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Delicious and so easy to make. These Christmas Star Mince Pies are made with Homemade Shortcrust Pastry, with a generous dollop of Festive Mincemeat! Sure to be a Family Favourite! Can You Imagine Christmas without Mince Pies? Me neither! Read on to make your very own Homemade Christmas Mince Pies.
Something to know about me, I’m obsessed with Christmas! I love everything about this time of year. The decorating, the baking, the eating! Yes, a few pounds are always gained over the festive period. I particularly love Christmas Mince Pies, their fruity, gooey spiced centres are the wonderful reminder that Christmas Time has finally arrived! Yay!!
What are Mince Pies
Traditionally, a modern day Mince Pie has a Shortcrust Pastry shell, filled with Mixed Fruits, Spices and Suet. Our Humble festive pie has a long and varied history, known to have been enjoyed as far back as Tudor times. Back then, the Mince Pie was known as ‘Shrid Pie’ or ‘Mutton Pie’ – you can see why they changed it! Back then the filling would be a combination of shredded meats, fruits and spices, sweet and savoury, all mixed together in one rather large Oblong pie.
Recipes dating back to 1615 document ‘Legs of Mutton’ with cloves and Raisins. Goose meat with lemon and Apple…It was during the Victorian era, thanks to modernised tastes, that mince pies became sweeter and their size and shape changed from an oblong shaped bake to a compact pie shape. Hurrah for the Victorians!
Why are Mince Pies popular at Christmas
The Mince Pie gained popularity over the festive period due to a tradition that was practised during the middle ages. It was believed that if a person ate 1 mince pie a day for 12 days from Christmas Day until the Twelfth Night, you would be assured Happiness for the next 12 months. Sounds like a good deal to me! I shall enthusiastically take part in that noble tradition this year ! 😉
Why I love making Homemade Mince Pies!
- Firstly, its a good excuse to crank up the Christmas Music and get festive
- There is nothing like warm Mince pies, straight out of the oven! My goodness! Just writing that makes me feel happy! The problem with shop bought is-well, just that, their shop bought. Their premade, cold, most of the time lacking decoration, a sugared pie in an uninspiring box. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never met a mince pie I didn’t like! Absolutely delicious! But it’s just not the same, trust me…make homemade and you’ll understand what I’m saying.
- Fills your home with Christmassy spices-heaven!
- Puts the biggest smile on my Kiddies face(and my husbands)
- This recipe in particular is very easy, no fuss Christmas Star Mince pies, the whole family will love
Why You’ll love this Christmas Star Mince Pie Recipe
- It cuts out the faffing, a very basic and easy recipe
- Made with Jarred Mincemeat for a quick bake
- Delicious Homemade Crumbly Shortcrust pastry
- Prepped and Baked within the Hour
- No Pie tins needed, Just a lined baking tray
- Generous Portions (Palm Sized Pies)
Tools and Tips
Affiliate links
Pastry Cutters I Used an 8cm round for these pies
Food Processor (Not essential, but makes things easier)
How to make Christmas Star Mince Pies
Ingredients
- Flour- Use Plain Flour
- Butter -Unsalted is best, if all you have is salted, omit salt from the recipe
- Salt
- Cinnamon- Ground Cinnamon
- Milk- Whole fat is best
- Jar of Christmas Mincemeat
The Basic Steps
- Sift the flour into a large bowl or Food processor bowl.
- Add the Chilled diced Butter
- If you are using a food processor, pulse until breadcrumbs form. If combining by hand, rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips
- Add the Cinnamon and mix
- And the salt and mix
- Add the Milk and work the mix until a dough forms
- Wrap the dough in cling film
- Allow to chill in the fridge for 20 minutes
- Roll out the dough
- Cut 16 circles
- Place the circles in the fridge for 15 minutes
- Punch out a star shape in 8 of the circles
- Egg wash the edges of the remaining whole 8 Circles
- Place a dollop of Mincemeat in the centre of each egg washed circle (see video)
- Place a Star cut Circle on top
- Join the 2 circles by gently pressing the edges together with a fork
- Brush each Pie with a little milk and sprinkle with Sugar
- Pop in the Oven for 20 minutes
What to Serve with Christmas Star Mince pies
- You Cant go wrong with a little squirty cream!
- Ice-cream
- Double Cream
- Some Mulled Wine on the side?
- Go really Crazy and make my Chocolate Dipping sauce
- Hot Chocolate? Try my Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Recipe
- A Cup of tea
- A Creamy Coffee try my Dalgona Coffee Recipe
- Christmas Punch? Try My Festive Non Alcoholic Apple Punch
In a Christmassy baking mood? Check out my Christmas Toadstool Cookies and my Chocolate Orange Biscotti for festive themed baking!
If you give this recipe a try please leave a rating and comment below. If you took a picture, I would love to see it! Tag me on Instagram, I love to share your creations on my Stories.
Christmas Star Mince Pies
Ingredients
- 250 g Plain Flour
- 125 g Chilled Butter
- Pinch of Salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1-3 tbsp Milk
- Ready Made Christmas Minced Meat
Instructions
- Sift the flour into a large bowl or Food processor bowl.
- Add the Chilled diced Butter. If you are using a food processor, pulse until breadcrumbs form. If combining by hand, rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips
- Add the Cinnamon and salt then mix in
- Add the milk a little at a time, work with your hands until a dough forms
- Shape the Dough into a disc, wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.
- Roll out the dough, until smooth and flat, but not too thin.
- With an 8cm wide round cutter, cut out 16 Circles
- Place the circles in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill (easier to work with if chilled)
- Preheat the oven to 180°c
- Punch out a star shape in 8 of the circles
- Egg wash the edges of the remaining 8 Circles
- Place a dollop of Mincemeat in the centre of each egg washed circle (see video)
- Place a Star cut Circle on top. Join the 2 circles by gently pressing the edges together with a fork
- Brush each Pie with a little milk and sprinkle with Sugar
- Pop in the Oven for 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool then dust with icing sugar
