When do you make your first mince pies?

I have only made mince pies once and they were a disaster. I don’t care for them at all, in fact I rarely eat pastry. I get fed up when at every pre- Christmas event, mince pies are served.

Now Christmas cake, that’s another matter. I used to make one but ended up eating it all myself, over time, so eventually I stopped. DH would have one slice.

Christmas Eve usually. With Carols from Kings on the radio.

I’ll join you in the sherry, but I’ll give the mince pies and Christmas cake a miss.
Anything with dried fruit is a very definite ‘no’ from me.

36 mince pies in the freezer and they are staying there, DH would scoff the lot in days given the chance. But will have to make some GF and dairy free one for one DS as well.

I made 4 dozen at the beginning of the week. 3 dozen are in the freezer. The rest have been eaten by our visitors and DH over the last 3 days.

I’ll probably have to make more once the rest of the family knows they are there.

I'm going to make a large mince tart today with some mincemeat I made a few weeks ago. We'll have it with brandy cream.

I don't really like them - much too sweet .

So if I make them ( as requested ! ) - I add mashed banana and grated apple to the mincemeat for a less sugary cloying taste .

I make the first batch at the beginning of December and up until New Year .

Ooh, sounds lovely! All round to salti's then, I'll bring the Baileys

This weekend, hopefully! We've made the mincemeat already. (These will be "just for testing", of course....)

I always add just a little orange juice to my pastry and put a blob of cream cheese on top of the mincemeat. Can’t remember whose recipe that was but the mince pies are delicious.

I’m the only one in the family who likes them so I make them a couple of days before Christmas and don’t make any more as I struggle to keep my weight down.

Minimoon, I saw a recipe for mincemeat squares made with oats and whole wheat, so perhaps your husband could have these.

www.food.com/recipe/christmas-mincemeat-squares-43512

I don't make them since I'm the only one in the family who eats them.

For those that make them; do you make your own mincemeat, or use a jar?

Ilovecheese

Made a dozen on Monday. There are 2 left today.

Made a christmas cake about 3-4 weeks ago. It wasn't all that successful so there is only 1 slice left!

My gran always made the best mince pies, with wonderful pastry. She never used recipes for anything, she just threw all the ingredients in and everything always turned out perfect! When I married, I tried to make my own but they didn't work out so well! Now, I can't be bothered to waste my time, or the ingredients, so I prefer to buy M&S All Butter Mince Pies, or their Collection range.

Just practising to get them right.

One short on the nearest rack Joseann - a bit of product testing?
They look very professional - hope they taste as good as they look.

I made mine today. It was a bit of a stretch to get the 18 I should. Thought I had left DH one out but had forgotten so it's defrosting now. No chance of me eating anything with dried fruit either. I don't like most of the Christmas food except the Goose or the ham. I definitely have odd taste. I would rather have the Co op crisps mentioned by Georgesgran on another post or a box of really good chocolates.

Treebee

Christmas Eve usually. With Carols from Kings on the radio.

Me too.

Delia's recipe from the book with the big red bow on the front. It comes out of the cupboard at the end of October when we make the cake and is in use for all sorts of goodies until New Year, then gets put away. My GCn check that it's on the shelf by October half-term!

I’ve just made a batch for “product testing”. I always make mine with shortbread rather than pastry. A fiddle to do but worth it.

I make mincemeat, but not mince pies, This is a task DD has taken to herself. When she comes round this weekend the large jar of mincemeat will be given to her and when she comes home for Christmas, on Christmas Eve, she will bring 2 tins of the most gorgeous home made mince pies. her pastry is beautiful.

Any tips for good, short, edible GF pastry, please?

When I tried it before, it was inedible and the bought stuff is oily and nasty.

DD uses sweet crust pastry, which has sugar in it.

When do I make my first mince pies?

I don’t! But Mr M does and he’s already made at least three batches. One of our sons has been requesting dad’s mince pies since early November. As they often come to ours for Sunday lunch, he makes mince pies now, even though I always make a pudding.

Callistemon21

Any tips for good, short, edible GF pastry, please?

When I tried it before, it was inedible and the bought stuff is oily and nasty.

I use half fat (block margarine rather than butter) to gf plain flour and add xantham gum according to the directions on the tub.
Rub in with a light touch. It’s important not to overwork it.
Add a beaten egg and a tbspn of water if needed to form the dough. If you think it’s too dry add a very small amount of oil rather than more water.
Turn onto a floured board or sheet of baking parchment and lightly knead to shape.
Roll out carefully. Using parchment makes it easier to transfer dough if lining something like a quiche tin as you can’t use a rolling pin to pick it up.
I always add a little longer to the baking time as well.