Mince Pies
AI-generated image
Vegetarian British

Mince Pies

Classic British mince pies with buttery shortcrust pastry and a warmly spiced filling of dried fruit, apple, citrus, and brandy. They bake into jewel-like, festive pastries with crisp edges and a tender crumb.

80 min 12 servings Medium
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How to prepare

1
Whisk the flour and 25 g of the caster sugar in a large bowl. Rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, with no large pieces remaining.
2
Mix in the egg yolk and cold water with a table knife until the dough just comes together. Add a few extra drops of water only if dry, then press into a disk, wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
3
Stir the mincemeat with the brandy, orange zest, and cinnamon in a bowl. Leave it for 10 minutes so the citrus and spice perfume the fruit.
4
Heat the oven to 190°C, or 170°C fan, and place a 12-hole muffin tin on the work surface. Lightly dust the counter and a rolling pin with flour.
5
Roll the chilled pastry to about 3 mm thick. Cut 12 rounds slightly larger than the muffin wells and 12 small stars or rounds for the lids, rerolling scraps once if necessary.
6
Press one pastry round into each well without stretching it. Spoon about 1 level tablespoon of mincemeat into each case, leaving a small rim, then place a pastry star or lid on top.
7
Brush the pastry tops lightly with milk and sprinkle with the remaining 15 g caster sugar. Bake for 20–25 minutes, rotating the tin once, until the pastry is golden and the filling is bubbling gently.
Freshly baked golden mince pies with bubbling fruit filling AI-generated image
8
Cool the pies in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a rack and cool until warm or completely cold. Dust with icing sugar if desired and serve.
Classic British mince pies cooling on a rack AI-generated image

Why this recipe works

Macerated fruit gives the filling depth and moisture, while grated apple and citrus keep it bright. Chilling the butter-rich pastry before baking creates the classic contrast of crisp pastry and soft, fragrant mincemeat.

Storage and reheating

How to store it

Cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Freeze in a single layer before transferring to a sealed container.

How to reheat it

Reheat at 160°C for 8–10 minutes from chilled, or 15–18 minutes from frozen, until warmed through and the pastry is crisp. Cool briefly before serving.

Nutrition / serving

263kcal
3.01 gprotein
39.65 gcarbs
9.59 gfat
P
Pantryvale editorial kitchen
Recipe prepared for publication with complete ingredients and ordered cooking steps.
Published 14 Aug 2026 · updated 14 Aug 2026