British · serves 2

Mince Pies

Mincemeat cooked from scratch in one pan. Better than the jar and takes ten minutes.

45 min Some work Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 60ml apple juice
  • 170g mixed dried fruit
  • 85g apples, finely chopped
  • 65g dark brown sugar
  • 30g shortening or butter
  • A handful of almonds, chopped
  • Zest and juice of 1/2 orange
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • A pinch of cinnamon
  • A pinch of nutmeg
  • 650g sweet shortcrust pastry

Method

  1. Everything except the pastry into a pan, stirred over low heat until soft and combined.
  2. Cool completely, stirring now and then.
  3. Roll the pastry to 3mm. Cut 10cm circles for the bases and 7.5cm for the lids.
  4. Bases into a muffin tin, filled loosely. Overfilled pies boil over and weld to the tin.
  5. Lids on, edges pinched to seal, and a small slit in each top.
  6. 200°C for 20 minutes. Dust with icing sugar.

Questions people ask about Mince Pies

How long does Mince Pies take?

About 45 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. Most of that is active, so read the method through before you start rather than chopping as you go.

Can I make Mince Pies ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Mince Pies vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Mince Pies?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

If you liked this

Cheese Scones
35 min · Some work
Oatcakes
35 min · Easy
Flapjacks
35 min · Easy
Nutty Flapjacks
35 min · Easy
Blueberry Nut Scones
45 min · Some work
Custard Cream Biscuits
45 min · A proper cook