This Filo Pastry Mince Pies recipe is a Christmas gift from the gods! Traditional British mince pies are hard to beat when they’re home made… make this recipe this Christmas and see just how popular they are!
If you’ve never made homemade mince pies before, you’re in for a treat. It’s a lot easier than you think and the taste is unforgettable.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Homemade mince pies beats shop bought hands down
- It’s a very easy recipe to follow
- Make these for a Christmas party for the ultimate festive treats
Equipment needed to make this filo pastry mince pie recipe
There are a few essential pieces of equipment to make your marvellous mince pies:
- 12-hole muffin tin – the 12-hole tin is essential when it comes to making this recipe
- Baking tray – this will prevent your mince pies from getting soggy bottoms
- Pastry brush – to add the all important glaze for that lovely golden brown colour
- Rolling pin – you’ll need this to roll out your filo pastry
- Cooling rack – give each mince pie a few minutes to cool off
Ingredients needed to make this recipe
- Mincemeat – you can’t go wrong with this classic British mincemeat
How to make filo pastry mince pies
Step 1: Preheat the oven and grease the tin
Preheat your oven to 180°C/160°C/350°F/gas mark 4, then place your flat baking tray in the oven. The tray prevents each filo mince pie from having a soggy bottom. Grease your muffin tin with butter, to prevent each mince pie from sticking.
Step 2: Cut the filo pastry
Now, remove your filo sheets from the packaging, unfurl them and lay them on a large chopping board. Cut your sheets into quarters – basically, cut a ‘plus’ into the filo pastry sheets
Step 3: Line muffin tins with filo pastry
Line each muffin tin hole with three of the pastry quarter sheets. Overlap them slightly, so that each muffin hole resembles a flower.
Step 4: Add mincemeat filling
Spoon the mincemeat into each pastry case. Make sure you get an even amount in each.
Step 5: Close pockets and glaze
With your pastry brush, brush the top of the filo pastry with melted butter or whisked egg. If you want a lighter version, use milk. Then, gently press the excess filo pastry above each pie just above the mincemeat.
Step 6: Bake and eat!
Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Make sure you keep an eye on them – every oven is different, so they might cook quicker than expected. Once they’re done, take them out and place them on a cooling rack, ready to be devoured!
What to serve with filo pastry mince pies
I served these filo mince pies with brandy butter but they go really well with yoghurt or even eggnog ice cream too!
Variations for this recipe
- For a lighter version, use milk instead of melted butter to glaze your pastry
- Mincemeat contains suet, an animal product. For a vegan mince pie, use vegan mincemeat
- Add chopped apple or extra dried fruit to your mincemeat mixture for an extra fruity taste. You can also added your favourite chopped nuts
- If your mince pie recipe is intended for adults, go for an extra boozy mincemeat mixture
- For those with a particular sweet tooth, sprinkle some icing sugar over each mince pie before baking in the oven
Top tips
- Room temperature filo pastry works best. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before using
What is mincemeat?
A delicious mixture of chopped dried fruits, distilled spirits (normally rum or brandy) and mixed spices (normally cinnamon, clove and nutmeg) and beef suet, mincemeat has been traditionally served in pies or tarts in England for centuries.
It’s known as mince ‘meat’ as it used to contain meat – usually beef or venison. By the mid 20th century, mince pies became meat free, served only as a sweet treat.
Are mince pies vegan?
No, they’re not. Mincemeat contains suet, an animal product that helps to thicken the mixture when it’s cooked.
However, there are now lots of vegan mincemeat alternatives out there. See ‘Variations to this recipe’ above.
How do you store mince pies?
Store your filo pastry mince pieces in an airtight container in a cool dry place. They’ll stay fresh for up to a week.
Can you freeze them?
Yes, you can freeze mince pies. Again, just place them in an airtight container. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More fabulous festive treats
Need more Christmas treat recipes? I’ve got a stack load for you:
- Chocolate cheerio baubles – hang these decorations on your tree then devour them on Christmas eve!
- Chocolate fairy cakes – these little beauties are off-the-scale delicious!
- Sugar free chocolate cookies – a healthier alternative to your Christmas cookies
- Chocolate orange cupcakes – incredible cupcakes that’ll make the holiday season even more merrier
- 10 best Christmas treats for the holidays – don’t miss these festive treats!
Filo Pastry Mince Pies
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 portions 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Traditional mince pies are hard to beat when they're homemade. These Filo Pastry Mince Pies are the perfect treat to leave for Santa at Christmas. Enjoy with Brandy Butter or Eggnog Ice Cream!
Ingredients
- 270g (9.5oz) pack of filo pastry
- 450g (1lb) mincemeat, at room temperature
- melted butter, for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C/350°F/gas mark 4.
- Place a flat baking tray into the oven. This will help prevent pies from getting soggy bottoms.
- Grease a 12-hole muffin tin with butter and set aside.
- Remove the filo pastry out of the packaging and unfold and lay flat on your work surface. Cut the stack in quarters by cutting it one cut horizontal and one vertical.
- Line your muffin tin holes with 3 filo pieces one at a time, each one staggered from the previous one to resemble a flower.
- Spoon an even amount of mincemeat in each pastry case.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the exposed filo pastry with melted butter or whisked egg.
- Gather the excess filo pastry above each pie slightly and gently press it to just above the mincemeat. This should allow the pastry at the top to stand up.
- Place the pies in the oven for 10-12 minutes but keep an eye on them. Once they have achieved that golden look, remove the pies from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: Mince Pie, Vegan Mince Pie, Filo Mince Pie, Filo Pastry Mince Pie, Vegan Christmas Recipes, filo pastry dessert, vegan filo pastry recipe
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