04/12/2024
Christmassy Currant and Craisin Mince Pies
Lovely little pies to really set off the Christmas table!
Makes:
12
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 large green apple, unpeeled, grated
- 1 cup currants
- 1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberries)*
- 1/4 cup flaked almonds
- grated rind and juice of 1 orange
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 2 teaspoons mixed spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 30g unsalted butter, chilled
- 3 sheets frozen sweet shortcrust pastry, thawed
- raw sugar, for sprinkling
Method
- Combine grated apple, currants, craisins, orange rind and juice, brandy and spices in a frypan and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes until the fruit is soft and any liquid has evaporated. Allow to cool completely. Mix in brown sugar and grate the butter into the mixture just before using.
- Cut one pastry sheet into 6 rectangles and use to line muffin tins, gently pressing and trimming as necessary, and repeat with second pastry sheet to make 12. Use an 8cm star-shaped cutter to cut out 12 stars from the remaining pastry sheet.
- Spoon fruit mixture evenly into pastry shells and place a pastry star on top of each, pressing gently. Sprinkle with raw sugar.
- Bake in the centre of the oven at 200°C for 20 minutes util golden then lower to the base of the oven for a further 5 minutes to brown the bases. Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before gently removing onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container.
Tips
- * Raisins, sultanas or chopped dried apricots can be substituted for craisins.
- STYLING Be sure to match the size of the star cutter to the width of the muffin pan.
- DRINK Port or muscat
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