Baking Mince Pies

Hi everyone!

Today I made some mince pies... I love mince pies.. They are so christmasy and I thought what better way to celebrate a month off from college then make some christmas treats!

So here's how I made them for anyone who wants to give them a go :)

Ingredients:                                                                                          Equipment:

- 250g cold, cubed butter                                                                     - A large bowl
- 350g plain flour                                                                                  - Rolling pin
- 100g caster sugar                                                                              -  2 cookie cutters or glasses will do
- Half a jar of mincemeat                                                                      - Muffin tray
- 1 egg
- Icing sugar, to dust

• Sieve the flour into a large bowl. Rub in the butter, using your hands, until they look like breadcrumbs! 
• Then mix in the caster sugar and a pinch of salt, using a spoon.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 6.
• Next, roll this out with you rolling pin to about 1cm thick or less.
• This pastry is quite hard to roll out as it is a crumbly pastry.. So an alternative is to pull off walnut sized pieces, flatten it and then cut out your shape.. 
• Cut round pieces for the bottom of the pie...
• Place the bottoms in  greased muffin tray.
• Put a heaped teaspoon of the mincemeat onto the pastry.
• Cut a smaller circle or a star shape out of the pastry and place it on top of the mincemeat, pressing the sides onto the bottom piece of pastry.
• Lightly whisk the egg with a fork and then brush this on top of the mince pies!
• Pop into the oven for approximately 12 mins or until golden brown!
• Leave on a wire rack to cool.
• When cooled dust over some icing sugar and serve... Yummy!! 

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did!! Let me know if anyone tries this recipe :)