Traditional Mince Pie

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If you’ve never experienced homemade mince pie (aka mincemeat pie) you really, really don’t know what you’re missing. And that’s coming from someone who really doesn’t like the store-bought pies.  Leave the store-bought mince pies on the shelf and get ready to fall in love – nothing compares to homemade!

What is Mince Pie?

Mince pie, also called mincemeat pie, has occupied a prominent place on Britain’s holiday table for centuries and that tradition continues today.  It’s a sweet pie that is filled with a mixture of spiced fruits and suet is is traditionally served during the Christmas season. During the near 7 years that I lived in England I witnessed the mince pies being stocked in every store and served in nearly every home as soon as the Christmas season started.

In Great Britain especially, but also in other English-speaking countries throughout the world, it’s hard for many people to imagine Christmas without mince pie.

Why You Need To Make Your Own Mincemeat

Most people have either a love or hate relationship with mince pie.  For some, Christmas just isn’t the same without it while for others the mince pie is the brunt of endless jokes.  For my part, if my opinion were limited to store-bought mince pie I would definitely pass with a courteous “no thank you.” But here’s the thing, homemade mince pies made with real authentic mincemeat….well, that’s a different story entirely.  If like me you’ve always hated the store-bought pie, I’m confident this homemade mince pie will make you change your mind.

The key here: If you want the absolutely BEST mincemeat pie, you HAVE to make your own mincemeat. If you use store-bought mincemeat your mince pies you might as well buy the entire pie at the store. So don’t do it.

The mincemeat of today is very different from the mincemeat our ancestors enjoyed through the centuries and by different I don’t mean improved.  The real stuff is vastly superior and your taste buds will agree once they’ve tried it.  To learn more about its history, its evolution, and how to make mincemeat that you will really enjoy, be sure to check out my post on how to make your own homemade traditional Mincemeat.

Where Did Mince Pie Originate?

Mince pies, originally called “Christmas pies, “crib cakes” or “shred pies”, can be traced back to the 13th century to the time of the Crusaders where they were fashioned as symbols of Christ’s birth.  Featuring cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in token of the gifts of the three Magi, mince pies were originally larger and shaped into ovals to represent the manger.  Often a pastry was made that was shaped in the form of the infant Jesus and was placed on top of the pie.  The mince pie would then be eaten in celebration of the birth of Christ.

Over time mince pies got smaller and rounder and today they’re made in small tart tins as convenient “hand pies” that are consumed within a few bites. Mince pies have gone down in history as an inseparable component of Christmas holiday tradition.

Mince Pie Ingredients

Mince pie is comprised of a pie shell filled with a mixture of fruits, spices, and suet. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Homemade pie crust (see below)
• Beef steak (yes, beef steak. Check out my article about REAL authentic mincemeat. It’s a game changer!)
• Raisins and golden raisins
• Dried currants (which actually aren’t currants at all but rather zante raisins)
• Apple
• Candied orange peel and candied lemon peel
• Almonds
• Lemon
• Beef suet
• Spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, mace, ginger, coriander
• Brandy and dark rum

While you can use prepared pie crust, for the best flavor and texture I recommend making your own and if at all possible replacing some of the butter with lard.  Lard yields the very best pie crust texture imaginable.  Be sure to use quality lard from pasture-raised pigs.  Most of the lard you find in the stores is hydrogenated – avoid it.  I always render my own lard from fat that I get from a trusted local farmer (see my post on How To Make Lard).

You can use either a standard 12-muffin tin or you can use mini tart tins, which create a more typical pie shape.  I prefer to use the traditional mini tart tins and these tins can be used for any number of mini tart recipes.

Storage & Freezing

Stored your homemade mince pies in an airtight container. At room temperature they will keep for up to 4 days. Mince pie also freezes well: place them in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight. They can be reheated in the microwave but to crisp up the pie crust reheat them in the oven.

Mince Pies Recipe

Let’s get started!

Make the pastry crust:
Put the flour and salt in the bowl of the food processor and pulse a few times. Add the butter and lard (or all butter if preferred) and continue to pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Gradually add in the ice cold water and pulse a few times after each addition.  The texture should be such that when you take some of the mixture and pinch it between your fingers it should come together to form a dough.  Test it for doneness after each addition of the ice water, being careful not to add too much water or your crust will be tough and it won’t be flaky.
Transfer the crumbly pastry dough to a lightly floured work surface and use floured hands to fold the dough into itself until

Form the dough into a ball, tightly wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill it in the fridge for at least 3 hours before using, or for up to 5 days.  This dough can also be frozen (flatten into one or two discs, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and put it in a ziplock freezer bag).

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.  Grease the mini tart tins or a standard 12-cup muffin tin.   

Roll 2/3 of the pie crust out onto a floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut circles out of the pie crust to fit into the tins.  Scoop some of the mincemeat into each pie crust.

IF MAKING A FULL SIZE PIE:  Preheat to 375 F and bake it for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 F and bake for another 30 minutes or so.

Roll out the remaining pie crust to the same thickness and cut out circles for lids, star shapes, or lattices (whichever you prefer).

If cutting out circles/lids to fully cover each pie cut a small slit on the top of each pie crust to let hot air escape.

Lightly brush the tops with milk or an egg wash. Bake the pies for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Carefully remove them from the muffin or tart tins, transfer them to a wire rack and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Mince pies are best served gently warmed.  They can be eaten with your hands or with a spoon if served with cream or even ice cream if you like.

Another traditional topping is Hard Sauce, known as Brandy Butter outside the U.S.  Spread or place a dollop of brandy butter over the hot mincemeat pie and let it melt.

Depending on the size of your tart or muffin tins, this will make about 18 mince pies.

Enjoy!

One tradition says that if you eat a mince pie each day over the twelve days of Christmas it will bring you good luck in the new year!  Another tradition says that the first mince pie of the season holds special powers, so be sure to make a wish with the first mince pie you eat!

Fun Fact:  The first ever mince pie eating contest was held in 2006 and the winner consumed 46 pies in one sitting!

So from that perspective, 12 pies in 12 days isn’t so bad, is it?

For more delicious traditional British treats be sure to try our:

• Treacle Tart
• Lardy Cake
• Sticky Toffee Pudding
• Eccles Cakes
• Figgy Pudding
• Flapjacks
• Crumpets
• Scottish Shortbread
• Parkin
• Spotted Dick
• Welsh Cakes
• Victoria Sponge Cake

First published on The Daring Gourmet 18, 2017