What s In A Mince Pie
What's in a Mince Pie?
Mince pies are the classic British Christmas treat, often served with a dollop of cream or brandy butter. The recipes for these delicious treats vary from family to family, but the ingredients remain fairly consistent. The traditional mince pie is a pastry case filled with sweet mincemeat, a mixture of dried fruits, spices, and suet or butter, which is then topped with pastry and baked until golden brown.
Ingredients
The ingredients for a classic mince pie are fairly simple. You will need:
- 200g of plain flour, plus extra for rolling out
- 100g of butter, cubed
- 50g of caster sugar
- 1 egg, beaten
- 300g of mincemeat (store-bought or homemade)
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
Making mince pies is a fairly simple process, but it does require a bit of time and patience. To get started, preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan-assisted).
Next, make the pastry. Place the flour and butter in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and salt, then add the beaten egg and mix until a dough forms. Roll the pastry out onto a lightly floured surface and use a pastry cutter to cut out 12 circles, roughly 8-10cm in diameter. Grease a 12-hole muffin tin with butter and press the circles into each hole.
Fill each pastry case with mincemeat until it's almost overflowing. Cut 12 small circles of pastry and use these to top the pies, pressing them down lightly. Finally, brush the tops of the pies with a beaten egg and sprinkle with caster sugar. Place the tin in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Once baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve with a dollop of cream or brandy butter, if desired.
Nutrition
Mince pies are not particularly healthy, but they do contain some beneficial vitamins and minerals. Each mince pie contains around 200 calories and 11.5g of fat, of which 7g is saturated fat. They also contain 2.5g of protein, 22.5g of carbohydrates, and 0.5g of fibre.
Mince pies are high in vitamin C, as well as containing some B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. They also contain a small amount of zinc and potassium. The mincemeat filling also contains a variety of dried fruits, which are naturally high in fibre and antioxidants.
Overall, mince pies are best enjoyed in moderation. They make a great festive treat, but should not be eaten in large quantities. For a healthier alternative, try making mince pies with wholemeal flour or using a reduced-fat mincemeat.
