Christmas Mini Mince Pies Recipe

Christmas Mini Mince Pies are a delightful traditional Brtish treat in a bite-sized mouthful. 

What is Mincemeat?

Mincemeat is a rich mixture of dried fruits, spices, apples, citrus zest and juice, alcohol and suet or butter. 

Is there meat in Mincemeat?

There is no meat in most mincemeat today.  However, originally, there was meat in mincemeat as well as the dried fruit and spices. This is how it got its name. 

The meat element was gradually replaced with beef suet (fat). I use vegetable suet, you can also use butter. This means the mincemeat is also suitable for vegetarians.

Can I make my own mincemeat?

Yes, mincemeat is surprisingly easy to make at home and tastes even better than mincemeat both in jars and tubs from shops.

Try these recipes for Easy Slow Cooker Mincemeat with Ginger, Dark Chocolate Mincemeat or Last Minute Instant Chocolate Mincemeat

How to make Christmas Mini Mince Pies

Make the Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

Weigh the flour and put it in a large bowl.  Cut the butter into cubes and add to the flour.

Use a knife or pastry cutter to cut the butter through the flour, reducing the size of the butter pieces.  Then get your hands (clean, of course) into the bowl and star to rub the butter and flour. 

Once the flour and butter look like breadcrumbs it is ready for the next stage 

Sift the icing sugar and salt into the bowl, then mix to a dough with the egg yolk and a little  iced water if necessary

Wrap the pastry in clingfilm and leave to rest in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.

Use a medium-sized pastry cutter and cut out 12 rounds.  Place these into the mini muffin tin and gently push them down.

Put a teaspoon of mincemeat into each pie, then use a small pastry cutter to cut 12 small lids.

TIps

• I made the pies in my muffin tins, some mini pies in mini muffin tins and a few larger ones.  The muffin tins give you a deeper pie which allows for more filling.  
• Don’t be tempted to add more mincemeat, as it will bubble out of the sides of the pies. I don’t like mince pies are all pastry and no filling. However, this Sweet Shortcrust Pastry is light, crumbly and adds rather than detracts from the mincemeat. 

Beat the egg and brush around the edges of each pie with the beaten egg.  Add the lids and push gently around the edges to make sure they are firmly attached. 

Make a hole in the top of each lid with the tip of a sharp knife, this will let the steam out as the mince pies bake. 

Brush the top of the mini mince pies with the beaten egg and bake at 180C for 20 – 25 minutes.  The mince pies should be golden brown.

Let the mince pies cool then, using a sieve,  dust them with icing sugar and serve. 

Can you freeze the Mini Mince Pies?

Yes. If you want to freeze the mini mince pies, then freeze them before beaking.  Freeze them in the mini muffin tin, once frozen pop them into a box or bag. 

When you want to bake them, put them back into the mini muffin tin and bake from frozen adding an extra 5 minutes to the baking time. 

More Christmas Holiday Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen 

Mini Treacle Tarts are a great alternative to mince pies for people who don’t like mincemeat. 

Chocolate Orange Scottish Shortbread is a festive variation on a traditional favorite. 

Easy Festive Apple and Mincemeat Streusel Muffins are a delicious start to the day or serve them for afternoon tea. 

More Christmas Holiday Treats

Reindeer Cupcake from The Baking Explorer

Christmas Chocolate Tiffin from Veggie Desserts

Chocolate and Chestnut Meringue Sandwiches from Only Crumbs Remain

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Christmas Mini Mince Pies

12 mini mince pies

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Print Pin Rate

Course: Baking

Cuisine: British

Keyword: cocktail, mince pies, mincemeat, mini, pastry

Servings: 12

Author: Janice Pattie

Ingredients

For the Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

• 125 g plain flour
• 25 g icing sugar
• pinch of salt
• 75 g butter
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbsp iced water approximately

To make the Christmas Mini Mince Pies

• 1/2 jar of Mincemeat
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 tbsp icing sugar to dust

Metric - US Customary units

Instructions

For the Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

• Weigh the flour and put it in a large bowl.  Cut the butter into cubes and add to the flour.
• Use a knife or pastry cutter to cut the butter through the flour, reducing the size of the butter pieces.  Then get your hands (clean, of course) into the bowl and star to rub the butter and flour. Once the flour and butter look like breadcrumbs it is ready for the next stage 
• Use a knife or pastry cutter to cut the butter through the flour, reducing the size of the butter pieces.  Then get your hands (clean, of course) into the bowl and star to rub the butter and flour. Once the flour and butter look like breadcrumbs it is ready for the next stage 
• Sift the icing sugar and salt into the bowl, then mix to a dough with the egg yolk and a little  iced water if necessary
• Wrap the pastry in clingfilm and leave to rest in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.

To make the Christmas Mini Mince Pies

• Heat the oven to 180C.
• Lightly grease the mini muffin tin
• Roll out the pastry to a thickness of about 5 mm
• Using a medium pastry cutter, cut out 12 rounds and place them into the tin.
• Add a teaspoon of mincemeat to each tart.
• Using a small pastry cutter, cut out 12 tops.
• Brush the edge of the bases with egg wash and add the lids pressing down firmly around the edges.
• Brush the tops of the tarts with egg wash (optional)
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
• Cool for 5 minutes in the tin, then remove to a cooling tray.
• 10. Dust with icing sugar to serve.