Mince Pies (Mincemeat Pies) for a Traditional British Christmas Treat

Mince pies made with mincemeat do not contain any meat. I know, confusing, but read about this traditional British Christmas treat and then make some to try for yourself!

Back in March I showed you how to make your own mincemeat.

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Did you know that mince pies are Outlander star Sam Heughan’s favorite holiday dessert!
He claims he can, and I quote, “…literally eat them all day!”

If you did make some mincemeat, you would be able to make your own, truly homemade mince pies (same thing as mincemeat pies) in December. Somehow, mince pies aren’t a big thing in the US as they are in the UK and Australia. However, like anything else, if you taste a really good mince pie, you’ll be hooked, just like Sam! 🤩

What are Mince Pies?

Mince pies are traditional British pastries that are made at Christmastime. If you’ve checked out my mincemeat recipe (link above), you’ll see that the mince pie filling is made with lots of dried fruit.

It’s very rich, which is why these little tartlets are the perfect serving size, although some mince pie lovers may disagree! This version is made with Grand Marnier and is doesn’t have any candied peel, which are two good things in my book.

Does Mincemeat Pie Have Meat?

Today, mince pies do NOT contain meat. Mincemeat used to have meat as one of the ingredients (therefore, the name). However, nowadays, the most extreme recipe will use a little lard, which I did in mine. Note: butter alone, may be used.

Although it’s too late to make mincemeat in December as it needs to be pre-made months ahead of time, you can always plan for next year. Put this recipe on your calendar for this coming February or March.

You may also enjoy this recipe for Bakewell tart with icing which is made in a 9″ tart dish.

However, it’s now December–so let’s get to the mince pie making!

How to Make Traditional Mince (or Mincemeat) Pies

Recipe by Christina Conte        

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

• mincemeat (I made a batch of homemade mincemeat last March)

For the pastry~

• flour
• butter 
• salt
• sugar

Step-by-Step Directions

Preheat oven to 375˚ F (190˚ C)

You can follow the directions for this pie pastry tutorial. Cut the butter into the flour with two knives or a pastry cutter, then add the sugar and enough ice water, just so the pastry comes together without falling apart.

If you add too much water, the dough will be tough. If you are  a more accomplished cook, you could add an egg yolk instead of the water, which yields an even tastier pastry.

Roll out the dough to about 1/4″ and cut into rounds to place into cupcake tins or small tartlet tins.

Put the mincemeat filling into a medium bowl. Next, fill the pastry cases with some mincemeat. Top with a star or cover entirely with another piece of pastry (make a hole in the top).

Place the mince pies on a baking tray into preheated oven. Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes until the pastry becomes a golden brown color. Finally, sprinkle with a little sugar, immediately after being removed from the oven. Store in an airtight tin. You may be tempted to serve these with ice cream, but I suggest trying them on their own, as they are just perfect with a cup of tea!

These are perfect for hostess gifts and many other holiday occasions. Just make sure there’s enough for you to keep a stash of mince pies for yourself, too!

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Mince Pies (Mincemeat) Pies for a Traditional British Christmas Treat

Yield: 24

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

Total Time: 46 minutes

A traditional British Christmastime treat!

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Ingredients

• mincemeat
• For the pastry~
• 2 cups plus 2 tbsp (300 g)  flour
• 5 oz (1 1/4 sticks) (150 g) good quality, unsalted butter (like Kerrygold) (or 50% butter/50% lard)
• 3/4 tsp of sea salt or Kosher salt (omit if using salted butter)
• 1 tbsp sugar
• ice water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375˚ F (190˚ C)
2. You can follow the directions for this pie pastry tutorial. Cut the butter into the flour with two knives or a pastry cutter, then add the sugar and enough ice water, just so the pastry comes together without falling apart.
3. If you add too much water, the dough will be tough. If you are a more accomplished cook, you could add an egg yolk instead of the water, which yields an even tastier pastry.
4. Roll out the dough to about 1/4" and cut into rounds to place into cupcake tins or small tartlet tins.
5. Next, fill the pastry cases with some mincemeat. Top with a star or cover entirely with another piece of pastry (make a hole in the top).
6. Place the mince pies on a baking tray into preheated oven. Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes until the pastry becomes a golden brown color. Finally, sprinkle with a little sugar, immediately after being removed from the oven. Store in an airtight tin.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 tartlet
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 235Total Fat: 5gCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 4g

Did you make this recipe?

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