Mince pies!

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 03-12-2015 9:33am #1

Hey guys,

So, what's your favourite mince pie recipe, or do you rather a specific shop-bought brand? Just picked up two boxes in Dunne's

Day Lewin · 03-12-2015 12:36pm

My own: made with a type of flaky pastry from an old-fashioned recipe using lard and butter.

This gives a kind of flaky brown pastry, very different from the soft, crumbly biscuit-type pastry always found in shop-bought ones.

I use commercial mincemeat, but am not mad about it: tastes pretty much the same as all the other Christmas stuff, no?

Lemon mincemeat is often quoted, and it is nice enough: but my palate craves for something spicier, more medieval.
It is a very medieval-type dish, after all.

looksee · 03-12-2015 12:39pm

If you eat gluten-free, Lidl have some surprisingly nice mince pies in the gf section.

miamee · 03-12-2015 1:15pm

I had one from Mannings Bakery (Thomas St, Dublin) last night. Delish! It was a proper pie in a kind of shortcrust pastry (but not sweet) with a pastry lid. So good!

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 03-12-2015 2:06pm

Just had one of the Dunnes all butter mince pies. Very nice, generous with the filling. 2 boxes for €4 too so not too pricey at all.

what are the other shops like for them?

RentDayBlues · 03-12-2015 3:58pm

looksee wrote: »

If you eat gluten-free, Lidl have some surprisingly nice mince pies in the gf section.

They are amazing! And so cheap compared to other gf ones. Had one for brekkie this morning as we slept in and I didn't get brekkie til everyone was in school.

RentDayBlues · 03-12-2015 3:59pm

I've made my own gf ones this year, haven't tasted them yet so hoping they work out ok, made up my own pastry recipe so it's a total mystery

afatbollix · 03-12-2015 4:02pm

I find M&S do the best. Most mincemeat anyway.

The best Ive ever had was home made ones we had at a pub. I might give making them a go.

03-12-2015 8:34pm

katemarch wrote: »

My own: made with a type of flaky pastry from an old-fashioned recipe using lard and butter.

This gives a kind of flaky brown pastry, very different from the soft, crumbly biscuit-type pastry always found in shop-bought ones.

I use commercial mincemeat, but am not mad about it: tastes pretty much the same as all the other Christmas stuff, no?

Lemon mincemeat is often quoted, and it is nice enough: but my palate craves for something spicier, more medieval.
It is a very medieval-type dish, after all.

Where do you get the lard? I find it the best for mince pies, but can't seem to get it in Ireland.

This is my recipe for Mincemeat. It's best made June/July for best flavour.
1 Lb each raisins and sultanas
4 fl oz brandy (Whiskey will do just as good)
rind and juice of 1 lemon
1/2 Lb Atora veg suet or proper suet if preferred
1/2 Lb dark brown sugar
4 oz each chopped mixed peel and cherries
1/2 small nutmeg, grated or rounded teasp ground nutmeg. Other spices to your own taste.
1 large cooking apple, peeled and grated (Mix with lemon juice)
Mix all together in big bowl and leave overnight. Bottle next day, adding more brandy if desired.

Day Lewin · 03-12-2015 11:14pm

@Maryanne

Lard can be very hard to find. Some years it is in supermarkets, other years I have to go to a specialist Polish or Russian shop. Once I found real fresh-made lard at a butcher's shop in Meath Street but I think that one has closed.

Just got in from Tesco, hunting for lard - no luck.

However it does have a different crystalline structure from other fats and gives a very distinctive "crisp" texture in bread, pastry, some biscuits, etc. The best pastry for mince pies, unmistakably - in my opinion!

PS that mincemeat looks brilliant: I will try it - even if made much too late - thank you!

Posy · 03-12-2015 11:57pm

miamee wrote: »

I had one from Mannings Bakery (Thomas St, Dublin) last night. Delish! It was a proper pie in a kind of shortcrust pastry (but not sweet) with a pastry lid. So good!

Mannings bakery is just amazing. *drools*

amen · 04-12-2015 12:31pm

I make my own if I have time and if not either the Lidl shortcut pastry or the Dunnes Stores flaky pasty.

Very tasty after 10 seconds in the microwave and some cream.

Speedsie · 04-12-2015 1:23pm

James Whelan butchers sell lard.... And you can buy it from them online. I get it in Avoca Rathcoole.... Fantastic stuff.
http://www.jameswhelanbutchers.com/

04-12-2015 3:27pm

Speedsie wrote: »

James Whelan butchers sell lard.... And you can buy it from them online. I get it in Avoca Rathcoole.... Fantastic stuff.
http://www.jameswhelanbutchers.com/

Thanks, Speedsie. Appreciate that info!

That's beef dripping, not lard.

Speedsie · 04-12-2015 4:53pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Thanks, Speedsie. Appreciate that info!

That's beef dripping, not lard.

Yeah, saw that on the website, but they have packets of lard in the shop!

Don't think I'd buy meat products online myself though!

05-12-2015 12:50pm

Speedsie wrote: »

Yeah, saw that on the website, but they have packets of lard in the shop!

Don't think I'd buy meat products online myself though!

Battled my way through the storm and got it! €4 for a 1lb tub. Now to get to work.

(Agree, I'd be wary of buying meat products online, but Whelans have their reputation to protect so I'd imagine their high delivery charges are justified, in that every caution is taken with handling and storage of their products in transit)

RentDayBlues · 05-12-2015 2:35pm

Cooked some of mine last night just to taste, was really surprised with the pastry, was so flaky and tasty, which for gf pastry is saying a lot.

I thought there was way too much mince, will defo be using less as I found it a little sickly sweet

freshpopcorn · 05-12-2015 5:46pm

I generally like mince pies . Supermarket bought ones can be hit and miss along with bakery bought ones.
I much prefer puff pastry to short crust pastry.

Laphroaig52 · 06-12-2015 2:52am

I've never had any luck with the more traditional flaky, lard based pastries.

This one is probably not for purists but has been popular in my home for years and makes a pastry that is always easy to work with:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2174/unbelievably-easy-mince-pies

The pies can be a bit fragile when they come out of the oven so butter the tray well and let them cool before you take them out.

For the mincemeat, I make my own and I have tried a few recipes over the years. Mrs. Delia Smith's is hard to beat. But if you haven't made it by now, you're too late........

Daisy78 · 06-12-2015 11:52am

Make mine from a Nigella recipe. I use half lard (frytex) and half butter. Use Avoca mincemeat for the filling. They are delish if I do say so myself!

06-12-2015 12:02pm

Daisy78 wrote: »

Make mine from a Nigella recipe. I use half lard (frytex) and half butter. Use Avoca mincemeat for the filling. They are delish if I do say so myself!

Would frytex be like cookeen?

Daisy78 · 06-12-2015 2:02pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Would frytex be like cookeen?

Yes its the same. She mentioned that flora white can be used also if you can't get trex or cookeen. But most large supermarkets have at least one of those brands.

Alicat · 06-12-2015 2:23pm

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I generally like mince pies . Supermarket bought ones can be hit and miss along with bakery bought ones.
I much prefer puff pastry to short crust pastry.

The Dunnes ones are lovely, but the puff pastry ones can be hard to get sometimes. I got three boxes yesterday!

Grandeeod · 06-12-2015 7:42pm

I've been to a lot of Christmas fairs, but have never tasted a mince pie that equals a decent brand one. Also tasted a lot of homemade ones from supposed "masters" but nah, I'll go with branded again.

Cienciano · 09-12-2015 10:40pm

I got the bog standard Dunnes ones, they were the worst mince pies I've ever had. The lids fall off, they're pretty much hollow. Their fancy range have to be better.
Lidl ones that are loose in the bakery section are really good. €1.50 for 5.

Das Kitty · 10-12-2015 12:20am

I love the Aldi all-butter.

I must make some of my own at the weekend.

French_Girl · 17-12-2015 12:20am

So what's the verdict?
Dunnes or Aldi? I still haven't got mine and need to finish up my Christmas shopping on Saturday.

The Rape of Lucretia · 17-12-2015 12:39am

Aldi Specially Selected Exquisite Mince Pies.
(not any other Aldo ones though)

I've tried them all, and these are the best out there this year.

French_Girl · 17-12-2015 11:45pm

The Rape of Lucretia wrote:

Aldi Specially Selected Exquisite Mince Pies. (not any other Aldo ones though)

The Rape of Lucretia wrote:

I've tried them all, and these are the best out there this year.

Fully noted.
Thank you.

olaola · 18-12-2015 8:21pm

Really keen on puff pastry versions - M&S or Supervalu do great ones. The in store bakery shortcrust pastry ones from Lidl are AMAMONOZOMING.

19-12-2015 12:26am

Iceland do some really nice ones surpisingly..

Aldi All Butter are great too

Mince pies!

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