Easy Mince Pies ..... for the freezer

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Mince Pies

Last weekend I made my usual batch of mincemeat and decided while I was at it to make some mince pies for the freezer too. The pastry is no effort and is made entirely in the food processor (although you can do it by hand if you wish). It produces wonderfully crumbly pies, with a slight nutty flavour thanks to the ground almonds.

You don't have to freeze the pies of course and I give instructions below for baking them straight away, but I like to get ahead at Christmas and stashing a batch of these away in the freezer, I am safe in the knowledge I am just 20 minutes away from a warm homemade mince pie. Perfect for unexpected guests.


EASY MINCE PIES


Christmas, Baking
Yield: 12 piesPin it

Easy Mince Pies

Mke ahead mince pies for Christmas
prep time: 15 minscook time: 20 minstotal time: 35 mins

ingredients:

  • 350g Mincemeat
  • 200g Plain Flour
  • 75g Ground Almonds
  • 40g Caster Sugar
  • 125g Butter, cubed
  • 1 Egg
  • Milk for glaze.

instructions

  • Step 1: Butter a bun tin (you may need two).
  • Step 2: Place the flour, sugar, almonds and butter in a food processor and process until resembling breadcrumbs, then slowly add the egg through the feeder tube and pulse.
  • Step 3: Tip out onto the worktop and bring the pastry together with your hands, wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 mins.
  • Step 4: If cooking straight away preheat the oven to 200°c.
  • Step 5: Roll out just over half of the pastry (I like to do this between 2 sheets of clingfilm so I don't add too much more flour to the dough) and cut out 12 circles and place lightly into bun tin. Fill with the mincemeat then roll out of the remaining dough and cut out slightly smaller circles to place on top. If you are freezing them, pop the whole tin in the freezer and when the are completely frozen pop the pies out of the tins and into freezer bags. When you are ready to bake them pop them back into the bun tins and follow the rest of the recipe.
  • Step 6: Glaze the tops with milk (use a pastry brush) and bake in the preheated oven for around 20 minutes until golden.



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4 comments

  1. Katie24 November 2010 at 07:28

    wow you are organised. Lovely idea to have a stash on hand

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brownieville Girl24 November 2010 at 19:39

    Great idea to have these made in advance.

    My puddings are simmering away at the moment - 6 hours gone 1 to go!

    Mincemeat is next on the list - I'm going to follow your lead and have a stock in the freezer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. blackbookkitchendiaries24 November 2010 at 21:00

    this looks just lovely:) thanks for sharing this..it's my favorite!

    ReplyDelete
  4. kat26 November 2010 at 19:56

    Such an English treat

    ReplyDelete