How to cheat your way to delicious home made mince pies this Christmas!

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If you like the idea of home baked mince pies but are not confident in your baking skills or if your baking skills aren't the problem but you are time poor, there's a fantastic way to cheat your way to making delicious home made mince pies.

And you only need two ingredients!

Ingredient list 

Block of ready made pastry available from all supermarkets and some corner shops/convenience stores.

Jar of ready made mince meat which is also available from all supermarkets and some corner shops or convenience stores.

How to bake them

Remove the pastry from the fridge and leave it for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Roll it flat and grease a baking tray (with the individual pie shapes on it) and place the sheet of pastry over these. Press into each dip on the tray and remove the excess pastry, but do not throw this away.

Add the pastry you saved to the main piece of pastry, roll out and cut out toppers for the pies.

Spoon the mince meat into each pie. Add a good slug of brandy, rum or Scotch to each one, if you wish.

Then put the pastry toppers onto the pies, crimp the edges and brush each one with milk or an egg mix, if you are feeling all Fanny Craddock. (Not heard of Fanny Craddock? Just Google her. Don't worry. I'll wait!)

Your mince pies typically take 20–25 minutes to bake in an oven preheated to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F / Gas Mark 4.

The pastry should be lightly golden when done. Allow them to cool slightly before removing them from the tin, as they can be delicate when they are hot from the oven. 

You can serve them with cream, Clotted Cream or ice cream. Or enjoy them naked. So to speak!

Incidentally you can make a mince tart in a large pie tin and slice it up for guests, if you'd rather not have the faff of making the individual mince pies.