These Mince Pies with Crumble Topping are individual sweet treats with a rich pastry base, a fruity whiskey laced mincemeat filling and a buttery crumb to top them off. I used Buttermilk Pastry to add another layer of richness to these Mince Pies.
Skip the cookies and reward Santa with a nice Mince Pie and a cold glass of milk – he deserves it!
What is Mincemeat?
Let’s go back to 15th century England, the Tudor dynasty was emerging, the printing press was introduced and the Middle Ages were coming to an end. It was a very different time! With the absence of modern day fridges and freezers, the preservation of food was still paramount. People had known for years that fruit mixed with sugar, spices and alcohol, stored in clay pots had an impressive shelf life. So they started to add cooked meat and suet (fat from around the loins and kidneys) to the mix. Meat was preserved without curing or smoking.
The practice of adding meat and fat to the fruit mixture went out of fashion around the 1940’s when refrigerators became readily accessible in households and home freezers were first introduced. Since then mincemeat has became a pie filling consisting of dried fruit, warm spices, citrus peel and apples.
The ‘mince’ part comes from the Middle English ‘mincen’, and the Old French ‘mincier’ which both mean ‘to mince.’ the meat would have been finely minced and cooked before adding to the fruit before it was preserved.
Today in Ireland and the UK, ‘mince’ refers to minced steak (ground beef). Minced steak, cooked with onions and served in a rich gravy is a popular pie filling. This is referred to as a savory mince pie, whereas spiced dried fruit mince pies are referred to as sweet mince pies.
Variations of Mince Pie Recipes
This particular recipe uses homemade Buttermilk Pastry. Alternatively use filo, puff, shortcrust and other pastry types. Other variations include:
- Luxury Mince Pies are jazzed up with any ingredient that’s a bit over the top, like whiskey in this recipe. Other suggestions are the addition of brandy, Cognac, ruby Port, chopped nuts, dates, cherries, and orange or lemon zest, added to the Mince Pie filling. Add oatmeal or chopped nuts to the crumb topping.
- Old fashioned crumble topped Mince Pies are hard to beat. Another unusual Mince Pie topping is frangipane. Frangipane is an almond-butter-sugar cream that acts as a pie topping.
- A typical ingredient added to Mince Pies is apple. Any type of juicy, sweet apple, peeled and chopped into the sweet mince filling brings another flavor and texture to the mix.
Aldi Mince Pies are popular Mince Pies sold in the UK and Ireland. Made with butter based pastry and a sweet Mince filling containing ruby Port, it is clear to see why they are popular. Unfortunately, in addition to the butter and booze, these Pies contain some very ‘dodgy ingredients’ such as artificial preservatives, seed oils, and high fructose corn syrup to name a few.
Ingredients for Mince Pies with Crumble Topping
- Pastry: I used this All Butter Buttermilk Pastry or use shortcrust pastry like the one in this Dutch Apple Pie recipe. Store bought shortcrust, puff, or filo will also work.
- Mincemeat: homemade or store bought.
- Whiskey: entirely optional, but if you are adding it – make it Irish!
- Butter: use real butter not shortening or butter substitute. Butter improves the crumble flavor and texture.
- Flour: white all purpose / plain.
- Sugar: white granulated.
Video – How to Make Mince Pies with Crumble Topping
How to Make Mince Pies with Crumble Topping.
Step by Step Instructions How to Make Mince Pies with Crumble Topping
Making the Crumble Recipe
Add butter pieces to flour in a food processor.
Pulse it to make a fine crumb, then add sugar.
Pulse for 2-3 minutes until well blended.
Preparing the Sweet Mince Pie Filling
Empty the sweet mince mixture into a bowl and add whiskey to it.
Mix well.
Rolling out the Pastry
Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
Dust the work surface and rolling pin with flour.
Roll out the pastry evenly to around ⅛ -¼ of an inch (3-5 mms) thickness.
Cut out rounds from the pastry.
Use four fingers to push the pastry discs evenly into a muffin or cupcake pan.
Add sweet mince to the pastry bases to ¾ full.
Sprinkle the crumb on top. Oven bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
Remove Mince Pies from the oven, cool, then sprinkle with powder sugar.
Pry the Pies out of the pan with a knife.
A Tip From Me
This recipe is ideal to make deep dish individual pies, both savory and sweet. Be sure there is no sugar in the pastry and start creating mini pies. Beef Stew makes a wonderful savory pie filling.
Use a non stick cupcake or muffin pan, or make sure to grease all pans if they are not non stick. Melted butter or oil works well for this.
Serving Suggestions
It seems everyone has an opinion how, with what and when a Mince Pie should be eaten.
I’ll start with the ‘how’. Mince Pies can be served warm or at room temperature. Oven warming is recommended rather than using a microwave. Microwaves can make pastry tough and overheat the filling.
Next comes the ‘with what.’ Mince Pies can be served with a generous dollop of fresh whipped cream, runny cream, ice cream (Clotted Cream ice cream is my go-to for Mince Pies), vanilla sauce, brandy butter, brandy sauce, caramel sauce – the list is endless! Hot tea, coffee drinks, milk and even eggnog are usually consumed along with Mince Pies.
When should a Mince Pie be eaten? Usually in the afternoon as a sweet treat or as a dessert after dinner.
Put it all together – serve a room temperature Mince Pie with Crumble Topping with a nice cup of tea in the afternoon. As a dessert, serve it warmed and with an accompaniment of ice cream, sauce or cream.
Coursed Christmas dinner menus found in restaurants in Ireland and the U.K. typically serve Mince Pies after dessert to accompany coffee or hot tea.
Got Questions?
I’ve got answers – hopefully!
Sweet Mince Pies are either served at room temperature with a hot cup of tea, or warmed slightly are treated as a dessert served with a blob of whipped cream, scoop of ice cream or vanilla sauce drizzled over them.
No, the pies are mini, they will cook evenly from raw, even when filled with sweet Mince.
Warm it slightly and serve with ice cream, fresh cream (whipped or runny) or a creamy sweet sauce.
Mince Pies with Crumble Topping
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ready made pastry I made Buttermilk Pastry using this recipe.
- 29 oz mincemeat filling a large jar of Robertson's filling is 29 oz.
- 4 oz butter
- 3 oz sugar
- 6 oz flour
- 2 tbsp whiskey I used Irish whiskey but adding whiskey is optional.
Instructions
- Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
Making the Crumble Topping
- Add butter pieces to flour in a food processor.
- Pulse it to make a fine crumb, then add sugar.
- Pulse for 2-3 minutes until well blended.
Preparing the Pie Filling
- Empty the sweet mince mixture into a bowl and add whiskey to it and mix well.
Rolling out the Pastry
- Dust the work surface and rolling pin with flour.
- Roll out the pastry evenly to around ⅛ -¼ of an inch ( 3-5 mms) thickness.
- Cut out rounds from the pastry.
- Use four fingers to push the pastry discs evenly into a muffin or cupcake pan.
- Add sweet mince to the pastry bases to ¾ full.
- Sprinkle the crumb on top. Oven bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove Mince Pies from the oven, cool, then sprinkle with powder sugar.
- Pry the Pies out of the pan with a knife.
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