Ingredients and Weight:
- 250g (1 ¾ cups) plain flour
- 125g ( ½ cup) unsalted butter, cold and diced
- 100g (1 cup) caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 450g (1 lb) mincemeat
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 tbsp brandy (optional)
Preparation Time:
15 minutes
Cooking Time:
20-25 minutes
Difficulty Level:
2 (Simple)
Preparation Method Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- In a large bowl, rub together the flour and butter until they resemble fine breadcrumbs.
- Stir in the caster sugar and a pinch of salt.
- Add the egg and mix until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
- Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 3mm (1/8 inch).
- Use a 7cm (2 ¾ inch) pastry cutter to cut out 16 circles of dough.
- Line a muffin tin with the pastry circles.
- Spoon the mincemeat into the pastry cases, pressing down gently.
- In a small bowl, combine the orange zest and brandy (if using). Brush over the mincemeat.
- Roll out the remaining dough to a thickness of 2mm (1/16 inch).
- Use a 5cm (2 inch) pastry cutter to cut out 16 stars or other Christmas shapes.
- Brush the stars with milk and sprinkle with caster sugar.
- Place the stars on top of the pies.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the mincemeat is bubbling.
- Allow to cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutritional Information:
Per pie (without brandy):
* Calories: 250
* Fat: 12g
* Carbohydrates: 36g
* Protein: 3g
Dish Characteristics:
- Flaky pastry with a sweet and fruity filling
- Perfect for Christmas celebrations
- Can be made ahead of time and frozen
User Comments:
- "These pies were a hit with my family! The pastry was perfect and the mincemeat was delicious."
- "I love that these pies can be made ahead of time. They're so easy to prepare and they taste amazing."
- "These pies are the perfect way to celebrate Christmas. They're festive and delicious!"
Special Precautions and Tips:
- If you don't have brandy, you can use orange juice or water instead.
- Be careful not to overfill the pastry cases, as the mincemeat will bubble up during baking.
- If you're freezing the pies, make sure they are completely cool before wrapping them in cling film.
