Make your own mince pies

Ingredients:

Approx. 4 ounces of salted butter

8 ounces of plain flower

Mincemeat (you can make your own but we used sainsbury's own)

Water 

Tools:

Rolling pin 

Mixing bowl

Tablespoon 

Two different size glasses one slightly bigger than the other

Cupcake tin 

Recipe:

(If your making your own pastry here are the steps if not ignore and go to the next section)

• Preheat oven to 180 or high 
• Put the flour into the mixing bowl and add a pinch of salt
• Then crumble the room temp butter into the flower and rub the butter into the flour with hands
• Whilst doing this lift the flour and butter up as it helps to make the pastry lighter

• When the butter is mixed into the flour add 2 tablespoons of water to the mixture and stir in.
• Whilst doing this try to press the mixture to the edge of the mixing bowl to help the ingredients bind together and start to get the pastry texture. 
• Add another table spoon of water and repeat the step before
• The mix should be starting to come together, then use you hands to try to combine the mixture

• If you feel like you need to add a tad more water then add a little bit at a time to test but the key to making pastry is to not add too much water as it can make the pastry hard but don't add to little as it will crumble and fall apart. 

• Once you are satisfied with the pastry and it has combined all together remove it from the bowl and rest it in the fridge for over 10 mins but you can keep it in there till your ready for the next step. 

• using butter or flower rub into the cupcake pan so that the pies don't stick when you want to take them out
• Sprinkle flour onto the surface your about roll on and section your pastry into two

• With the first section roll into out with a roller and damp hands (the damp hands help if the pastry is slightly dry)

• With your bigger glass cut out a circle with the top of the glass and place in your cupcake pan then repeat this to make as many as is in the cupcake pan and this will make the bottom of your mince pie. 

• Once you have cut them all out spoon some of your mincemeat mixture into the pie bottoms

• With the rest of the pastry your going to make the topper
• Roll out the pastry again with a rolling pin and damp hands and cut out circles again but with the smaller glass
• Cut out as many as you need and with water dab it onto the sides and place onto the pies to make them stick together

• Once all of the tops are on pierce the tops with a knife so that they don't explode and with a milk or egg mix wash onto the tops of the mince pies (this will make them golden brown)
• You can also sprinkle on some sugar if thats what you like 
• Now place them into the oven for approx. 20 mins or till they are cooked to your liking. 

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Lysette :)