Easy mince pies
Makes about 16
500 ml (280 g) cake flour
1 ml salt
125 g cold butter or margarine
1 extra-large egg, beaten
about 30 ml fresh lemon juice
454 g jar dried fruit mincemeat
beaten egg and 15 ml milk for glazing
icing sugar for dusting
1. Sift flour and salt together. Cut butter into small pieces and rub into flour with fingertips until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
2. Add beaten egg and enough lemon juice to mix to a soft dough. (The dough can also be made in a food processor). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
3. Roll out three quarters of dough on a lightly floured surface, to a thickness of 3 mm. Use a 6 – 7 cm cookie cutter and cut out 16 circles. Press gently into 16 holes of two greased 12-cup bun pans. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
4. Spoon fruit mincemeat into the base of each. Divide remaining dough in half. Grate the one half over half of the pies. Roll out remaining dough on a lightly floured surface. Use a star cookie cutter to cut out stars. Place on top of fruit mincemeat.
5. Brush the star pies with a little beaten egg and milk. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 °C for about 12 minutes or until light brown. Leave in pans for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar before serving.