Best Cranberry Mince Pies Recipes

CRANBERRY MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Whizz together the flour, icing sugar and butter until they form fine crumbs. With the blades running, add the zest, then the egg and process for a few secs until the mixture forms clumps. If you need to, work in a few trickles of ice cold water, but try and avoid it if you can for the shortest pastry.
• Tip onto a very lightly floured surface, knead briefly until smooth, then chill in the fridge for 30 mins or until firm. Can be made up to 3 days ahead or frozen for up to a month.
• Lightly dust the work surface with flour, then roll pastry out to approx £1 thickness. Cut out 12 x 8cm rounds with a fluted cutter and press into a 12-hole non-stick bun tin. Re-roll the trimmings to the same thickness and stamp out 12 x 5cm rounds for the tops. If you like, use a star cutter to cut out star shapes in the top of the pies, or simply cut crosses in the middle.
• Spoon about 1 dessertspoon mincemeat into each base, sprinkle with cranberries, then press on the tops. Chill for 20 mins while you heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Can be frozen for up to 1 month at this point.
• Brush the tops with the egg, then bake for 15-20 mins until golden and crisp. Cool for a few mins, then lever out of the tins with a table knife and cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Warm gently to serve, dusted with sifted icing sugar.

ORANGE, CRANBERRY & ALMOND MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Whizz the butter, flour and ground almonds in a food processor until the butter has disappeared. Pulse in the sugar and half the orange zest. Add the milk and keep whizzing until a rough dough comes together. Tip onto the work surface, press together and shape into a smooth disc, kneading once or twice if you need to. Chill for 15 mins. Can be made up to 3 days ahead and chilled, or frozen for up to 1 month.
• Scatter a little flour onto the work surface. Roll out the dough to about the thickness of a £1 coin. Using an 8cm cutter, stamp out 24 circles and use to line the holes of 2 x 12-hole bun tins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix cranberries and mincemeat, then spoon into cases. Scatter each pie with flaked almonds. Can be frozen for up to 1 month. Bake the pies for 18-20 mins until the pastry and almonds are golden. When ready to serve, dust with the tiniest bit of icing sugar. Stir 2 tsp icing sugar and remaining zest into the crème fraîche, then dollop onto each pie to serve.