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26
December
Viennese Mince Pies
Now, I realise it might be a bit late to post recipes for Mince Pies now that the big day has passed, but I am still on leave from work, so it’s still Christmas in my eyes. Also, I have to share this recipe with you, because it is by far the best Mince Pie I have ever made. I have pulled together components from a couple of recipes I have done in the past, and put them together to produce the only Mince Pie recipe I will make from now on.
I have always been a fan of a good pie crust, and this sweet pastry has a hint of orange in it that makes a little more special. Top the pie with a melt-in-the-mouth topping of Viennese biscuit, and you have a winning combination.
You can if you so wish make your own filling, but I was only making 1 dozen pies. My husband doesn’t like them, so these would be for my own consumption, so a dozen is more than enough. Even for me. With that in mind, it felt more prudent to buy a jar of filling. If you want to make more, these should freeze well once baked, then can be thawed and gently warmed.
Viennese Mince Pies
Print recipe
| Serves | 12 |
Ingredients
Pastry
- 180g Plain Flour
- 90g Unsalted Butter (cold and cubed)
- 1 Large Free-range Egg Yolk
- 40g Icing Sugar
- Grated Zest of 1 large orange
- ½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1-2 teaspoon Juice of orange
Filling
- 1 jar Ready Made Mincemeat
Viennese topping
- 225g Unsalted Butter (softened)
- 50g Icing Sugar
- 175g Plain Flour
- 50g Ground Almonds (or corn flour)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Directions
| 1. | Place the flour, sugar, orange zest and butter together in a large bowl |
| 2. | Rub together until mixture resembles bread crumbs |
| 3. | In a jug, beat together the egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of orange juice |
| 4. | Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture, and pour in the egg and mix well until it forms a dough. If it is too dry, add a little more orange juice a teaspoon at a time |
| 5. | Warp in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes |
| 6. | While the pastry is chilling, make the viennese topping. Mix together the butter and icing sugar until light, pale and fluffy |
| 7. | Beat in the vanilla, then sieve and fold in the ground almonds and flour. If the mixture is too stiff, then you can add a teaspoon or two of milk |
| 8. | Place the mixture into a piping bag with a large star nozzle fitted |
| 9. | Roll out the chilled pastry on a lightly floured surface to no more than 3-4mm. Using a cutter, cut out 12 rounds and place into a lightly greased 12 hole Yorkshire Pudding tin |
| 10. | Spoon about a teaspoon of mincemeat into each cavity |
| 11. | Pipe a line of the Viennese mixture around the inside of the top of the mince pies so it just touches the pastry case. The mixture will grow slightly as it cooks, but leave a small hole in the middle |
| 12. | Place the tray into the fridge, and chill for 20 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 5 / 190°C / 375°F |
| 13. | Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the top is golden |
| 14. | Cool on a wire rack. Dust with a little icing sugar before serving |
Note
When piping the viennese mixture, use a stiff material piping bag preferably, one that does not stretch. The mixture is quite firm and if you use a plastic disposable bag, it will just stretch or split.
You can freeze in the tray prior to cooking, then transfer into an airtight box. That way you can have freshly baked mince pies over the holidays. You can also freeze after cooking, then warm gently once thawed.
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