A mince pie is a traditional British sweet pastry, usually consumed during the Christmas and New Year period.

Description

These small pies, usually between 2 and 3 inches in diameter (5 - 7.5 centimetres), can be made using either sweet shortcrust pastry or puff pastry.

In the past, the mincemeat might have actually contained meat, but this would be highly unusual in a modern mince pie. The filling is nowadays made from fruit mincemeat (fruitmince to North Americans) containing dried fruit such as raisins, currants, cherries, apricot, candied peel; spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg; nuts such as walnuts or chopped almonds; suet; and some kind of alcohol, usually either brandy or rum. Although no longer a meat pie, the mince pie is suitable for vegetarians only if the suet is made from vegetable oil

Once cooked, the pie is finished off with a delicate dusting of either caster sugar or icing sugar on top.

Serving suggestions

Mince pies can be consumed hot or cold (although be careful if you heat one up using a microwave oven, as they can get very hot very quickly). When hot, the top can be gently eased off, and a dash of cream or brandy butter (or maybe even a thin slice of cheese if you are so inclined) added to gently melt and enhance the flavour.

Folklore and Traditions

Folklore states that mince pies are a favourite food of Father Christmas, and that one or two should be left on a plate at the foot of the chimney (along with a small glass of brandy or sherry, and a carrot for the reindeer) as a thank-you for stockings well-filled.

Variations

Other variations include the mincemeat tart, similar in form and taste, save for the lack of a pastry top, as is the case for all kinds of tart. In the United States, mince pies are often classified as mincemeat tarts, although this usage would be considered erroneous by most Britons.

Mincemeat turnovers (a kind of sweet pastry similar to a Cornish pasty) are often made with leftover pastry and mincemeat, and can be consumed with custard, cream or ice-cream.

Several Mince pie recipes can be found in the Wikimedia Cookbook.

Trivia

Mince pies is also cockney rhyming slang for 'eyes' (usually abbreviated to 'minces' or 'mincers').