Star Topped Christmas Mince Pies
Sarah Sears
Delicious fruit mince pies made from short pastry which is flavoured with orange juice.
Prep Time 40 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
- 250 g (2 cups) plain flour
- 40 g (2 tablespoons) white sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt*
- 125 g unsalted butter diced
- Juice of one medium sized orange
- 435 g Christmas mincemeat
In the bowl of a food processor**, combine flour, sugar and salt. Add butter and pulse until the mixture has a sandy texture. Add orange juice and continue to pulse until mixture starts to form little balls. If it is still dry, add cold water in ½ tablespoon increments until the dough comes together.
Scoop dough out onto a clean surface and gently form the dough into two round discs. Wrap these discs and place in the fridge to rest for ½ an hour. Preheat the oven to 200C (400F) and set aside two 12 hole mini tart/muffin trays.
Once the dough has chilled, roll the pastry out very thinly and using a round cookie cutter which is roughly the same size as the holes of your tray, cut out circles and press into each hole of the tray. Fill each pie with 1 small teaspoon of mincemeat. Pick up the pastry scraps, form into a ball and roll out again and cut star shapes using a small star shaped cookie cutter. Place the stars on top of the fruit mince and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Leave to cool in tray for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Sprinkle icing sugar over the pies using a small sieve or tea strainer and serve. Repeat with remaining pastry and mincemeat until finished.
*If you are using salted butter, omit the salt.
** Alternatively, add all ingredients in a large bowl and rub the butter into the flour mixture with two knives, a pastry cutter or your hands. Mix in orange juice and water (if needed).
*** These pies will last for 2-3 weeks when stored in an airtight container.
Keyword christmas, Mince pies