Sweet Christmas Mince Pies – Culinary Ginger

A true British legend. Christmas sweet tarts steal the show every year. The flaky, buttery crust gives way to a spicy filling filled with currants, raisins, brandy-soaked apples, candied orange peel and lemon zest. Sweetened with brown sugar, warmed with holiday spices and nut-free. They are utterly nostalgic, heartwarming and so typical of Christmas.

Ingredients

• Currants
• Raisins
• Brandy
• Apple
• Candied citrus peels
• orange juice
• Orange zest
• Lemon zest
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Dark brown sugar
• Butter
• Flour
• Sugar
• Salt
• Egg
• Powdered/confectioner’s sugar

This has been one of my most popular Christmas recipes since I first shared it in 2018. The recipe itself hasn’t changed, but I’ve updated the post with additional tips and answers to common questions.

Homemade minced meat recipe

Making your own ground meat is incredibly simple and definitely worth the effort. For an extra festive touch, I like to decorate the tops of the tarts with winter-themed pastry cutouts. Snowflakes are my favorite – and finish them off with a light dusting of icing (powdered) sugar.

Traditional mince

Would you believe these pies were once made with real meat? Hence the name “minced meat”. Luckily, the recipe evolved into the sweet and spicy fruit version we enjoy today. I think we can all be grateful for this change and happily leave the meat-filled version in the past!

Sweet or savory mince

Just to avoid any confusion: in England, “mince pies” can also refer to a savory version made from ground beef. It’s completely different from the sweet and spicy fruit minced meat used for

Prepare minced meat pies in advance

Traditional tartlets are at their best when the sweet minced meat is given time to mature, letting the citrus zest, dried fruit, brandy and spices meld into a rich, fragrant filling. Resting overnight works wonderfully, but giving it a week or even a month creates a truly exceptional flavor. And if you’re short on time, don’t worry: your pies will still be absolutely delicious.

Nut-free mince pies

This mince pie recipe is nut-free, true to the belief that the original meat version was nut-free.

Ground meat without suet

Traditional Christmas tartlets often use beef suet in the filling mixture – grated beef fat commonly used in the UK. As an expat living in the US, I find it difficult to stock up, so I adapted the recipe by using cold butter instead. Don’t worry, the flavor and texture are just as delicious! And if you prefer, you can definitely stick to traditional tallow.

Best pastry for Christmas tartlets

My sweet shortcrust pastry is made effortlessly in a food processor by mixing flour with cold butter, creating a flaky, buttery crust. This is my favorite dough recipe for sweet and savory pies.

Best baking dish for fruit minced meat pies

I use a standard 12 cup muffin tin (muffin tins) – it’s the perfect size for traditional tartlets.

Serving tartlets

Mince pies served with brandy butter are the traditional way to elevate this classic British treat. Cognac butter, a hard sauce made from butter, powdered sugar and brandy, stays solid until served over hot fruit mince pies. The rich, creamy butter then melts into a delicious butter sauce. This is my own recipe for traditional brandy butter (pictured below).

Storing homemade tartlets

Store cooled tartlets in an airtight container to prevent them from absorbing surrounding flavors or odors. You can also wrap them in plastic wrap. Store them in a cool, dry place, such as a cabinet. Avoid the refrigerator, as this can alter the texture. Room temperature is best and consume them within a week.

Freezing tartlets

Once cooked and cooled on a rack, they do well when the individual tarts are wrapped in plastic wrap and then in an airtight container. Be sure to date them and they will last 2-3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°f/180°C for 10-15 minutes.

Small pâtés without cognac suitable for children

These tartlets are perfect for the whole family. If you prefer not to serve cognac to children, you can easily replace it with apple juice (apple cider) or more orange juice.

More Traditional British Christmas Recipes

During the Christmas period, a few traditional recipes always complete the celebration. For the main event, roast turkey never feels truly festive without a bowl of creamy bread sauce on the table – a true British comfort food. And of course, no Christmas season is complete without a classic Christmas pudding, steamed until rich and dark and served with a warm brandy sauce.

If you have made my Christmas Sweet Mince Tarts, please leave a star rating on the recipe card. You can also ask a question or leave a comment below.

Janette is a professionally trained chef based in California who channels her passion for cooking into carefully crafted recipes. His culinary creations are inspired by his English heritage as well as his favorite global cuisines, including Indian and Italian. Connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more delicious inspiration. Learn more about Janette…