Baking Recipes - Rich Mince Pies Recipe

Ingredients

Makes 12

• 250 g/8 oz plain flour

• 75 g/3 oz chilled butter, diced

• 50 g/2 oz ground almonds

• 25 g/1 oz caster sugar grated rind of 1 orange

• 1 egg, beaten

• 2-3 tablespoons orange juice

• 250 g/8 oz mincemeat 

To decorate:

• egg white, to glaze

• caster sugar, for sprinkling

---

Method:

1. To make the pastry, place the flour in a bowl, add the diced butter and rub in with the fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2. Stir in the ground almonds, sugar and orange rind, then add the egg and orange juice and mix to a firm dough.

3. Knead the dough briefly on a lightly floured surface, then roll out thinly and stamp out twelve 7.5 cm/3 inch rounds with a pastry cutter.

4. Line 12 greased bun tins with the pastry, adding 1 teaspoon mincemeat to each pastry case.

5. Re-roll the remaining pastry and cut into 5 cm/2 inch rounds to cover the mince pies. Dampen the edges and press down lightly to seal. Brush the tops of the mince pies with egg white and sprinkle lightly with the sugar.

6. Bake in a preheated oven, 200°C (400°F), Gas Mark 6, for 20 minutes until golden. Leave to cool slightly in the tins, then transfer to a wire rack.