Easy Mince Pies Recipe: A British Christmas Treat
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Servings
12
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Calories
250
Discover the mince pie, a quintessential British Christmas delicacy that embodies culinary tradition. These bite-sized pastries capture the essence of festive cheer, delivering a delightful taste of seasonal warmth in every single morsel.
Ingredients
-
225g plain flour
-
100g cold unsalted butter, cubed
-
25g icing sugar
-
1 pinch of Isle of Skye sea salt
-
1 large egg, beaten
-
2-3 tbsp cold water
For the Filling
-
1 jar (about 410g) good quality mincemeat
-
Zest of 1 orange
-
2 tbsp brandy (optional)
-
Icing sugar for dusting
Directions
Prepare the Pastry
Sift flour into a large mixing bowl
- Add cold butter cubes and rub into flour using fingertips until mixture resembles breadcrumbs
- Stir in icing sugar and Isle of Skye sea salt
- Add beaten egg and cold water, mix to form a smooth dough
- Wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes
Make the Mince Pies
Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan)
- Roll out pastry to 3mm thickness on a lightly floured surface
- Cut circles for base and slightly smaller circles for pie tops
- Line a 12-hole tart tin with larger pastry circles
- Mix mincemeat with orange zest and brandy
- Fill each pastry case with mincemeat
- Cover with smaller pastry circles, crimp edges
- Brush tops with beaten egg
- Cut small slits for steam
Baking
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown
- Cool in tin for 5 minutes
- Transfer to wire rack
- Dust with icing sugar before serving
Recipe Note
For a healthier twist, replace half the butter with Greek yoghurt in the pastry, and use a low-sugar mincemeat.