

80g pack available from Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

270g pack available from Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Aldi Dairyfine Mini Chocolate Eggs - 69%

99p for 80g (£1.24 per 100g)

At just 99p a bag, Aldi's are the cheapest mini eggs we tested.

Most tasters were satisfied with the texture of the chocolate and the sugar shell. However, just over half thought the chocolate flavour was too weak.

Our panel also didn't think they looked as appealing, with most finding the colour of the eggs too dull.

You might not be able to fool a mini eggs devotee with these ones, but they're not a bad choice if you're on the hunt for some budget-friendly eggs.

Available from Aldi.

M&S Chicky Choccy Speckled Eggs - 68%

£1.25 for 90g (£1.39 per 100g)

These mini eggs from M&S are slightly pricier than Aldi's but still offer a small saving over Cadbury.

Most tasters thought the strength of chocolate flavour and sweetness were good, but these mini eggs lost marks for texture, with 59% finding the shell too hard. Around a quarter also thought the chocolate was too hard.

Only 16% chose them as their preferred option, but if you're after some cheaper mini eggs and don't mind an extra crunchy coating, these could be worth trying.

Available from Ocado and M&S (in-store only).

Other supermarket chocolate mini eggs

There are other own-brand mini eggs available, but they weren't available when we tested (some products are only stocked for a very limited time). 

These include:

• Lidl Mister Choc Mini Eggs - 99p for 80g. Available from Lidl (in-store only).
• Morrisons Mini Eggs - £1 for 80g. Available from Morrisons.
• Sainsbury's Mini Eggs - £1 for 80g. Available from Sainsbury's.

Best cheap supermarket food and drink - see which budget options beat the big brands in our taste tests

Are there vegan chocolate mini eggs?

None of the mini eggs we tested are suitable for vegans. However, there are a few dairy-free alternatives available in supermarkets if you're after some vegan-friendly Easter eggs:

• Doisy & Dam Good Eggs - £2.25 for 75g. Available from Ocado and Waitrose.
• Moo Free Mini Eggs -  £2 for 50g. Available from Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
• Moo Free Caramel Mini eggs - £2.50 for 88g. Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

How much sugar is in chocolate mini eggs?

Unsurprisingly, all the mini eggs we tested are classed as high in sugar. Aldi's contain the most sugar (73g per 100g) while M&S eggs contain the least (61g per 100g).

A portion of Cadbury mini eggs (8 eggs/25g) contains 17g of sugar, which is over half the maximum 30g daily limit for adults recommended by the NHS. 

The recommended limit is even lower for children, with those aged 7-10 advised to have no more than 24g of sugar per day. Bear in mind that you should avoid giving mini eggs to young children,  due to the risk of choking.

Do mini eggs contain palm oil?

Cadbury's mini eggs contain palm oil, but Aldi and M&S don't. Mondelez (which owns Cadbury) states on its website that it sources 100% sustainable palm oil.

Decoding food labels: our A to Z guide on common sustainability, welfare and food safety packaging labels

How we tested chocolate mini eggs

The chocolate mini eggs were assessed in February 2024 by a large panel of consumers who regularly buy and consume chocolate confectionery. The make-up of the panel broadly represents the demographic profile of adults in the UK. 

Each product was assessed by 106 people. They rated the taste, texture, aroma and appearance of the mini eggs and told us what they liked and disliked about each one. 

The taste test was blind, so tasters didn’t know which brand they were trying. The order in which they tasted the mini eggs was fully rotated to avoid any bias. Each person had a private booth, so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.

The overall score was based on:

• 50% flavour
• 20% appearance
• 20% texture
• 10% aroma

These weightings are based on how consumers rank the importance of different attributes of chocolate mini eggs.

Is mini egg packaging recyclable?

All of the mini chocolate eggs we tested come in plastic packaging, which is not usually recyclable with your normal household recycling.

However, you may be able to take it to recycling drop off points at larger supermarkets. Check Recycle now to find your nearest location.

Prices and availability checked March 2024.