Organic Christmas Baking in West Berkshire: What Makes Ours Truly Different
As the festive season rolls in and kitchens across West Berkshire fill with the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and freshly baked bread, it’s the perfect time to think about where your food is coming from and what’s in it.
Christmas is often a time of indulgence. But it can also be a time of conscious choices. For us at Aston’s Bakehouse, based in the peaceful village of Inkpen near Hungerford, festive food should bring joy and integrity. That’s why everything we bake is made the traditional way, using certified organic ingredients and slow, careful processes that deliver full flavour and honest nutrition.
So, what makes organic baking special at Christmas? And how is Aston’s Bakehouse different from all the festive sourdoughs and mince pies on the shelves? Let’s break the bread (literally) and explore why what you eat this season really matters.
Why Choose Organic at Christmas?
Because taste should be unforgettable
Christmas is about flavour, comfort, and bringing people together. Whether it’s a seeded spelt loaf with your Boxing Day cheeseboard or a warm croissant on a lazy morning, every bite counts.
With organic baking, you taste the difference. That’s because our stone-milled flours retain the grain’s natural oils, producing a richer, nuttier loaf. No bland, bleached flours here, just slow-fermented doughs that develop deep, complex flavours.
Fun fact: Slow fermentation doesn’t just improve flavour, it helps break down gluten for easier digestion. Your gut will thank you later.
Because it’s better for your body (and the planet)
Organic grains are grown without synthetic pesticides or herbicides, which is better for the environment, but also for you. Studies have shown that organic cereals and grains can have up to 60% more antioxidants than their conventional counterparts.
And when you think about how much bread we eat over the holidays (stuffing, toast, cheese boards, sandwiches), wouldn’t it be good to know that your daily loaf is doing more good than harm?
Because it supports local food systems
Choosing to buy from a local bakery like ours helps support real people, not corporations. Our flour is milled on-site from heritage grains. Our butter comes from trusted suppliers. Our deliveries go out to independent farm shops, cafes, and Christmas markets, not giant warehouses.
Every festive loaf you buy from us keeps food miles low and values high.
What Makes Aston’s Bakehouse Different?
We are 100% certified organic, not just the flour
Plenty of bakeries boast about using “organic flour,” but then sneak in preservatives, cheap fats, or artificial yeast. Not here.
We’re certified by Demeter GB-ORG-06, the UK’s highest organic standard. That means everything (from the flour to the seeds to the sugar in our pastries) is genuinely organic.
We don’t use shortcuts. We don’t use synthetic anything. We just use the best, most natural ingredients we can find.
We mill our flour. Most bakeries don’t.
Ever wonder why our loaves taste different? It’s because we mill our own flour right here in Hungerford. That means we control the freshness, texture, and nutrition of our flour before it even touches the dough.
Stone-milling preserves nutrients and flavour lost in industrial roller milling. It’s slower, yes, but worth it for the result: a flour that’s alive, rich, and wholesome.
See Our Milling Process
We bake by hand, the way it should be
There are no machines pumping out loaves at Aston’s. Everything is hand-shaped, naturally fermented, and baked in small batches. Our bakers use time, not additives, to develop the perfect texture and crumb.
Christmas is about handmade touches, and your bread should be no different.
Our Festive Favourites (And What to Pair Them With)
This season, our ovens are full of Christmas favourites that celebrate the best of organic baking:
100% Spelt Sourdough – Naturally nutty, mildly sweet, and easy to digest. A rustic showstopper for Christmas tables.
Pain au Levain – Our classic sourdough made with rye, wheat, and spelt – perfect with winter cheese boards.
Seeded Sourdough – Hearty, wholesome, and packed with texture. A fantastic companion to cold cuts or soups.
All Butter Croissants & Almond Croissants – Layered, flaky, and baked fresh for those slow, cosy mornings.
Pain au Chocolat – Filled with 74% dark chocolate, ideal for festive treats.
Eccles Cakes – Traditional Christmas favourites made the organic way with rich, spiced fruit and flaky pastry.
Mini Olive Focaccia – A savoury standout for parties, platters, or festive nibbles.
Gluten-Free Sourdough – Made with organic maize, rice, and buckwheat flours (not suitable for coeliacs).
Organic Flour Bags – Available in white, wholemeal, or spelt, so you can bake your own seasonal creations.
View Our List of Christmas Favourites
Supermarket Bread vs. Real Organic Bread
Let’s be honest. Supermarkets love slapping words like “artisan” or “farmhouse” on their packaging. But peel back the label, and you’ll often find:
Additives
Palm oils or emulsifiers
Artificial yeast
Frozen dough imported from far afield
That’s not real bread.
Real bread is fermented slowly, contains four to five ingredients max, and doesn’t need a chemistry degree to read the label. At Aston’s, our bread is exactly that - real, honest, traditional.
If you’re curious, ask your current supplier: Do they mill their flour? Are their loaves hand-shaped? Can they name their grain source? We can.
Where to Find Our Christmas Bakes
We’re proud to bring our festive bakes to both local stockists and farmers’ markets across West Berkshire and beyond.
Local shops you’ll find us in:
Fishers of Newbury
Garlands Organics
True Food Co-op (Reading)
The Five Bells, Wickham
Bedwyn Stores
Shalbourne Post Office & Stores
Weekly farmers’ markets:
Parliament Hill
West Hampstead
Horniman Gardens
Stoke Newington
Chiswick
Brockley
Oval
And more…
We recommend getting there early. Festive sourdoughs don’t stay on the table long.
Why Local Organic Bread Is the Perfect Christmas Gift
Looking for a thoughtful gift that isn’t more “stuff”? A festive loaf, a bag of our flour, or a box of organic pastries can be a delicious, sustainable alternative to gift boxes or tins of biscuits.
Make your hampers memorable. Add a little bit of Hungerford heritage, handcrafted in every slice.
Make This Christmas More Meaningful
Choosing organic isn’t just a health or taste decision, it’s an ethical one. It means less waste, fewer chemicals, and more community. When you buy from Aston’s Bakehouse, you’re part of something better.
This Christmas, let your food reflect your values. Let your bread be as thoughtful as the rest of your table.
Final Thoughts: Let’s Bring Back Real Bread
Christmas is about more than just presents, it’s about presence. At the table. In your choices. In how you feed your family and celebrate the season.
At Aston’s Bakehouse, we bake with purpose. Our flour is milled with care. Our dough is shaped by hand. Our loaves tell stories of heritage grains, organic farming, and a return to something real.
This year, skip the supermarket plastic. Come to us for real bread, made right.
Order your festive bakes now from Aston’s Bakehouse or visit us at your local market.
Call us directly: 01488 500425
Email: info@astonsbread.co.uk