miss b's quote

'I haven't been everywhere yet but it's on my list' Susan Sontag

Wednesday 12 December 2012

miss b loves.......cranberry and apple mince pies with a glass of mulled wine



Christmas wouldn't be the same without delicious mince pies but I find some of the shop-bought ones too sweet (even for my sweet tooth!) The addition of fresh cranberries and apple to a jar of mincemeat gives these pies a really fresh taste.



The recipe is from the free Waitrose supermarket newspaper, Waitrose Weekend..........

For the pastry:

500g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
225g slightly salted butter cut into small pieces (or use margarine for a softer, shorter pastry)
75g lard, cut into small pieces
5 tbsp icing sugar

(As a shortcut, you could use two packs of 375g of sweet shortcrust pastry instead of making your own!)

For the filling:

410g jar mincemeat
100g fresh cranberries roughly halved
1 small cooking apple
50g dark or light brown muscovado sugar
1 tsp mixed spice
1 egg beaten to glaze (optional - I prefer not to glaze) 
Caster sugar to sprinkle (I used icing sugar)


1. To make the pastry, put the flour in a food processor, add the butter and lard and blend until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the icing sugar and blend lightly to mix. Add enough cold water, about 4-5 tbsp, to mix to a firm smooth dough (alternatively rub the fats into the flour in a bowl then add the sugar and water to mix to a dough.) Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead into a small ball. Wrap in clingfilm and chill for at least 1 hour.

2.To make the filling, turn the mincemeat out into a bowl and add the cranberries. Peel the apple and grate the flesh into the bowl, working around the core. Add the sugar and spice and mix well.

3.Preheat the oven to 190°C, gas mark 5. Thinly roll out three-quarters of the pastry on a floured surface and cut out rounds using a 8-9 cm cutter. Use to line each hollow of two 12 hole tartlet trays. Brush the edges with a little water and pile the filling into the centres.




4. Roll out the remaining pastry with the trimmings and cut out lids using a 6 cm cutter. Position on the pies pressing firmly together around the edges to seal. If you wish, brush with beaten egg to glaze.



5. Bake for 25 mins until golden. (You might need to rotate the tins half way through cooking) Leave in the trays for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for serving cold or until ready to warm through. (I've put half a dozen in the freezer too for unexpected guests!) Serve sprinkled with sugar. 


We prefer to warm them in the oven before eating.......perfect with a glass of mulled wine!



I've made my own mulled wine in the past but I now just buy a good quality bottle (or two) from Marks and Spencer and add a cinnamon stick to the pan as it's heating up..... ready in a couple of minutes!

.....and look what I found in the new Anthropologie department at Selfridges......a mulled wine scented candle ......so the house really does smell of Christmas now......






Finally..........

On the same page as the mince pie recipe I spotted this cute joke which made me smile....silly I know (but I like the jokes in Christmas crackers too!)



More Waitrose Christmas recipes here

45 comments:

  1. I would love to try one of those pies, we don't have anything like it in Greece (our mince pie is savory rather than sweet). That wine must be delicious, too!

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  2. Je vais essayer ta recette qui a l'air succulente.... reste à trouver les cranberries.... ce qui n'est pas chose facile en France!!!!
    Belle semaine
    Laure

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  3. The joke made me smile too ;) I used to devour mince pies when I was living in the UK. Excellent for this season. The ones you made look perfect; much nicer than the ones you buy ready made.

    LUXESSED

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  4. Wow ! Very good !
    Kisses dear

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  5. Oh Miss B I would love to try some of your mince pie with the mulled wine. I love cranberries! They all look so delicious.

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  6. I've never made these but now I'm going to have to. I like your additions! Love the smell of mulled wine too! I laughed at the joke--so cute! Have a great Wed!

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  7. This post came just in time for me as I was looking for a festive recipe! I also find mince pies a little on the sweet side so I can’t wait to try my hand at this!

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  8. They look delicious...as does the mulled wine...thanks for sharing!

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  9. Yum, yum yum - that's all I can say. I adore this Christmas combination.

    Joanne

    http://www.balletpumpsandroses.com

    xx

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  10. These cranberry and apple mince pies sound yummy. I wish I had one to go with my tea right now. Here, we have minced pies around the holidays, and some people don't care for the taste, but I love them. I think I have a sweet tooth too. The scented candle is perfect for this time of year. I see you are enjoying the Christmas season - how wonderful.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

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  11. I am definitely trying this recipe as I find the shop bought ones doughy and bland! Fabulous post...that candle looks amazing also:)
    ~Anne xx

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  12. ooh yay i think i might try this out!
    xx
    www.atipsytart.blogspot.com

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  13. I'm not one for baking unfortunately though I baked my first loaf last night ... with the Panasonic bread maker and even the Grumps said it was a good un. The only mince pies I've had so far this year has been the Heston Blumenthal ones from Waitrose where you warm them up and sprinkle your own mandarin/clementine sugar on them. Indulgence.

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    Replies
    1. A sprinkling of clementine sugar - must look out for these!

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  14. Look amazing you know I much I love Christmas cookies and bakery so I will try this recipe soon.
    But I will have to look for a mulled wine and try it.
    Xx

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  15. Yummy! I adore mulled wine the your mini pies are simply scrumptious looking! Time for me to get going on a little baking. My last day at the office is the 20th.. so I'll be running around trying to get things done!

    Looks like you are enjoying the season and I wish I could sit down and enjoy these festive treats with YOU!

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  16. Super je vais essayer cette recette.
    Bibendum c'est bien...

    Bonne soirée

    manon

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  17. Ooh these look delicious! I love mince pies but this cranberry and apple version sounds particularly yummy! xx

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  18. HaHaHa! Mince SPY! That is too funny! I've never had a mince pie. Can you believe that? Yours look so good Miss B! So professional :) You can do everything!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  19. wow this looks delicious!! i love mulled wine!


    http://fashion-gourmet.blogspot.com/

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  20. Miss b needs to prepare a post about the best diet for after Christmas if she wants us to keep her friends.... LOL!
    Great recipe. I will try it for sure. Lots of cranberries here in the US!
    Meery Christmas, dear miss b.
    xoxo
    Anne (Playing with Scarves)

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  21. I need to try this recipe!! Seems amazing!

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  22. Sounds great I am definitely going to try this

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  23. Thanks for sharing your recipe, I've always wondered how these pies are made! looks fantastic!

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  24. This looks so so delicious and very festive =)

    Love from the NaNa girls xoxo

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  25. I'd love to try them, the look very tasty!! Have a nice weekend! kisses! xo

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  26. So do I ... Danger!!:)
    Have a very happy Christmas and wonderful holiday celebrations... xv

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  27. It looks so delicious...!
    New follower, what about follow each others?!?
    V
    www.fashionriddles.blogspot.it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for deciding to follow my blog. I will have a look at your blog soon.

      Delete
  28. Those mince pies look delicious and so pretty! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I agree, nothing is a substitute for homemade. This year, I'm lacking on the homemade goodies, as the house renovations haven't blessed me with a kitchen yet (a winter project), so this year I'm settling for goodies eaten out and at holiday parties! I'm so craving baking! Hope your holidays are very joyful, Sam ... merry, merry! ~S

    SANDY M Illustration
    http://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com

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  29. hahahahaha oops! A soon as I hit publish for my comment just now, I thought NOOOOO! I typed your name as "Sam" because I happened to glance up as I was signing off and reading Sam's comment just before mine and I had just left her blog and commented there and for some reason it came out in my fingers on the keys! Sorry Miss B, darling, you know it was meant for you! The holidays must be getting to me! lol xox ~S

    SANDY M Illustration
    http://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com

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  30. They look so delicious! Thank you for the recipe! x

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  31. Dear Miss B, thanks for visiting my blog, I also am your newest follower....: D
    Love from Mirjam.

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  32. What a great idea! We're having mince pies and mulled wine with friends here in California, not usually a tradition here at all!

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  33. Sound great... have a glass of wine on my behalf!

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  34. looks delicious! :)

    I will follow you, hope you can follow back *

    http://petitsmorceauxdemoi.blogspot.co.at/

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for following. I shall certainly have a look at your blog when I get chance!

      Delete
  35. Looks delicious!
    I love waitrose sooo much!
    Would love it if we could follow each other on bloglovin?
    Let me know when you’re following and I always follow back.
    Lots of love from London.
    Love G xx
    http://www.supercalafashionistic.com

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  36. You did a great job Miss B.! And the Mulled wine too! I'd love to try those cute pastries :-)

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Thank you for taking the time to write a comment on my blog. I really do appreciate it. miss b

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