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1
For the shortcrust pastry.
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2
Make sure your butter's at room temperature to make it easier to work with.
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3
Sieve the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl.
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4
Cut the butter into small cubes and add to the flour.
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5
Using your fingertips, rub the fat into the flour, lifting the mixture up and dropping it back into the bowl - you want to keep the mixture light and airy.
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6
Keep going until all the fat is mixed with the flour and has reached a texture that resembles fine breadcrumbs.
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7
Sprinkle a little cold water into the bowl and mix through with a knife.
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8
Use your fingers to bring the pastry together: its ready when and the sides of the bowl are clean and its formed a solid ball.
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9
You shouldnt need to add much more than a tablespoon of water so be careful not to overdo it.
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10
Cover the bowl with cling film and leave the pastry to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
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11
For the mince pies.
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12
Heat the oven to 220C/400F/Gas 6.
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13
Mix your jar of mincemeat together with the orange zest, brandy and cinnamon.
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14
Lightly grease your patty tins with a small amount of vegetable oil, or any butter paper you may have.
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15
Flour your work surface and roll out the pastry as thinly as possible.
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16
Cut out approximately 12 rounds with a pastry cutter (most pastry cutters have two sides, one with a greater diameter than the other, use the larger side for the base and the smaller for the lids) and place them in the base of your patty-tins.
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17
Prick all the pie bases with a fork to stop them rising.
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18
Fill each case with about 3 teaspoons of the mincemeat mix - dont overfill your cases or the mixture will leak through the pastry when cooking.
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19
Brush the pie edges with a little milk.
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20
Stamp out another 12 rounds, using the larger end of your cutter, for the lids and place over the mincemeat mix.
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21
Pinch the pie edges together to seal.
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22
Brush over with egg wash and pierce the tops with a fork.
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23
Bake in the oven for approx 20 minutes until golden brown.
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24
Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 1 minute before placing on a wire rack to cool.
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25
Serve warm with a light sifting of icing sugar on top.