Posts Tagged ‘mincemeat’
Deep-filled mince pies
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Ingredients
* 900g mincemeat
FOR THE PASTRY
* 400g butter , very cold, cut into cubes
* 700g plain flour , plus extra for rolling out
* 200g golden caster sugar
* 2 egg yolks
* 1 tbsp water or milk
FOR THE ALMOND FILLING
* 200g ground almonds
* 200g golden caster sugar
* 4 egg whites
* few drops almond extract
* 1 egg , beaten, to seal and glaze
Method
1. Make the pastry by rubbing the butter and flour together with your fingertips until the mix resembles fine crumbs or whizz in a food processor. Stir in the sugar and a good pinch of salt, then add the egg yolks and water or milk and work into the mix with a knife until the dough starts to clump together. Press the dough together with your hands to form a ball, split in two and knead each half briefly until smooth. Shape into a flat disc. Wrap in cling film then chill while you make the topping.
2. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Beat the almonds, sugar, egg whites and almond extract together to a rough paste.
3. Roll out one of the discs of pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut 12 x 9cm circles (or 10 x 10cm circles, depending on the depth of your muffin tin) with a round cutter. Push into the wells of a 12-hole muffin tin. Re-roll the leftover pastry and cut out enough 7cm circles to cover the tops.
4. Spoon a heaped tbsp mincemeat into each case, followed by 1 tbsp almond mix. Brush the edges of the cases with egg and press the tops on, then brush with egg. If you’re making ahead, ‘open’ freeze at this point, in the tin, uncovered. Once frozen, cover with cling film and use within a month. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden from fresh or for 25-30 mins from frozen. Leave to cool almost completely in the tin before lifting out. Serve dusted with a little icing sugar if you like. Repeat with remaining mix to make a second batch.
Tags: almonds, eggs, mincemeat
Posted in Christmas, Snacks | No Comments »
From-the-freezer mince pies
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Ingredients
* 500g pack sweet or dessert shortcrust pastry
* little plain flour , for dusting
* about 300g/11oz mincemeat
* splash of milk , for glazing
Method
1. Roll out a little over half the pastry on a flour-dusted surface to about the thickness of a £1 coin. Stamp out circles of pastry to line the holes of a 12-hole bun tin – an 8cm cutter should be about right. Re-roll the trimmings until all 12 holes are lined.
2. Spoon a little mincemeat into each, then roll out the remaining pastry with a little more flour. Use a 6cm fluted or plain round cutter to cut out 12 lids. Top the mincemeat with the pastry lids, push around the edges to seal, then poke 1-2 small holes into each to allow steam to escape. Wrap the whole tray well in cling film. Will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
3. To cook, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Remove the mince pies from the freezer and brush the top of each with a little milk. Bake for 20-22 mins or until the pastry is golden and crisp and the filling piping hot.
Try
Crunchy marzipan mince pies
Coarsely grate 100g block marzipan, then toss through 50g toasted flaked almonds. Sprinkle over the mincemeatfilled pies, then freeze and bake from frozen as directed, above.
Cinnamon crumble mince pies
In a small bowl, rub together 50g cubed butter, 7 tbsp plain flour, 5 tbsp demerara sugar and 1½ tsp ground cinnamon. Sprinkle over the mincemeat-filled pies, then freeze and bake from frozen as directed, above. Save the pastry you don’t use for lids for a second batch of mince pies.
Festive mince pies
Roll out the pastry for lids, sprinkle with 2 tbsp granulated sugar and pat or re-roll into pastry slightly to stick. Use a small (3-4cm) star, holly or heart cutter, or a mixture, to stamp out 12 shapes. Top each pie with one, then freeze and bake from frozen as directed, above.
Tags: mincemeat
Posted in Christmas, Snacks | No Comments »