Mince Pie Appreciation

Don't mind the lidl gingerbread miners. A bit too sweet, but a nice tangy ginger afterglow. Decent stopgap before this afternoon's homemade batch arrive.

lidl gingerbread miners

Modern slavery thread >>>>>>>>

Casey’s of Clapton: mincemeat Danish thing. Slaps.

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Got a big box from Fortitude today

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I don’t know what a few of those are, but they all look exceedingly edible. Especially whatever the ones on the left are, split open with the beige whipped filling!

Casey's X Mince Pie mash up! Surely it's gotta good? Review please.

Can we get a poll/ top 5 together?

You know what's wrong with this thread? No brandy butter.

Commercial pies -> meh
Commercial pies + brandy butter -> who knows? never happens
Home made pies-> maybe ok.....
Home made pies + brandy butter -> Bing bing bing bing winner!

Appropriate pie to brandy butter ratio

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Very good. I think the mince dries out a bit more than if encased in pastry but that does mean it get as a bit chewy on top - 8/10

Talking of Pie Polls, I've just started to work my way through some of the top-placed pies in the Good Housekeeping lineup (on previous years experience, generally quite reliable) and they are bang on with their assessment of the first one I've tried. The Iceland Luxury Mince Pies have a generous flavorsome, fruity filling.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/food-reviews/g23832437/best-mince-pies-christmas/

Thanks for that link.

Picked some up from the new Pavilion on the Argall Avenue industrial estate this morning, still warm but we were buying pastries too so I'll have to try them later.

Stuck in the house, everyone has a heavy cold/flu thing. I’m seriously hankering for some mince pies. Just remembered we’ve some pastry in the freezer and this unopened jar of mincemeat from last year. Dare I make my own?

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Purist brandy butter or veering into the exotic? I've done variants with added orange zest, ground almond, brown sugar or spices (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg) over the years as well as spiced rum instead of brandy.
All pretty successful, though Nigella's almond one wasn't the greatest texture. The graininess detracted for me.

Making mine today with unsalted, Icing sugar, scraped vanilla pod, brandy and light spices.
I've been the official family Christmas brandy butter maker for over 30 years and only missed one.

Totally purist...unsalted butter, white sugar, glug of brandy. I prefer caster sugar to icing cos that's how my dad used to make it.

Might try adding a bit of vanilla though, that sounds nice.

If you love a boozy mince pie then the Dusty Knuckle ones are excellent

This is some good info bc they look similar to the Fortitude or St John mincers - v pie like rather than small tartlet

Had an Ottolenghi today: very bangin. Great short pastry, excellent trad mince. Something about the filling ticked a box that no other has done this year - will have to investigate further.

Dusty Knuckle next I reckon

Pastry is more pie yeah. Mincemeat isn't all the way to the top otherwise it might be a bit. Also the icing sugar on top isn't OTT, thankfully

Yes fucking please.

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First six pack from local bakers Heidi's, might not last the day.

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Four today so far.

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Damn I was there yesterday and didn't realise they were banging out quality mince pies. Just down the road from me so I might get some later.

Disappointing/10

Pastry is a bit greasy, filling doesn't really taste of anything and has the consistency of smooth Branstons pickle, filling to pastry cavity ratio is diabolical.

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