From buntzels to deep-fried pigs in blankets – the Manchester Christmas Markets foods you must try

The sights, the sounds, the sizzling smells – yes the Manchester Christmas Markets are back for 2019 with a vengeance – and with lots and lots of tempting foodie treats to draw you in.

And no, it’s not all about the hot sausages, as this year there’s a host of local favourites bringing new twists on their foodie classics to the market stalls.

Whether you’re after a filling savoury lunch or a delicious sweet treat, we’ve headed around the Christmas Markets to find some of the quirkier new foods on offer, as well as the festive favourites you just have to seek out.

Deep-fried pigs in blankets

Porky Pig has been one of the biggest foodie hits of the Christmas Markets in recent years with their Yorkshire pudding wraps, which will be available with an abundance of fillings from £7.50.

But new this year Mancunian owner Eddie Osman is adding to the moreish treats with the launch of his devilish deep-fried pigs in blankets. The bacon-wrapped mini sausage treats, wrapped in batter, will be served up with your choice of dip from gravy, apple or spice apple sauce.

If that’s not enough of a porky treat, check out his giant toad-in-the-hole creation called the Yorkshire Rose as well.

Price: £4.50 for pigs in blanket, £7 for Yorkshire Rose

Where: Exchange Square

Fried chicken waffle cones

Northern Quarter favourites Yard & Coop are taking their fried chicken wares out on the Christmas markets for the first time this year. And the one that’s got everyone talking is their “chick in” – fried chicken packed into a waffle with fries, cheese, BBQ sauce and blue cheese to make an easy-to-handle morsel while you’re balancing your gluhwein and shopping bags around the markets.

If you’re after a bigger portion, they’ll be doing a range of chicken trays all served with fries and with your choice of toppings from £8

Price: £7

Where: Albert Square

Buntzels

If you’ve never heard of a buntzel before, you soon will. Expect these hot savoury treats – pretzels stuffed with a filling of your choice to be precise – to be on everyone’s lips in the next few weeks.

The Hot Stuff Bread Company has set up its Buntzels stall at a prime site on Piccadilly Gardens, with a whole range of savoury fillings – choose from the likes of beef shin in ale with cheddar, goats cheese and onion chutney or a good old turkey stuffing and cranberry buntzel – and then your choice from three dipping sauces of beef and red wine jus, chicken and thyme gravy and sweet pepper and smoky tomato.

Price: £5

Where: Piccadilly Gardens

The Northern Soul toasted Crimbo cheese sandwich

If you try only one festive themed foodie treat at this year’s Christmas markets, then make it the Crimbo toasted cheese sandwich from Manchester’s Northern Soul. The grilled cheese specialists will be once again cooking up their festive humdinger with their Crimbo sandwich on Albert Square.

Watch as their trademark melted cheese oozes into thick slices of roast turkey, drizzled in gravy and cranberry sauce and a good old wodge of stuffing. It’s topped off with a pig in blanket round speared through the top. Trust us, you need this in your life.

Price: £7

Where: Albert Square

Melting s’mores

The traditional campfire treat of melting marshmallows is being given a festive twist from the team behind the ever-popular hot cookie dough, Elsie May’s. They have their S’mores stall offering hot melted marshmallow cookie sandwiches – piled with all manner of other sweet confections – on the new area at Piccadilly Gardens.

Price: £5.50

Where: Piccadilly Gardens

Eat NY Turkey Reuben bagel

Foodie fans were devastated when popular NQ bagel outpost EatNewYork closed earlier this year. But let’s rejoice at the news that they are back for the next few weeks on the Manchester Christmas Markets. Expect a range of their classic deep-filled bagel goodies, as well as loaded fries.

But the star of the show? Well that’s their Turkey Reuben Bagel – stuffed with roast turkey, pastrami, sauerkraut, pork stuffing patty, roast potato, cranberry and Russian dressing. Wow.

Price: £10

Where: New Cathedral Street

Hot cookie dough

Elsie May’s hot cookie dough has been one of the biggest dessert hits of recent years and will return with two locations at this year’s markets.

Oldham-raised Charlotte Whittle is the woman behind the cookie confections, which include a whole host of towering sweet combos – including the everlasting gobstopper mountain of gooey dough, topped with your choice of sauce and ice cream or whipped cream.

Price: from £5.50

Where: Albert Square and Exchange Square