Betty's Guide to Mince Pies

As promised here is Jan Smith’s delicious recipe for mince pies, we love nothing more than homemade mince pies at this time of year and these ones are delicious!  This recipe should make about 20 mince pies:

Ingredients: 

225 g plain flour

Large pinch salt

1 tablespoon caster sugar

100g butter, cut into small cubes

1 egg yolk

1 jar mincemeat

Zest of I lemon

1 eating apple peeled and grated

Handful dried cranberries, sultanas or chopped dried apricots

Milk, caster or icing sugar

Round Cutter

Star cutter

Bun tray

Betty Tip:

*You can use shop bought pastry – make sure you buy a brand labeled all butter for the best flavour, also buy a good basic brand of mincemeat and perk it up with lemon and a bit more of your favourite dried fruit*

Method:

Put the flour, salt and sugar in a bowl and mix.  Add the butter and rub in lightly with your fingertips.  Now add the egg yolk and a splash of water.  Knead the mixture gently until it comes together in a lovely doughy ball.  If it is crumbly add a little more water, but not too much.

Mix the mincemeat with the lemon zest, apple and fruits of your choice.  Roll out the pastry as thinly as you can.  Put lots of flour on the surface so it doesn’t stick.  Cut out rounds to fit a bun tin and fill with mincemeat.  Don’t overfill as it will bubble out and burn.

 Cut stars or smaller circles for the tops.  Brush the tops with milk and press milk side down onto the mincemeat, then make a small cut in the top to let steam escape.  Cook for about 15 minutes at 200c.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or loads of really thick double cream.  

Betty

x