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Kamagrian
23-12-2005, 01:54 PM
Hi Everyone!

This was posted over in a chatty thread, but it got a nice response so I thought I'd be brave and put it here too. Didn't want to initially because, as with many of the things I like to make, it's less a quantifiable recipe and more an idea!


Marzipan Mince Pies

Ingredients

1 batch shortcrust pastry made with Trex or dairy-free spread (I use Vitalite), or 1 block pre-made non-dairy shortcrust pastry
1 jar non-dairy mincemeat (I used Co-Op)
Few drops natural orange extract*, or to taste
Handful of blanched flaked almonds, finely chopped
1 pack good almond marzipan, I used Anthon Berg which is 60% almond!
1 egg
Some soft brown or demerara sugarMethod(ish)

Preheat oven to 200C (180 if fan-assisted)/ 400F / Gas mark 6.
Grease a 12-hole bun (mini-muffin) tin with Vitalite or a little oil.
Put mincemeat into a bowl. Add orange extract (maybe a little lemon extract too), and chopped almonds, and mix well. Taste and add more if needed. Do not eat the whole bowl.
Roll out the pastry fairly thinly on a floured surface to cut out 12 rounds. Use these to line the bun tin, pressing down lightly so you get a good, deep area to fill. Roll out again and cut 12 smaller rounds which will make the tops of the pies. Set these aside.
Roll out the marzipan thinly on a floured surface and cut out 12 rounds the same size as the tops of the pies. Place one round in each pie shell, pressing down lightly so that you can still fit lots of mincemeat in!
Fill the shells with mincemeat to just below the tops of the pies.
Lightly dampen the edges of the pie tops with a clean finger dipped in water, and place over the pies, gently pressing at the edges in a (probably vain) attempt to seal. I always overstuff my pies. Oh well.
Beat the egg in a bowl and use to glaze the pies. Sprinkle with a little brown sugar.
Bake in the preheated oven for around 15-20 minutes or until golden and cooked.* I like Boyajian orange oil best, but you can buy a natural orange extract from Supercook in big supermarkets now too. :)

Nic
24-12-2005, 03:23 PM
They sound lovely! I've had something similar from a farm shop in Devon, but those didn't have pastry tops, instead they were topped with little bits of marzipan and flaked almonds. Yum! They didn't have any dairy in the ingredients, but they were somewhat 'homemade' and I couldn't be sure that all the tiny ingredients were listed, so I'm just hoping not to have any ill effects. Especially since I had two!

Nic

Kamagrian
24-12-2005, 05:49 PM
Well, I can recommend these, even if I do say so myself. :lol2: They take a bit longer than normal mince pies as you have to roll out the marzipan too, but they're really rich and special. I made a big batch last week hoping they'd last until Christmas, but I was being optimistic - they were all gone by Thursday. So I've just baked another 16 for the Christmas-Hogmanay period.

I got the idea from some mince pies I once had at a professionally-catered party I went to. They had an orange-flavoured marzipan layer in them and I loved them, so I experimented a few years ago and came up with these. You can also add ground almonds to the pastry if you particularly like the flavour.

I've now finished all my baking and can relax!!

matt
25-12-2005, 04:59 AM
pm me for my address for the food aid parcel!!!!!:lol2:

Kamagrian
28-12-2005, 07:17 PM
pm me for my address for the food aid parcel!!!!!:lol2:Gah...to be honest I'd be happy to (though I know, before you object, that you were joking!) - but my energy bottomed out on my return to work today and I can hardly lift my arms at the moment!

That said...I DO actually really enjoy baking, and tend to do too much, so I might take you up on that in future. ;) However, you might have to suffer the consequences of sulks from your namesake if he hears I'm posting his beloved cakes, cookies or pies around the country! :lol2:

matt
29-12-2005, 04:17 AM
ooooh the suspense and waiting for a potential parcel!

i cake bake and make cakes etc but my hands have never agreed with pastry. i've used ready made in the past but whenever i try to make it all hell breaks loose!

cnc
29-12-2005, 04:23 PM
Gill, if Matt gets a food parcel I expect one as well!! :D

Although you may have established I'm exceptionally fussy with regards to food, so may be difficult.