It’s that time of year again when boxes of mince pies are stacked a mile high on our supermarket shelves. But have you ever tried making your own? Nothing quite compares! All you need is your favorite Mince Pies Recipe (right here!), some good quality ingredients, and a little time, and you’ll have some delicious homemade treats you and your family will love.

eleven mince pies placed in the shape of a Christmas tree.

What Are Mince Pies?

The history of mince pies stretches back to England in the 13th Century. Traditional recipes for mince pies, or Christmas pies, crib cakes, and shred pies, as they were known then, contained a mixture of fruits, minced or ‘shredded’ meat (hence the name shred pies), suet, and spices. Over the centuries, mince pies have become more sweet than savory. By the 19th Century, mince pies were similar in flavor and more like the round shape we know and love today.

Mince pies have always had a strong link to Christmas. The spices symbolize the gifts given to Baby Jesus by the three wise men. In the middle ages, mince pies were oval shapes with a pastry Baby Jesus on top to depict Jesus’s manger (hence the name crib cakes).

Mince pies also come with some superstitions. Just for fun…

To avoid bad luck during the year ahead, stir your mincemeat in a clockwise direction.
For good luck, each family member should eat one mince pie a day over the Twelve Days of Christmas. [Source, Source]

Today’s mince pies have dropped the meat. Instead, they are a wonderful combination of dried fruits and spices encased in a gorgeous pastry. And one heart-warming tradition still remains. Kids still love leaving a mince pie by the fireplace for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve.

Looking for excellent Christmas gifts? These mince pies are a fantastic choice. Simply place them in an elegant box or cellophane bag, tie them with a ribbon, and voila! These irresistible Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and Chocolate Buttons are equally delightful gift options. And don’t forget your furry four-legged friend ~ they’ll go nuts for these Peanut Butter Dog Treats.

Why You’ll Love This Mince Pies Recipe

Perfect for holiday entertaining. Mince pies are a must-have for holiday entertaining. They offer an irresistible combination of seasonal flavors that your guests will love!
They’re easy to make. Mince pies are easy to put together, even if you’ve never made them before.
They’re delicious. A buttery, flaky pastry crust (pastry) is the perfect complement to a perfectly rich mincemeat filling.

Recipe Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need from the grocery store to make this delicious and nutritious Mince Pies Recipe:

Ingredient Notes

Mincemeat: I am using my Amaretto Mincemeat Recipe. Homemade mincemeat will elevate your mince pies to a whole new level! But feel free to use whatever mincemeat you love.
Pastry: My Spiced Almond Pastry was just made for mince pies. It really elevates their flavor to next-level deliciousness. It’s buttery, nutty, and crumbly, and the spices pair beautifully with mincemeat. Not only that, but it’s wholemeal and made entirely of real food ingredients. That means more nutrients for you. Spiced Almond Pastry is also incredibly easy to make (especially if you have a food processor to hand). Alternatively, you can use your favorite brand of shortcrust pastry.
Milk: I’m using milk to brush the top of the mince pies. As the wholemeal pastry I’m using is already dark in color, the milk will prevent them from going too dark in the oven too quickly.

How to Make Mince Pies: Step-By-Step

This Mince Pies Recipe is so simple. Here’s how to make them in eight illustrated steps:

Pastry
Take the pastry out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes before rolling it. This will make it easier to roll and prevent it from splitting as easily.
Roll
Roll a little over half of the pastry out on a lightly floured surface. You want the pastry to be roughly 3mm thick.

Tip: Rolling the pastry between two sheets of parchment prevents you from having to use too much flour, making the pastry dry. The pastry will also lift off the surface much easier.
Cut
Cut out 12 circles with a 3-inch round pastry cutter. These are your mince pie bases.
Bases
Insert the bases into a greased 12-hole mince pie or tart tin.
Fill
Fill the mince pie bases with a tablespoon of mincemeat.
Lids
Roll out the remaining pastry and cut out 12 lids. Place on top. Then refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the mince pies to chill. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350ºF/180ºC/gas 4.

Tip: If you cut a lid that completely seals the mincemeat, crimp the edges to seal, then cut a small slit in each lid to allow the steam to escape. I am using little stars to make a delicious mince pie that looks extra Christmassy.

Tip: Chilling the mince pies at this stage prevents them from shrinking during baking.
Brush
Brush the pastry with milk.
Bake and Cool
Bake in the oven for 18-22 minutes until golden brown. Then, remove them from the tin and place them on a wire rack to cool slightly.

Find the recipe card with exact ingredients and full recipe instructions at the bottom of this page. ⇩

Recipe Tips

Choose delicious mincemeat: The first step to making perfect mince pies is to choose the most delicious mincemeat. It’s all about flavor. Bland mincemeat is going to give you bland mince pies. This insanely-tasty Amaretto Mincemeat is easy to whip up in 30 minutes. Amaretto is optional! It’s made using much less sugar and fat than most store-bought brands. But it’s still packed with flavor. Alternatively, you can use your favorite shop-bought mincemeat. It’s your call!
Parchment paper: Rolling the pastry between two sheets of parchment paper prevents you from using too much flour, making the pastry dry. Also, the pastry bases and lids will lift off the parchment paper surface much easier than a countertop.
Preheat the oven: Be sure to preheat your oven before you start baking your pies. This will help to ensure that they bake evenly and come out of the oven looking beautiful.
Chill your mince pies before baking: Chilling your mince pies before baking will prevent the pastry from shrinking in the oven.
Fill the mince pies generously: When it comes to filling your pies, don’t be stingy! Be sure to fill them generously with mincemeat so they’re nice and plump. But not too much that they start spilling over the sides!

Mincemeat and Pastry Recipe

If you’d like to make your mince pies completely from scratch, then you’ll need my Spiced Almond Pastry and my Amaretto Mincemeat Recipe. Less sugar, less refined flour, maximum flavor! Get them here:

three jars of homemade amaretto mincemeat — Amaretto Mincemeat

spiced almond pastry in ceramic tart dishes, plus a wooden rolling pin. — Amaretto Mincemeat

Spiced Almond Pastry
Amaretto Mincemeat

More Festive Recipes

If you’re looking for some delicious and nutritious festive recipes to fill your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table, look no further. I’ve got a collection of mouthwatering dishes that you and your family will love.

Thinking of making this Mince Pies Recipe? Please drop me a note in the comment section and provide a star rating! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I ALWAYS LOVE hearing from you.

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Printable Recipe Card

📖 Recipe

Mince Pies Recipe

Author: Cheryl Whyte

It's that time of year again when boxes of mince pies are stacked a mile high on our supermarket shelves. But have you ever tried making your own? Nothing quite compares! All you need is your favorite Mince Pies Recipe (right here!), some good quality ingredients, and a little time, and you'll have some delicious homemade treats you and your family will love.

If you love this recipe, rate it with 5 stars below!

5 from 2 votes

PRINT PIN RATE

Prep Time: 18

Cook Time: 22

Chilling: 30

Total Time: 1 10

Servings: 12

Calories: 258kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

▢ 1 portion Spiced Almond Pastry, or a shortcrust pastry of your choice, preferably wholemeal
▢ 1 teaspoon coconut oil , for greasing
▢ ½ portion Amaretto Mincemeat, or 12-14oz (350-400g) mincemeat of your choice
▢ 1 tablespoon whole milk, or a little beaten egg to make an egg wash

Instructions

Prepare: Get your ingredients ready. Take your Spiced Almond Pastry out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes before rolling it. This will make it easier to roll and prevent it from splitting as easily. Also, grease a mince pie baking tin (or shallow cupcake tin) with coconut oil.
Roll: Roll a little over half of the pastry out on a lightly floured surface. You want the pastry to be roughly 2-3mm thick. Rolling the pastry between two sheets of parchment paper will prevent you from using too much flour, making the pastry dry. The pastry bases and lids will also lift off the surface much easier.
Bases: Cut out 12 circles with a 3-inch (7.5 cm) round pastry cutter and insert them into each 12-hole mince pie tin cavities.
Fill: Fill each of the mince pie bases with a tablespoon of Amaretto Mincemeat.
Lids: Roll out the remaining pastry and cut out 12 lids. You can use a 2.5-inch (6cm) pastry cutter to create a sealed lid. Or, use a Christmas shape, like stars. Place the pastry lids on top. If you're using a sealed lid, crimp the edges and cut a small slit in each lid to allow the steam to escape. Then, refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the mince pies to chill. Chilling the mince pies at this stage prevents them from shrinking in the tins.
Preheat Oven: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350ºF/180ºC/gas 4.
Brush: After 30 minutes in the fridge, brush the mince pies with milk.
Bake and Cool: Bake the mince pies in the oven for 18-22 minutes until golden brown. Once ready, remove the mince pies from the oven. Let them cool slightly, then lift them from the tin and place them on a wire rack to cool slightly. As these mince pies are made with wholemeal flour, they will appear naturally darker in color than mince pies made with refined white flour.
Serve and Enjoy: For extra indulgence, sprinkle over some icing sugar (optional). Best served warm with clotted cream or brandy butter.

Notes

Storage Instructions: Cooked mince pies will keep in an airtight container for between 3-4 days.

Freezing Instructions: Cooked mince pies can be cooled and frozen for up to 3 months when stored in an airtight container. I like to wrap them individually in plastic wrap (cling film) to preserve their flavor. Thaw the mince pies on a wire rack for 1-2 hours at room temperature.

Adding Flavor to Store-Brought Mincemeat: If you’ve purchased a prepared jar of mincemeat that doesn’t have enough flavor, you can pour it into a small bowl and add one or two of the following flavor boosters: vanilla extract or apple juice. A little orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice, or lemon zest for extra festive citrus flavor. A splash of your favorite booze always works well. Brandy is the most traditional of alcoholic beverages to add to homemade mince pies. But I love a dash of port or Amaretto.

Alternatives to Icing Sugar: If you want to avoid adding icing sugar to your mince pies, you could consider a sprinkle of cinnamon. Or how about a sprinkle of coconut sugar as an alternative to brown sugar?

Nutrition Information (Per Serving)

Nutrition Disclaimer: Nutritional information is estimated using an online nutrition calculator. For accuracy, we recommend you calculate using the exact ingredients and brands you used.

Course | Desserts, Snacks

Cuisine | British

Keyword | baking, Christmas, Christmas baking, Christmas treats, pies, sweet pies, tarts

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Share a photo and tag @therealfoodgeek so I can see all your delicious creations!

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