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4.45 from 40 votes
Traditional Irish Mince Pies have golden flaky pastry and slightly moist, chewy, and perfectly sticky mincemeat, dusted with powdered sugar. The top crust are shaped into snow flakes or stars.
Homemade Mince Pies Recipe
Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Soak and Chill Time
13 hrs
Total Time
14 hrs
 

Enrich your holiday traditions with my true Irish Mince Pies Recipe, a sweet, boozy melody of flaky pastry and a well-loved, luscious filling!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Irish
Servings: 12 pies
Author: Gemma Stafford
Ingredients
Mincemeat
  • 1 medium Granny Smith apple , peeled and grated (about 5 oz/142 g)
  • cups (7 ½ oz/213 g) raisins
  • cups (7 ½ oz/213 g) currants
  • cups (7 ½ oz/213 g) sultanas
  • 1 cup (8 oz/225 g) candied mixed peel
  • 1 teaspoon mixed spice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 medium lemon , zest and juice
  • 1 medium orange , zest and juice
  • 1 cup (6 oz/170 g) muscovado sugar
  • cup (5 fl oz/150 ml) O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey
  • ½ cup (4 oz/115 g) butter , softened
Homemade Mince Pie Crust
Homemade Mince Pie Topping
Instructions
To Make the Mincemeat (The day before)
  1. In a large bowl, mix together the apple, raisins, currants, sultanas, candied mixed peel, mixed spice, cinnamon, lemon zest and juice, orange zest and juice, muscovado sugar, O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey and butter. Cover with cling wrap and allow to soak overnight, or for a minimum of 12 hours, at room temperature.

To Cook the Mincemeat (The next day)
  1. In a medium saucepan, add the soaked mincemeat and simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced slightly and the mixture has thickened. Allow to cool completely.

To Make the Homemade Mince Pie Crust
  1. Make a double batch of my Homemade Pie Crust Recipe and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour.

To Assemble the Homemade Mince Pies
  1. Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200℃). Butter a 12-well cupcake pan and set aside.

  2. On a floured surface, roll the pastry to roughly ¼ inch (6 mm) thickness.

  3. Using a 3 ½ inch (9 cm) round cutter, cut out 24 circles, re-rolling the scraps as needed. Press 12 circles into the wells of the prepared cupcake pan and reserve the remaining 12 circles for the tops.

  4. Fill each pastry shell with the Homemade Mincemeat about ¾ full.

  5. Brush the edge of the pastry with egg wash and place the tops over the filling. Use a fork to seal the top and bottom together. Brush the tops with more egg wash.

To Bake the Homemade Mince Pies
  1. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

To Serve and Store the Homemade Mince Pies
  1. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm with Brandy Butter. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 300℉ (150℃) oven for about 10 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Fully assemble and freeze your mince pies to be baked off from frozen at a later date

Once baked, store at room temperature for up to 3 days