Nigella Mince Pies feature a pastry made from plain flour, vegetable shortening, cold butter, and fresh orange juice, complemented by a spiced mincemeat filling. Preparation takes about 40 minutes, yielding approximately 12 pies, ideal for festive occasions.
More Nigella Recipe:
🤎 Why You’ll Love This Mince Pies Recipe:
- Festive Flavor: Bursting with cranberries, spices, and citrus zest.
- Buttery Pastry: Made with a tender, flaky crust.
- Easy to Make: Simple steps for homemade holiday treats.
❓ What Is Nigella Mince Pies Recipe?
Nigella Mince Pies are traditional British pastries filled with a rich mincemeat mixture of cranberries, spices, and dried fruits, encased in a buttery orange-infused pastry.
🧈 Nigella Mince Pies Ingredients
For the pastry
- 240 grams of plain flour
- 60 grams of vegetable shortening (such as Trex)
- 60 grams of cold butter
- juice of 1 orange
- 1 pinch of salt
- approx. 350 grams mincemeat
- icing sugar (for dusting)
For the cranberry studded mincemeat
- 75 grams of soft dark brown sugar
- 300 grams cranberries
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 75 grams currants
- 75 grams raisins
- 30 grams of dried cranberries
- finely grated zest and juice of 1 clementine
- 25 millilitres brandy
- 3 drops almond extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons honey
🥮 How To Make Nigella Mince Pies
- Combine sugar and ruby port in a pan. Add cranberries, spices, dried fruits, and clementine zest and juice. Simmer until the fruit breaks down. Stir in brandy, almond extract, vanilla, and honey. Store in jars in the fridge.
- Chill flour, shortening, and diced butter in the freezer for 20 minutes. Mix orange juice and salt, and chill in the fridge.
- Blend chilled flour and fats in a food processor until crumbly. Add chilled orange juice gradually until the dough starts to come together.
- Transfer dough to a work surface, and knead lightly into a ball. Divide into 3 discs, wrap each in clingfilm, and chill for 20 minutes.
- Heat oven to 220°C (425ºF).
- Roll out each disc thinly. Cut circles to fit tart tins, and press gently into molds.
- Spoon mincemeat into pastry cases. Cut stars from remaining pastry and place on top of mincemeat.
- Bake pies for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Watch closely as baking times may vary.
- Remove pies from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Repeat with remaining pastry and mincemeat.
- Dust with icing sugar and serve warm with butter.
💭 Recipe Tips
- Handle Dough Lightly: Avoid over-kneading the pastry to maintain a tender texture.
- Customize Your Spices: Adjust the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves to suit your taste preferences.
- Use Cold Orange Juice: Keep the orange juice chilled until ready to use to maintain pastry consistency.
🍨 What To Serve With Mince Pies?
Serve mince pies with Coffee Ice Cream, Mascarpone Icing, Lemon Mousse, Chocolate Pots, or Creme Brulee.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Mince Pies?
- In the fridge: Store leftovers mince pies in an airtight container for 3 days.
- In the freezer: Store leftovers mince pies in a freezer-safe container for 1 month
🥵How To Reheat Leftovers Mince Pies?
- In the oven: Reheat leftovers mince pies for 3 minutes at 300°F.
- In the microwave: Heat leftovers mince pies on high for 20 seconds per pie.
- In the air-fryer: Heat leftovers mince pies for 1-2 minutes at 300°F.
FAQ’S:
How Do You Prevent The Pastry From Shrinking During Baking?
To prevent the pastry from shrinking during baking, make sure to chill the dough thoroughly before rolling it out and pressing it into the tart tins.
What Kind Of Pastry Is Best To Use For Mince Pies?
For Nigella Mince Pies, a shortcrust pastry is best. It is made with a combination of plain flour, vegetable shortening, cold butter, orange juice, and a pinch of salt.
How Do You Prevent The Pastry From Becoming Soggy After Baking?
To prevent the pastry from becoming soggy after baking, ensure the mincemeat filling is not too wet. Bake the pies at the recommended temperature (220°C/425°F) until they are golden brown.
Why Do You Chill The Orange Juice Before Mixing It With The Pastry Dough?
Chilling the orange juice before mixing it with the pastry dough helps to keep the dough cold. Cold ingredients prevent the fats (vegetable shortening and butter) from melting too quickly, ensuring a flaky and tender pastry.
More Nigella Recipe:
Nigella Mince Pies Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 477cals
- Total Fat: 17.8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.4g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 7.7g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.7g
- Total Carbs: 79g
- Net Carbs: 75g
- Total Sugars: 47g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 419mg
- Calcium: 36mg
- Iron: 2.5mg
- Potassium: 335mg
Nigella Mince Pies
Description
Nigella Mince Pies feature a pastry made from plain flour, vegetable shortening, cold butter, and fresh orange juice, complemented by a spiced mincemeat filling. Preparation takes about 40 minutes, yielding approximately 12 pies, ideal for festive occasions.
Ingredients
For the pastry
For the cranberry studded mincemeat
Instructions
- Combine sugar and ruby port in a pan. Add cranberries, spices, dried fruits, and clementine zest and juice. Simmer until the fruit breaks down. Stir in brandy, almond extract, vanilla, and honey. Store in jars in the fridge.
- Chill flour, shortening, and diced butter in the freezer for 20 minutes. Mix orange juice and salt, and chill in the fridge.
- Blend chilled flour and fats in a food processor until crumbly. Add chilled orange juice gradually until the dough starts to come together.
- Transfer dough to a work surface, and knead lightly into a ball. Divide into 3 discs, wrap each in clingfilm, and chill for 20 minutes.
- Heat oven to 220°C (425ºF).
- Roll out each disc thinly. Cut circles to fit tart tins, and press gently into molds.
- Spoon mincemeat into pastry cases. Cut stars from remaining pastry and place on top of mincemeat.
- Bake pies for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Watch closely as baking times may vary.
- Remove pies from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Repeat with remaining pastry and mincemeat.
- Dust with icing sugar and serve warm with butter.
Notes
- Handle Dough Lightly: Avoid over-kneading the pastry to maintain a tender texture.
Customize Your Spices: Adjust the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves to suit your taste preferences.
Use Cold Orange Juice: Keep the orange juice chilled until ready to use to maintain pastry consistency.