Best Christmas Mince Pies Recipes

TRADITIONAL BRITISH MINCEMEAT FOR CHRISTMAS MINCE PIES!

Steps:

• Chop the nuts and candied peel finely.
• Peel, core and chop the apples into small pieces.
• Stir together with all the other ingredients and seal in sterilised jars.
• Keep for at least 2 weeks before using in mince pies, mincemeat cakes, mincemeat puddings and steamed puddings.

ORANGE AND ALMOND CRUMBLE CHRISTMAS MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Make the pastry in a large bowl or food processor by blending the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Stir in the sugar and orange zest and then 2 tbsp water.
• Bring the mixture together with your hands, adding a few more drops of water if it feels a little dry.
• Preheat the oven to 180C/375F/gas 4.
• Roll out half the pastry (keep the other half wrapped in the fridge) on a lightly floured surface. You want the pastry to be very thin, so it is crisp when cooked.
• Cut out 12 circles of pastry with a plain 6cm cutter (you will need to re-roll the pastry a couple of times) and use to line a 12-hole, non-stick cup cake or mini muffin tin.
• (It is quite a soft pastry, so any little gaps that form as you are lining the holes can easily be patched up.).
• Chill while you make the topping.
• In a small bowl, make the crumble topping by rubbing the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and almonds.
• With a teaspoon, fill each pastry case with mincemeat, gently pressing it down to leave room for the topping.
• Sprinkle the topping over each pie, place the tin on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is golden.
• Leave the pies to cool in the tin before taking them out carefully. They are fragile when hot, so use a small knife to help lift them out.
• Unless you have two tins, repeat the process with the second batch of pastry, filling and topping.
• Eat the mini mince pies warm or cold, lightly dusted with icing sugar and served with whipped cream or brandy butter.

CHRISTMAS MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and shortening; rub in with cold fingers until mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Mix in sugar and orange zest thoroughly. Mix in vanilla extract. Stir in enough orange juice to bring dough together.
• Knead dough briefly to form a smooth ball. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Cut out 12 circles using a 2 1/2-inch cutter and 12 circles using a 1-inch cutter.
• Line 12 mini tart pans or a muffin tin with the 2 1/2-inch dough circles. Cover dough with about 1 tablespoon mincemeat filling. Lay 1-inch circles on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tops are pale golden brown, 17 to 21 minutes. Cool slightly on wire racks, about 10 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

CHRISTMAS MINCE PIES

Steps:

• QUICK FRUIT MINCEMEAT:.
• Combine all ingredients and set aside for flavours to infuse.
• PASTRY:.
• Sift flour, cornflour, and icing sugar.
• Rub in the butter.
• Beat egg and vanilla together then add, mixing well.
• Knead into a ball without overhandling the pastry.
• Roll out thinly on a floured board and cut into 3" rounds.
• Reroll offcuts until all the pastry is used.
• Place rounds in a patty pan, place a heaped teaspoon of filling in the middle of each pastry round and cover with second pastry round.
• Press edges together with the prongs of a fork and prick each top twice.
• Bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes or until pale gold.
• Leave to cool slightly before removing to cooking rack.
• Dust lightly with icing sugar.
• COOKS NOTE - If you don't have a patty pan, place the pies on a cookie sheet rather than in a muffin tray, which is too deep.

CHRISTMAS FILO MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. First, make the mincemeat. Tip all of the ingredients into a large saucepan and cook over a low-medium heat for 10 mins, stirring frequently until sticky and combined. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Lightly brush the holes of a 12-hole muffin tin with melted butter. Cut the filo sheets into quarters to make small squares, then use one square each to line the holes. Brush with more butter, then top with a second filo square, turning it to form a cross shape. Fill each pastry case with a heaped tablespoon of mincemeat, then loosely fold the overhanging filo towards the middles.
• Shred any leftover filo into small, thin strips and top each pie with filo nests. Brush the exposed pastry with melted butter, then bake for 25 mins until golden brown. Leave to cool completely in the tin, then dust with icing sugar before serving.