How many kinds of mince pies have you sampled so far?

I’ve not eaten a mince pie yet, not because it’s too early but rather that I haven’t got round to either buying or making any yet. I usually make some nearer Christmas, but have varied results - sometimes the pastry is light and crumbly, other times it’s as hard as a brick. One of the best recipes I tried used a shortbread type dough - they were delicious, but oh, so naughty being laden with so much fat (butter in the shortbread pastry and suet in the mincemeat). Still, as I only make them at Christmas, an occasional one is a treat.

Maybe I should seek out a recipe for mincemeat that doesn’t contain suet - is there such a recipe? If there is, I imagine it would want using up quite quickly. I’ll do an internet search 😋

I do make some with my own pastry and bought mincemeat the week leading up to Christmas which I take into work to share at break.Up to then it’s bought ones, and since there are lots of variations it’s nice to try them all out.😋

I don’t like fancy mince pies such as all butter or ones with icing on the top . I’ve had 3 this year so far and rate them as follows-
3. Asda basic mince pies
2. Morrisons puff pastry mince pies
1. Costco mince pies
The Costco ones have a layer of sponge on top of the mincemeat and I love them with custard .

Waitrose have a lovely limoncello version and there's a lemon clotted cream to accompany them in case the calories are too low for anyone.

Allira

Not tried one yet; the Co-op is not somewhere I go to usually but I might try to get there and try theirs this year.

Waitrose isn't open and I'm not sure when it will re-open after the flood. ☹

My pastry is not as good as it used to be and Tesco no longer do their own pastry made with all Normandy butter so I won't be making any.

All Normandy butter? WTF is wrong with British butter?

Ziplok, I use Delia’s recipe, which gives the option of vegetable ‘suet’, if it’s the traditional beef suet you object to. I’ve used the veg suet for a few years now, at first because of vegans in the family.

Thoroughly recommend Lemoncello mince pies from Waitrose. They have a light pastry and are delicious. Don’t bother with the cognac ones. They just taste like very basic mince pies.

Rum and raisin mince pies are delicious.
From Tesco.

£1.50 at the moment with club card

MaizieD

None. Mince pies are for Christmas, not the middle of November.

Anyway, I always make my own (and the mincemeat these days).

Apologies but you do sound rather smug. Having said that, I am a slob.

I haven’t had one yet, but much prefer the ones I make with my own mincemeat, with a light marzipan crumble topping. The shop ones tend to be far too sweet for my taste, rather cloying and with too much pastry.

Allira

^My grandson asked for one in a cafe last week but I said no because it isn't Christmas.^
That was a bit sad!

Yes, I am very cruel.

Oreo 😁

MaizieD

^Seriously mince pies are one of the most unhealthy foods you can eat- but I do love them.^

How do you work that one out, keepingquiet?

They're not exactly healthy, but 'one of the most unhealthy'?

I don't understand this response. I like lots of unhealthy food but mince pies are incredibly high in sugar, so I don't eat many.
Food can be enjoyed without having to indulge to excess.

The Aldi ones made with their own 'fake baileys' topping are Very good and quite inexpensive.I was going to get sainsburys ice topped ones christmas week delivery but might try the brown butter/rum ones as suggested from asda or the tesco rum & raisin ones.I too start my trials in october/november🤶and i care not what anyone else thinks 😁

whiteswan my daughter is coeliac and I got her 2 boxes (4 in each) from Sainsbury’s “free from” range she has scoffed one box already!

MollyNew

Oreo Sainsbury's in a box or from the bakery? Warm with creme fraiche is also good.

We start taste testing mince pies in November and my other half would eat hot cross buns all year round if he could.

Tescos do hot cross buns all year. I don't mind what time of year it is, if I like it, then I will buy it.

Oreo you are truly a dedicated and wonderful human being. My husband is wavering between the co op irresistible luxury range or M&S classic. Personally I don't think he can taste the difference it's just an excuse to buy them

Only tried one kind, and that's my own home-made - I made 50 yesterday. I just do not like shop bought mince pies, there's no comparison.

p0Sy 😇🤭 it comes at great cost to my waistline but I like to be public spirited.

Witzend

*Ziplok*, I use Delia’s recipe, which gives the option of vegetable ‘suet’, if it’s the traditional beef suet you object to. I’ve used the veg suet for a few years now, at first because of vegans in the family.

Thank you Witzend. I’ve seen Delia’s recipes, and have made the beef suet version in the past, so not against suet per se. No, it’s just that I have to watch my saturated fat intake these days, so try to find alternatives when I can. (It’s not going to stop me having some home made Christmas pudding though 😉).

keepingquiet

Allira

My grandson asked for one in a cafe last week but I said no because it isn't Christmas.
That was a bit sad!

Yes, I am very cruel.

😁
🥧 I've made one specially for your grandson.

Witzend

Allira

Not tried one yet; the Co-op is not somewhere I go to usually but I might try to get there and try theirs this year.

Waitrose isn't open and I'm not sure when it will re-open after the flood. ☹

My pastry is not as good as it used to be and Tesco no longer do their own pastry made with all Normandy butter so I won't be making any.

All Normandy butter? WTF is wrong with British butter?

I don't know but at least it was better than the palm oil which it's made with now!

Actually, Normandy butter is delicious. Quite salty though but that makes it even nicer.

I have Asda and Iceland ones both ok

Brilliant 👏

We start testing in November to ensure we buy the best ones for Christmas.
Makes perfect sense to me.
(We've been known to test Christmas puddings too)