Festive Twist Gingerbread Mince Pies
When it comes to festive treats, combining two Christmas favourites, mince pies and gingerbread, is a match made in heaven. The warm spice of gingerbread syrup adds a delightful twist to the traditional mincemeat pie, making these gingerbread mince pies a standout addition to your Christmas baking.
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Pastry:
- 250g plain flour
- 100g unsalted butter or vegan butter, chilled and cubed
- 100g light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp gingerbread syrup (or golden syrup)
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg (or egg replacer for vegan version)
For the Mincemeat Filling:
- 300g mince meat or fruit mince
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 tbsp gingerbread syrup for extra flavour (optional)
Method
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the plain flour, sugar, and baking powder with the spices - ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Rub the chilled butter (or vegan butter) into the dry mixture with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg (or use your egg replacer for a vegan mince pie version) and stir in the gingerbread syrup. Add this to the dry mixture and work the dough together until it forms a smooth ball. Wrap it in cling film and chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
For ease, why not try our MixStar Compact Stand Mixer to combine your ingredients! With nifty dual rotating beaters, whisks and dough hooks, this is an excellent choice for all your baking needs.
Step 2: While the dough is chilling, prepare your mincemeat pie filling. Add the mince meat, orange zest, and a tablespoon of gingerbread syrup into a bowl. Stir well to combine, giving your filling that extra festive, gingerbread-spiced boost.
Step 3: Preheat your oven to 180°C. Once the pastry is chilled, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about 3mm thickness. Use a round cutter to cut circles of pastry that will fit into your mini pie or muffin tin to create the pie bases.
Place each circle of pastry into the tin and press lightly. Save some dough for cutting out stars or other festive shapes to top your pies.
Step 4: Spoon your prepared mincemeat pie filling into each pastry case, filling just below the top. Use the leftover pastry to cut out stars or small gingerbread men to place on top of the filling.
Brush the tops of the pies with a little beaten egg or plant milk for a vegan option, and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp.
Step 5: Allow the mini mince pies to cool slightly before removing from the tin. They can be enjoyed warm or cold, and are perfect when paired with a drizzle of gingerbread syrup or alongside a cup of tea.
Recipe sourced from BBCGoodFood
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