Orange Cranberry Almond Mince Pies Food

ORANGE, CRANBERRY & ALMOND MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Whizz the butter, flour and ground almonds in a food processor until the butter has disappeared. Pulse in the sugar and half the orange zest. Add the milk and keep whizzing until a rough dough comes together. Tip onto the work surface, press together and shape into a smooth disc, kneading once or twice if you need to. Chill for 15 mins. Can be made up to 3 days ahead and chilled, or frozen for up to 1 month.
• Scatter a little flour onto the work surface. Roll out the dough to about the thickness of a £1 coin. Using an 8cm cutter, stamp out 24 circles and use to line the holes of 2 x 12-hole bun tins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix cranberries and mincemeat, then spoon into cases. Scatter each pie with flaked almonds. Can be frozen for up to 1 month. Bake the pies for 18-20 mins until the pastry and almonds are golden. When ready to serve, dust with the tiniest bit of icing sugar. Stir 2 tsp icing sugar and remaining zest into the crème fraîche, then dollop onto each pie to serve.

ORANGE AND ALMOND CRUMBLE CHRISTMAS MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Make the pastry in a large bowl or food processor by blending the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Stir in the sugar and orange zest and then 2 tbsp water.
• Bring the mixture together with your hands, adding a few more drops of water if it feels a little dry.
• Preheat the oven to 180C/375F/gas 4.
• Roll out half the pastry (keep the other half wrapped in the fridge) on a lightly floured surface. You want the pastry to be very thin, so it is crisp when cooked.
• Cut out 12 circles of pastry with a plain 6cm cutter (you will need to re-roll the pastry a couple of times) and use to line a 12-hole, non-stick cup cake or mini muffin tin.
• (It is quite a soft pastry, so any little gaps that form as you are lining the holes can easily be patched up.).
• Chill while you make the topping.
• In a small bowl, make the crumble topping by rubbing the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and almonds.
• With a teaspoon, fill each pastry case with mincemeat, gently pressing it down to leave room for the topping.
• Sprinkle the topping over each pie, place the tin on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is golden.
• Leave the pies to cool in the tin before taking them out carefully. They are fragile when hot, so use a small knife to help lift them out.
• Unless you have two tins, repeat the process with the second batch of pastry, filling and topping.
• Eat the mini mince pies warm or cold, lightly dusted with icing sugar and served with whipped cream or brandy butter.

HONEY CRAN-RASPBERRY PIE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk egg, 3 tablespoons ice water and vinegar until blended. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in shortening and lard until crumbly. Gradually add egg mixture, tossing with a fork, until dough holds together when pressed. If mixture is too dry, slowly add more ice water, a teaspoon at a time, just until mixture comes together., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 portion of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate. Trim crust even with rim. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, mix 1-1/4 cups sugar and tapioca. Add cranberries, raspberries, honey and almond extract; toss to coat evenly. Let stand 15 minutes., Pour filling into pie plate. Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge. Cut slits in top. Combine cinnamon and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; sprinkle over top. Place pie on a baking sheet; bake 10 minutes., Reduce oven setting to 350°. Bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 35-40 minutes. Cool pie on a wire rack. If desired, serve with ice cream.

ORANGE PASTRY MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. In a food processor, whizz together the flour, icing sugar and butter until they form fine crumbs (or rub in with your fingers). With the blades running, add the zest, then 3 tbsp orange juice. Process for a few secs until the mixture forms clumps. If you need to, add a few extra tsps orange juice to bring the pastry together.
• Tip onto a very lightly floured surface, knead briefly until smooth, then chill in the fridge for 30 mins or until firm. The pastry can be made up to 3 days ahead or frozen for up to 1 month.
• Lightly dust the work surface with flour, then roll out the pastry to approx £1 coin thickness. Cut out 12 x 8cm rounds with a fluted cutter and press into a 12-hole non-stick bun tin. Re-roll the trimmings to the same thickness and stamp out 12 x 5cm rounds for the tops. Spoon about 1 tbsp mincemeat into each base and press on the tops.
• Brush the tops with the egg, then bake for 15-20 mins until golden and crisp. Cool for a few mins, then lever out of the tins with a table knife and cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Warm gently to serve, dusted with sifted icing sugar, if you like.

CRANBERRY MINCE PIE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Add cranberries; cook over medium heat until berries pop, about 15 minutes. Combine apples and mincemeat; spread over the bottom of pastry shell. Top with cranberry mixture., For topping, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves in a small bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over filling. Bake at 400° for 25-30 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator.

ORANGE ALMOND CRUMBLE CHRISTMAS MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Make the pastry in a large bowl, or food processor, by blending the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and the orange zest and then 2 tablespoons water. Bring the mixture together with your hands, adding a few drops of water if necessary, if it feel dry.
• Preheat oven to 375°F Roll out 1/2 of the pastry (keep the other half wrapped in the refrigerator) on a lightly floured surface. You want the pastry to be very thin, so it is crisp when cooked. Cut out 12 circles of pastry with a plain 6cm cutter (you will need to re-rol the pastry a couple of times) and use to line a 12-hole non-stick cupcake or mini-muffin tin. It is quite a soft pastry, so any little gaps that form as your are lining the holes can easily be patched. Chill while you are making the topping.
• In a small bowl, maker the crumble topping by rubbing the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and almonds.
• With a teaspoon, fill each pastry case with mincemeat, gently pressing it down to leave room for the crumble. Sprinkle the topping over each pie, place the tin on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is golden.
• Leave the pies to cool in the tin before taking them out carefully. They are fragile when hot, so use a small knife to help lift them out.
• Unless you have two tins, repeat the process with the second batch of pastry, filling and topping, Eat the mince pies warm or cold, lighty dusted with icing sugar, and served with whipped cream or brandy butter.

MINCEMEAT, CRANBERRY & ALMOND PIE

Steps:

• Cut the pastry in two. Wrap one half and set aside. On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out the other half to a square large enough to line a 22cm loose-bottomed fluted tart tin (we used a square tin, but a round one would also work). Press the pastry into the tin, leaving any excess hanging over the edge.
• Scatter the marzipan over the pie base. Add the mincemeat and top with the cranberries.
• Roll out the remaining pastry to a square (or circle) the thickness of a £1 coin. Use a pizza cutter to slice the pastry into 1.5cm-wide strips. Weave the pastry strips over the pie to create a lattice, pressing down at the edges to seal with the pastry base. Trim off any excess pastry. Chill for 20 mins and heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Bake for 45 mins until golden. Cool for 15 mins in the tin, then transfer to a plate or board and dust with the icing sugar.