I baked my second batch of these yesterday and, having tasted the results, I have changed my mind in that from now on I will definitely be using this recipe for my mince pies. They are delicious. Here it is, for those who would like it (and also that I can keep my favourite recipes in one place). This makes 18 mince pies.
You will need:
225g Plain flour
140g Butter
2 teaspoons Ground cinnamon
30g Caster sugar
55g Ground almonds
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons of cold water
Around 400g mincemeat (I use a stores own luxury brand)
Brandy
To make the pastry, sieve the flour and cinnamon into a large mixing bowl and rub in the butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the caster sugar and ground almonds, then mix together using the egg yolk and water to form a soft dough (I use the back of a fork to do this). Finally, knead lightly, then cover and leave to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Empty the mincemeat into a small bowl and stir in one (or two 😆) tablespoons of brandy. Mix well.
Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and cut out approximately 18 rounds and stars. Place the rounds in a greased tin, dividing the mincemeat between each, then top with the stars.
Bake for 20 minutes at 150°C. Allow to cool and sprinkle with icing sugar. Dont be alarmed, it's not unusual to discover one or two have 'disappeared' during the cooling process.
J. X
Your mince pies look and sound delicious - I wonder how many 'disappeared' via Lily :-)
ReplyDeleteWhilst the mince pies were safe from Lily (she doesn't like them), I might have taste tested one myself. X
DeleteIt's incredible how these things vanish, isn't it? Yours look extremely vanishable and wonderful!
ReplyDeletexx
It is astonishing how it happens. It must be the elves :) X
DeleteUnfortunately, none of my family like mince pies so I never make them. I must admit that they look very tempting though. It's good to find a recipe which is a keeper.
ReplyDeleteI never used to like mince pies, but my tastes have changed as I've got older. I do like this recipe, although that might have something to do with the extra brandy :) X
DeleteThey look wonderful, in a way that I never quite manage! One of my favourite treats of the season. A couple of years ago I organised a 'Mince Pie Tasting Competition' for the village Christmas Bazaar...a sneaky way of legally indulging!!
ReplyDeleteIt has taken me many years to get them just right and I think it has as much to do with my personal taste as anything else. Mine used to be a disaster, they'd be overfilled and have burnt edges. I do like the idea of a mince pie tasting competition. X
DeleteYour photos are so good I tried to reach out and take one of your delicious mince pies! Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane. You'd better be quick, as there's only two left!(I did give eight of them away.)
DeleteThey really do look delicious Jules. I've just bought 2 boxes for between now and Christmas but have a jar of mincemeat upstairs so I'll be giving these a go for the big day. Have a lovely weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a great recipe, Suzanne and they are so simple to make. I hope you enjoy them. X
DeleteI think several folk I know have included ground almonds in their pastry this Christmas. I have so far had three mince pies - one had almond in and was far superior I thought.
ReplyDeleteI've never used ground almonds in the pastry before. Previously I have used cornflour to give them some extra crispness. There are only two mince pies left over from my this latest batch, so it must be a good recipe. X
DeleteThese are adorable, and my husband would love them. Well, I would too. He can eat Gluten, but can not have any alcohol, because of a health issue. But! They are baked! He could eat them, then!
ReplyDeleteSooo pretty. Just so pretty...
🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
Thank you, Wow. I'm sure I'll be baking some more before the week is out - they keep disappearing! X
DeleteSounds perfect. Beautiful photos x
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm enjoying them more often than I should. X
DeleteOne word!
ReplyDeleteYummy!
Many thanks for sharing your recipe.
Enjoy your weekend.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. They are delicious. X
DeleteYum.
ReplyDeleteA little too yum. I can't stop eating them. X
Deleteyum, yum, yum. To the pies & your scrumptious photos! x
ReplyDeletep.s totally taking that recipe!
I hope you enjoy them, Sadie. Let me know how you get on. X
DeleteThank you for sharing your recipe they look so delicious. I think I may have to have a go at making a batch. Mince pies are one of D's favourites so I can't see them lasting too long around here. I've ear marked my baking weekend for the 21st/22nd of everything will disappear before Christmas apart from our waistlines.
ReplyDeleteMx
There's so much temptation around at this time of year, and to think I never used to like mince pies! X
DeleteIt's funny how that happens, isn't it? X
ReplyDeleteThanks Jules, for the first time in many years I have decided to make mince pies this year and it's good to have a recommended recipe - especially as I love cinnamon. x
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy them as much as I do. X
DeleteWell I've no excuse now not to make some. I did actually buy some in Waitrose whilst I was away but yours look delicious and are tempting me. I wonder if the charity shop still has my mince pie tray to but back. First I'd better ice the five Christmas cakes I've still not finished. At least I managed to deliver two whilst I was away.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know if you do manage to make some, Graham, and if you manage to get your tray back :)X
DeleteThey look delicious, Jules! Thank you for sharing your recipe. But, I know I shouldn't eat them, so I won't make them!
ReplyDeleteI'm probably shouldn't have eaten quite so many, but I couldn't help myself :) X
DeleteSo pretty!!!! I don't like mince pies but I do think these look aamzing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kezzie. I didn't used to like them either, but I'm making up for it now. 😆
DeleteThat looks so good! Now I have to look up mincemeat. I am pretty sure it's not meat...?🤔
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandi. Mincemeat is made from dried fruit, sugar and spices. X
DeleteNot a single mince pie has been made in our house yet...but I’m hoping to remedy that deplorable situation next week! x
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely get that remedied as soon as possible, Jackie. 😆 I've just this moment put some more mince pie pastry in the fridge to chill. X
DeleteYou’re definitely on a roll then...excuse the pun! x
DeleteI have to be. Once again, they're all gone! But we made some gingerbread cookies last night. 😆
DeleteThey look lovely, Jules- ground almonds in the pastry is a good idea. Have you tried making your own mincemeat? It is easy and so much nicer than the shop bought stuff. I put cranberries and nuts in mine in place of orange and use raspberry and apple juice. Yum! x
ReplyDeleteI've never made my own mincemeat but I might give it a try another time. X
DeleteOh they do look wonderful, you clever girl :-)
ReplyDeleteSorry I have not been around for a while. Life blunders on here. Some days are better/worse than others. This week contains mostly (all) worse ones and I have been looking back at February posts, and the kind and thoughtful comments I received from you all. So I just wanted to say "thank you" again. You made so much difference, you will never know quite how much. x 💚🐾
Gentle hugs coming your way, who knows what the new year will have in store.
DeleteYou still owe me a coffee 😉 X
Well, if you are going near Keswick at some point maybe I can make good on my debt?
DeleteI have decided 2020 is going to be a good year, so perhaps we will have that drink to celebrate the start of a new decade 😘
I'm sure that can be arranged. Xx
Delete