Almond mince pies

Now I do not know if this is a French of an Italian recipe but I do know they are the best mice pies that you can make, or I think so.  The trick is the pastry; it is an almond pastry that is really good.  It does not take a lot to make it and the overall combination of flavours just works so well. So this Christmas have a go and make these mice pies, you will not regret it.  This much makes about twelve pies so double up if you want to make more.

For your pastry you will need

225g/9oz plain flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

140g/5oz chilled butter, cut into cubes

55g/2oz ground almonds

25g caster sugar

1 egg yolk

55g/2oz golden marzipan

170g/6oz mincemeat

2 tbsp sherry

caster sugar, for sprinkling

A little milk to glaze them

Now you can make this pastry by hand but you can just use a food processor if you want.  Start by getting a blow and sifting the flour and the cinnamon in to it. Then take your chilled butter and dice it in to small cubes and work this as quickly in to the flour.  Just use your finger tips you do not want to smear the butter in to the flour just lightly rub it so you get a breadcrumb texture.

Add the sugar and the almonds and with a fork fouled that in to the mix , avoid using your hands as you do not want to get the pastry to warm. Then make a well and add the egg yolk and 2 or 3 tablespoons of water.  Working from the edge turn the mix on to the egg yolk and water and then once it starts to combine start to work it and knead it so it forms a dough.  Now rap it in film, set it in the fridge, and rest for 30 minutes.

Now set your oven to 190c/375f and stir the sherry in to the mincemeat.  Then roll out a disk for the base of your tarts.  Spoon a blob on mincemeat in to the centre and on top of that a cube of marzipan on top of that.  Now cut a top for your pies, starts, triangles, or just circles if you like and top the pies. Then brush a little milk over the top of the pies to glaze it in the oven , you do not have to do this but it makes it look nice.   Now all you need to do is back for 15 minutes remove from the oven and sprinkle a little sugar on them and pop them back in and finish baking for another 15 minutes.

And that is it some of the best mince pies that you will ever eat.