I tried Jaffa Cake dupes from Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Aldi and Tesco – and €1.59 winner was BETTER than original
JAFFA Cakes are one of those treats that everyone seems to love – whether it be with a cuppa or by themselves, they are always welcome in Irish households.
And I set out to find which ones are the best from Aldi, Tesco, Lidl and Dunnes Stores.
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I taste tested Jaffa Cake dupes from Ireland's top four supermarkets
Credit: Journalist Collect
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One of them was a clear winner
Dunnes Stores
I started with
The packaging looked promising and the cakes themselves had that familiar shape - chocolate top, sponge base and the all-important orange jelly in the middle.
The first bite was nice but a little bit underwhelming - the cake was a little dry and the orange filling lacked punch.
And although it tasted more sugary than citrusy, it went well paired up with the dark
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I certainly wouldn't say no if they were offered to me and I might even find myself eating quite a few in one sitting.
All in all, I would rate these a solid 6.5/10.
Aldi Ireland
Next up were the Belmont Jaffa cakes from Aldi, a pack for only €1.59 - and this is where things took a turn.
Straight away, the dark chocolate was a real standout and the cake was light and spongy.
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There was also the perfect amount of
They didn't just taste good – might I say they tasted even better than the original.
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Aldi's version was the only one I paused mid-bite to check the box again.
They absolutely nailed it and I would rate them a solid 9/10.
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Tesco Ireland
Then came Tesco, where you'd get the
The largest versions I have seen so far, I'll admit that I had mild hopes for them - but they fell flat.
At first taste, the sponge was dense and extremely dry - it tasted like it had been left in someone's cupboard for quite a few years.
And unfortunately for my taste buds it didn't get any better after that.
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The chocolate tasted extremely low quality and the orange filling was more like diluted jam — sweet, but with none of that bright citrus flavour you want.
I would say it seemed like an afterthought, but I don't know what
I didn't feel the need to go back for another and would rate these a 4/10.
Lidl Ireland
Finally,
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These were a pleasant surprise - the sponge was soft, the chocolate had a decent taste and the filling had a good citrusy flavour - not too sweet or sugary.
Although they lacked what Aldi's version had, in a blind test I might have mistaken them for something far more
I would happily indulge myself in them all day and I would rate them a solid 8/10.
In the end, Aldi's Belmont Jaffa cakes are the clear winner - full of flavour, balanced texture and left you wanting more.
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Aldi Ireland's Jaffa Cakes placed first overall
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