These Puff Pastry Mince Pies are a must make this Christmas. Much easier to make than traditional mince pies, but still with all the delicious festive flavour. Crisp, flakey pastry, bursting with sweet fruit and spices. Ready in under 30 minutes, these are an easy Christmas treat and a real family favourite.
Although mince pies are traditionally made with shortcrust pastry, we have swapped it for puff pastry because it's easier to use and once cooked it puffs up and is deliciously crispy and flakey. These are perfect for when you are short on time, but still want a homemade festive bake. It still has the traditional mincemeat filling, which we have jazzed up with some added dried cranberries and lemon.
If you are looking for some other easy Christmas bakes to try, then why not try our Cinnamon Biscuits, Christmas Tree Brownies, Cranberry Bread, or Healthy Christmas Cookies.
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Ingredients needed
- Puff pastry - Yes, we cheated and used store bought puff pastry. Honestly, we can't taste the difference from homemade and using ready rolled sheets of puff pastry makes this such an easy and quick recipe. By all means, make your own pastry if you have time.
- Mincemeat - Yep, another cheat here. We have used a really good quality jar of mincemeat. We bought it from a local farm shop and it tastes incredible. Again, you can make your own if you want, but we wanted this to be a really simple festive hack back.
- Egg - This brushed over the puff pastry to help it go nice and golden and crispy.
- Apple - We added some very small chunks of apple to the mincemeat, that way we could justify these being homemade even though we used a jar of mincemeat! I love the chunky texture that the apple adds.
- Dried cranberries - Is it Christmas without cranberries? These add a lovely flavour and extra sweetness to the pies.
- Lemon zest - A little lemon zest really helps to lighten up the mincemeat, which can feel a little heavy. You could also use orange or clementine zest to keep with the festive flavours.
- Icing sugar - A dusting of icing sugar on top just adds to the Christmas vibes.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step by step
One: Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Roll out the pastry and using a 6.5cm/2.5in cookie cutter, cut six disks. Using a 7.5cm/3in cookie cutter, cut six more disks. Place the small disks onto a lined baking tray.
Two: Mix together the mincemeat, apple, cranberries and lemon zest.
Three: Spoon one tablespoon of the mincemeat mixture onto the middle of the smaller pastry disks.
Four: Place the larger disks over the mincemeat and use a fork to gently crimp the edges together.
Five: Using a small sharp knife, poke two small holes in the top of the pies. Brush with the egg and put onto a lined baking tray.
Six: Put in the oven for 15 minutes.
Why should you try it?
- Quick and easy - These are so simple to make. Just cut out circles from puff pastry and add mincemeat, crimp shut and bake until crispy. Ready in less than 30 minutes.
- Kids can help - Because these are so easy, they are ideal for getting kids involved in the kitchen. Give them the cookie cutter to cut the pastry shapes out and they can also spoon the mincemeat on to the pastry.
- Freezable - These also freeze really well, meaning that you can make a big batch at the beginning of December and eat them all through the festive season.
What is a mince pie?
If you are in the UK, then unless you have been living under a rock, then you know exactly what these are. You have probably been brought up eating them every Christmas and they divide households - it is a love or hate kind of thing. We are firmly in the love side, as we can't get enough mince pies.
If you live outside of the UK, then there might be some confusion as to what these are. But, don't worry, they don't contain minced beef. But, that is where they get there name from, as back in the day, they were filled with minced meat, suet, dried fruits, and a load of spices. Modern day mincemeat no longer contains meat, but the name has remained.
The ingredients are traceable to the 13th century, when returning European crusaders brought with them Middle Eastern recipes containing meats, fruits and spices. Mince pies became traditional and popular at Christmas time in the Victorian era, but they had become sweeter and and smaller in size, like the ones we know today.
What to serve with puff pastry mince pies
Although mince pies themselves divide the country, those that can agree that mince pies are delicious, can't usually decide on how to serve them. Some like them plain, others like them with cream, brandy butter, custard or ice cream. Some people heat them up, and others like them cold. There are so many options.
We love ours with a hot drink. Snuggling up on the sofa after a long winter walk, these go down so well with a hot cup of something. We have lots of hot drink recipes for you to try. Why not try one of these:
Frequently Asked Questions
A lot of store bought puff pastry is vegan - just watch out for ones that say all butter. You can also get some great vegan mincemeat, that doesn't use suet. You will also need to leave out the egg wash.
If you use gluten free pastry, and make sure there is no cross contamination, then these can be gluten free.
Once fully cooled, they can be stored in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Yes, these freeze really well. Once fully cooled, put them on a baking tray and in the freezer - this is called flash freezing. Once they are frozen, you can put them in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months and then just take one out as and when you want one.
We used two sizes - a 6.5cm and a 7.5cm. That's because the top circle needs to be bigger, to go over all the filling.
Ours took 15 minutes in the oven, but every oven cooks differently. Keep an eye on them from 12 minutes, as you are looking for the pastry to be golden brown.
Extra tips
- Make sure you chop the apple up very very small, so it mixes in well with the mincemeat.
- Add a splash of brandy or rum for extra flavour. Not too much though, as you don't want it to be soggy.
- Make sure you transfer them to a wire rack to cool, as this will prevent them from getting a soggy bottom.
- Add some extra texture with some chopped nuts. Pecans and walnuts work well.
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Recipe
Puff Pastry Mince Pies
Ingredients
- 375 g puff pastry
- 150 g mincemeat
- 1 apple finely diced
- 30 g dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 egg whisked
- icing sugar to serve
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Roll out the pastry and using a 6.5cm/2.5in cookie cutter, cut six disks. Using a 7.5cm/3in cookie cutter, cut six more disks.Place the small disks onto a lined baking tray.375 g puff pastry
- Mix together the mincemeat, apple, cranberries and lemon zest.150 g mincemeat, 1 apple, 30 g dried cranberries, 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Spoon one tablespoon of the mincemeat mixture onto the middle of the smaller pastry disks.
- Place the larger disks over the mincemeat and use a fork to gently crimp the edges together. Using a small sharp knife, poke two small holes in the top of the pies.
- Brush with the egg and put onto a lined baking tray. Put in the oven for 15 minutes.1 egg
- Allow to cool and dust with icing sugar (optional)icing sugar
Notes
- Make sure you chop the apple up very very small, so it mixes in well with the mincemeat.
- Add a splash of brandy or rum for extra flavour. Not too much though, as you don't want it to be soggy.
- Make sure you transfer them to a wire rack to cool, as this will prevent them from getting a soggy bottom.
- Add some extra texture with some chopped nuts. Pecans and walnuts work well.
Jessica Stroup
So decedent! I love mince pies!
Natalie
I made them last night. They turned out delicious. I will bake them again for Christmas. Thanks
Danielle Wolter
I am a sucker for puff pastry and these were just so yummy! The flavors were good and the pastry nice and flaky.
Shadi Hasanzade
Love the flavors here! Puff pastry is so versatile and fun to use, these would be perfect for the holidays!
Natalie
Oh my YUM! I love mince pies. I bet I'll love these puff pastry mince pies as well. I'm making them tonight. Delicious!
Valerie
These look like a great appetizer for holiday entertaining. I love that youo used puff pastry!
Claudia Lamascolo
Mom use to make mince havent had it in years! What a delicious dish I love the ease of this recipe so good!
Lucy
Christmas isn't complete without mince pies. These puff pastry ones are delicious and I love that they're made in less than 30 minutes.
Mari
Lovely recipe, those pies looks very appetizing and perfect for this season.