Discover the charm of a classic British Christmas with this beautifully simple mince pie recipe. Passed down from my brother, this version has become a holiday staple in my home — so now I’m sharing it with you!
Best Mince Pie Recipe: Traditional Homemade Mince Pies for Christmas
15
servings25
minutes15
minutes300
kcalA mince pie is a classic English sweet pastry traditionally enjoyed during Christmas. The filling—known as mincemeat—is a flavorful mix of dried fruit, warming spices, sugar, nuts, and often a splash of brandy or rum. Although early versions included actual minced meat, most modern mince pie recipes are entirely fruit-based.
Ingredients
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup confectioners’ sugar, divided
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
⅔ cup softened butter
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
¼ cup ice water
¾ cup prepared mincemeat
1 large egg, beaten
Directions
- Preheat Oven:
- Heat to 400°F (200°C).
- Make the Pastry:
- Sift together the flour, ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar, and cinnamon.
- Cut in the butter until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
- Stir in the orange zest, add the ice water, and bring together into a dough.
- Roll and Cut:
- Roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness.
- Cut 18 circles with a 3-inch cutter and 18 circles with a 2-inch cutter.
- Assemble:
- Place the larger circles into muffin cups.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of mincemeat into each.
- Top with the smaller pastry circles and pinch to seal.
- Brush with beaten egg.
- Bake:
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, until the tops turn golden brown.
- Finish:
- Cool slightly on a wire rack.
- Dust with the remaining confectioners’ sugar before serving.
Notes
- Community Tips and Variations
Karenbj: “These are part of my yearly traditions. I skip the top crust and instead bake star-shaped pastry cutouts separately, placing them on top before cooling.”
Jason Carunchia-Strunk: “A huge hit! I used my homemade mincemeat and swapped the confectioners’ sugar dusting for sanding sugar to give them a sparkly finish.”
Sue: “Fantastic flavor! The cinnamon in the crust pairs beautifully. I also added a streusel topping to some pies — all disappeared quickly!”
How to Store Mince Pies
Place cooled mince pies in an airtight container. They keep fresh for up to one week, making them perfect for holiday prep.
