This is truly the most traditional food of the British Christmas season. We all know Christmas is upon us when mince pies are being stocked in every store around.You really can buy the most perfectly delicious mince pies, there are so many different brands, but you absolutely cannot beat warm mince pies fresh out of the oven. The buttery sweet, slightly spicy and fruity aroma it leaves around your house is honestly the best thing about Christmas.
These festive pies have always been a tradition in my life; Christmas Eve wouldn't be right without a beautifully lit tree, a fun holiday movie and a tray of mince pies to share. As a child a mince pie and a glass of milk were always left out on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus.
These Mini Mince Pies have become my very favorite. They're bite size and can easily be popped in your mouth in one go. The more you eat the merrier!
I did not make my own mincemeat, If you buy a really good jar of mincemeat you aren't really missing out on anything. Of course many prefer to make their own but with the absolute stress and rush in this holiday season, its always nice to come home and know that freshly baked mince pies are just minutes away (make lots of pie dough ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze like I do).
Star-topped Mince Pies: (Adapted from Nigella Christmas by Nigella Lawson)(Makes 36)
- 1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening, such as Crisco
- ½ stick (4 tablespoons) cold butter
- Juice of 1 orange
- Pinch of salt
- Approximately 2/3 cup mincemeat
You will need a mini-muffin pan, a 2¼ inch round cookie cutter and a 1¾ inch star cookie cutter.
To make the pie dough, measure out the flour in a bowl, add the butter and shortening and rub the fat and flour between your fingers until you are left with crumbs (or pulse in a food processor).
Add the orange juice to this as well as the salt and combine together.
Turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead it together well.
Cut the dough into about 3 batches, cover each with cling film and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 425F.
Take out each batch and roll each into discs and cut out circles and stars per mold.
Press the circles gently into the molds of the mini muffin tins.
Add about a teaspoon of mince meat mixture into each mold and then top it with a star.
Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 425F until golden and bubbling.
Allow the pies to cool on a wire rack, although they are just perfect straight out of the oven.
To make the pie dough, measure out the flour in a bowl, add the butter and shortening and rub the fat and flour between your fingers until you are left with crumbs (or pulse in a food processor).
Add the orange juice to this as well as the salt and combine together.
Turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead it together well.
Cut the dough into about 3 batches, cover each with cling film and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 425F.Take out each batch and roll each into discs and cut out circles and stars per mold.
Press the circles gently into the molds of the mini muffin tins.
Add about a teaspoon of mince meat mixture into each mold and then top it with a star.
Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 425F until golden and bubbling.
Allow the pies to cool on a wire rack, although they are just perfect straight out of the oven.
those look lovely :) i wish i had one with me right now!
ReplyDeleteI've never had a mince pie! I can't seem to find mince meat here :( Your looks so incredibly festive!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute pies!
ReplyDeleteIs there a specific jar of mince meat that you recommend? I would love to make these for my British friend as a surprise! But where do I look for the Mince Meat!! Thank you!
ReplyDelete