Mince Pies (Spiced Fruit Tartlets)
In short: Buttery orange pastry cases filled with a quick spiced fruit mincemeat and baked until golden. A British Christmas favorite, meat-free. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 295 kcal
Mince pies are small, sweet pastry cases filled with spiced fruit and baked for Christmas. Despite the name there is no meat in modern mincemeat, which is a mix of apple, dried fruit, sugar, citrus and warm spices. This recipe includes a quick stovetop mincemeat that is ready the same day, with a buttery orange pastry that holds its shape. Serve them warm, dusted with powdered sugar, with tea or mulled wine.
Instructions
- For the mincemeat, put everything except the almonds in a saucepan. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring, until the butter melts and the apple softens. Stir in the almonds and cool completely.
- For the pastry, mix the flour, powdered sugar, salt and orange zest. Rub in the cold butter until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
- Stir in the egg yolk and enough cold water to bring the dough together. Flatten into a disc, wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Grease a 12-hole shallow tart or muffin tin.
- Roll out two thirds of the pastry on a floured surface to 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick. Cut 12 rounds, 8 cm (3 1/4 inches) wide, and press them into the holes. Add a heaped tablespoon of mincemeat to each.
- Roll out the remaining pastry and cut 12 stars or smaller rounds. Set one on each pie, pressing the edges lightly to seal, and cut a small slit in each round lid.
- Brush the tops with milk and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until golden.
- Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.
Tips
- Do not overfill the pastry cases, because mincemeat bubbles and can glue the pies into the tin. Leave a small gap beneath each lid.
- To save time, use 350 g (12 oz) of ready-made mincemeat. Baked pies freeze for 2 months and reheat in a 160°C (325°F) oven for 10 minutes.
Questions and answers
Do mince pies contain meat?
Not any more. Mincemeat is a mix of chopped dried fruit, apple, sugar, spices and fat. The name comes from older recipes that included minced meat, and this version is vegetarian.
Can I make mince pies ahead of time?
Yes. Bake them up to 3 days ahead and keep them in a tin, then warm them briefly. Unbaked pies freeze well for up to 2 months.
What do you serve with mince pies?
Serve them warm with brandy butter, cream or custard, or just with tea or mulled wine. They are a staple of Christmas gatherings in Britain.
How long does it take to make Mince Pies (Spiced Fruit Tartlets)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 45 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mince Pies (Spiced Fruit Tartlets)?
About 295 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 41 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 295 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 41 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 23 g |
| Sodium | 35 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
