Christmas is my favourite time of the year. It is a time for family and friends to get together and be merry. Christmas would not be Christmas without mincepies. I have used gluten free flour for this recipe. When baking with gluten free ingredients the texture and taste will often be different. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be delicious.
Ingredients
For the mincemeat
40g Bramley apples cut in small pieces with the skin
170g Raisins
80g Saltanas
80g Apricots
2 tablespoon of candied peel mix ( make sure it is sugar free)
2 Tablespoons of maple syrup
1 grated zest and juice of an orange
1 grated zest and juice of a lemon
2 tablespoons of mixed ground spice
1 tablespoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of fresh nutmeg
Optional
3 tablespoons of brandy
For the Pastry
200g Doves gluten free flour
100g Vegan butter
4 teaspoon of xylitol
Pinch of himalayan salt
Start by making the mincemeat. I normally make mine the night before so the flavours blend nicely together. Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix together. Place in a pan and simmer for 20 minutes till all the liquid is absorbed. Set aside to cool and place in a jar in the fridge. When you are ready to make the pastry, start by sifting the flour into a bowl and add the sugar and salt. Then add the vegan butter and work with your hands until you have a bread crumb consistency. Then add a little cold water, enough to be able to make a ball of sticky dough. Wrap the ball in cling film and place in the fridge for 30minutes.
When the dough is ready take off the cling film, place some flour on the work top roll it out thinly or to your desired size and cut out circles using a pastry cutter, and place them in a muffin tray which has been greased with a little vegan butter. Half fill them with the mincemeat. Gather all the remaining pastry and roll it out to cut smaller circles and place on top of the pies pressing gently down sealing the edges. You can wet the edges to help them stick better.
Place in a preheated oven at 180C. Bake for 15-20 minutes till golden. You have to remember that not all ovens are the same so cooking time will vary. You can eat them warm or cold. Enjoy.
