Traditional Mince Pies

Serves	12 to 15 mince pies
Prep time	30 minutes
Cook time	15 minutes
Total time	45 minutes
Allergy	Egg, Milk, Wheat
Dietary	Vegetarian
Meal type	Dessert, Side Dish, Snack
Misc	Child Friendly, Freezable, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot
Occasion	Casual Party, Christmas, Formal Party
Region	British
By author	Karen S Burns-Booth

Traditional no-frills mince pies! Make up a large batch and freeze them for a fuss-free Christmas. I use home-made mincemeat for my mince pies, or a good quality luxury fruit one.

Ingredients

Mincemeat
Beaten egg or milk to glaze
Icing sugar or caster sugar

Pastry

225 g (8 oz) Plain Flour
pinch of salt
50 g (2 oz) white vegetable fat (such as Trex)
50 g (2 oz) butter (or margarine)
cold water to mix, about 30 ml (approx. 2 tbsp.)
25 g (1 oz) caster sugar if sweet pastry is required

Note

Traditional no-frills mince pies! Make up a large batch and freeze them for a fuss-free Christmas. I use traditional home-made mincemeat for my mince pies, or a good quality luxury fruit one. (Recipe for my fat-free mincemeat recipe is here: Boozy Fat-Free Mincemeat)

Directions

Step 1

Pastry: Mix flour and salt in basin, rub in fat.
Using a knife to cut and stir, mix with cold water to form a stiff dough.
Turn dough on to a floured surface and knead lightly.
Roll out and use as required.
Self raising flour may be used. the pastry will have a more cake-like texture.
N.B. Quantities of pastry are expressed as quantity of flour used, e.g. 225 g (8 oz) Shortcrust Pastry is the amount of pastry made using 225 g (8 oz) flour and not the total of ingredients. The weight of the fats used should total half the weight of the flour.

Step 2

Heat oven to 230ºC, 450ºF, Gas Mark 8.
Roll out pastry very thinly, cut out 12 to 15 small rounds and 12 to 15 larger rounds, re-rolling the trimmings as required.
Line patty tins with the larger pastry rounds, place a spoonful of filling in each. Damp the edges and cover with the small rounds, sealing well.
Brush with the beaten egg or milk, make a small hole in the top and bake for about 15 minutes. Dust with icing sugar and serve.