Christmas Cake/Mince Pies

Robm1955

Thanks nannyboo. I hate dry Christmas cake. Plus the added flavor the alcohol makes.

ragz_2

SeaBee wrote: »

Last year I used a pastry recipe from the old style board to make my mince pies. They were so good my OH proposed!!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=316377

THis really is the best mince pie pastry ever!
Do you want to make your own mincemeat too? If not just buy jars and add extra brandy and cinnamon, then they taste more homemade!

sandy2_2

ragz wrote: »

THis really is the best mince pie pastry ever!
Do you want to make your own mincemeat too? If not just buy jars and add extra brandy and cinnamon, then they taste more homemade!

I always buy a jar or mincemeat then add some dried fruit soaked in tea, orange juice or alchohol, some extra cubes of skinned apple, grated orange zest and perhaps a tad more mixed spice or cinnamon, depending on the taste.
Whatever you use, don´t overfill the pies, as when the mix heats up in the oven it spills over, making pies look messy. I also top some of the pies with a Frangipani mix or pastry star or leaves for a bit of change.

Sandy

me-shelly

I have a fab recipe for mincemeat twirls - an alternative to mince pies.

375g ready rolled puff pastry
200g mincemeat
i small apple grated
finely grated zest 1/2 orange
1 egg beaten
3tbsps icing sugar
juice half lemon

pre heat oven to 200c
cut pastry into 8-10 strips approx 3cm wide. mix together mincemeat, orange zest and apple. spoon and spread lightly on top of pastry strips. rollup strips into coils and place in muffin cakes lined with baking paper - i used cake cases in cake tin. brush top with beaten egg. Bake for 20-25 mins. I left mine in cases but if removing wait a few minutes. Mix lemon juice with icing sugar to form a loose icing and drizzle over warm twirls. Eat warm. Although they are lovely cold.