Orange and cinnamon mince pies recipe
- 100 g (3.5oz) lard or white vegetable fat, cold and finely chopped
- 100 g (3.5oz) unsalted butter, cold and finely chopped
- 400 g (14.1oz) plain flour
- 0.5 tsp cinnamon
- 1 small orange, finely grated zest and juice
- 1 egg lightly beaten, to brush the tops
- 1 jar mincemeat
- Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl then coarsely grate or finely chop in the fat.
- Rub in with your fingertips or whizz in a food processor.
- When the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, use a metal spoon to stir in the cinnamon and orange zest.
- Using a metal knife, or the food processor, add the orange juice a little at a time until the dough starts to form.
- Add the cold water if required.
- Pull the dough together with your hands, knead gently and shape into two fat discs.
- Wrap each disc tightly in cling film and refrigerate for at least an hour or freeze at this point.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and lightly dust the worktop with flour (a flour shaker is ideal for this).
- Roll out the dough to about 3mm thick and use a circular cutter to cut out the mince pie bases.
- Lightly oil your mince pie tins and press a base into each hole.
- Put about a teaspoonful of mincemeat in the centre of each base taking care not to overfill as otherwise the filling will bubble out when the mince pies are baking.
- Using the remaining dough, roll out as before and use a smaller cutter (or a star shaped cutter looks pretty) to cut out the mince pie lids.
- Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wet the tops of the bases then press on the lids.
- Lightly beat the egg with a fork and brush the beaten egg over the tops of the mince pies before putting them in the oven.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees for 15 to 20 mins, or until golden on top.
- Leave to cool in their trays for about five minutes before using a palette knife to lift them onto a cooling rack.
- Dust with icing sugar before serving.
- Best enjoyed warm!
lard, unsalted butter, flour, cinnamon, orange, egg, mincemeat
Taken from www.lovefood.com/guide/recipes/18846/orange-and-cinnamon-mince-pies-recipe (may not work)