How to: Homemade Mince Pies

As soon as the mince pies come out, it really does begin to feel like Christmas. I'm not even calling this a recipe, it's that basic. Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry would probably cringe at my rather rustic, lop-sided mince pies, but they taste yummy all the same.

I'm using homemade pastry for this, but feel free to use shop bought pastry. I didn't measure the ingredients for my pastry (shock horror!), instead I just mixed plain flour with butter and a drop of water until the consistency felt right. Short-crust pastry is the norm, but puff pastry is scrummy too.

First up, roll out your pastry on a flour-dusted work surface. Make it about 1 - 2cm thin and cut out your pastry cases using a round cutter.

Put some cake cases in a cup-cake tray and place your pastry cases into the paper cases.

Put some mince-meat in each pastry case, not quite filling each case to the top.



Using your remaining pastry and some novelty cutters, place a festive shape on the top of each mince pie. I'm using stars and fir trees, but go with whatever you feel like.

Bake in the oven at 160 Degrees Celsius for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Wait until they have cooled, then remove from the paper cases and lightly dust with icing sugar.

 Eat whilst dancing around your Christmas tree whilst singing Christmas carols. Or whilst watching the Great British Sewing Bee Christmas Special on the telly. Did anyone else watch it? I want to make everything.

 Do you have any favourite Christmas treats?