Mince Pie Appreciation

Thats how I felt about Bread Ahead last year. Turns out theres a fair bit of variance when it comes to these fancy pies

Very good proportions despite miniature form. Jewelled fruit and nuts a favourite.

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Gonna try and bake some of my own tonight

Made these earlier. Another batch tomorrow.

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Do your plates have nipples?

Dusty Knuckle - chunky pie, spenny but substantial. Great crumbly pastry, full fill with very little expansion void evident under the carapace. Filling was good but still lacking booze. A very good pie, but not life changing.

8/10

Think Gail’s is still on top for us this year.

Think Gail’s is still on top for us this year.

If you like Gails try Bread Head. More filling, slightly less sweet but with more fruit and the same demerera topping. Super buttery pastry if thats your bag.

I did rate their offering in years past. Had some kind of bad experience with them a couple of years ago though, mince pie baking class admin fuck up or something, so they’re dead to me. And a bit further than I can be bothered going just now.

It's all about Morny in Leyton!

Their 'OG' mince pie topped with cinnamon milk crumb is excellent but the amaretto and custard (right) is a game changer. I thought it was too ambitious/complicated and wouldn't work but nope, amazing. Perfect mince and pastry too.

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A very good pie, but not life changing.

Have to agree with this I'm afraid, 8/10 is fair, but on the plus side they are gigantic.

Driving down now - heading to pavilion and now Morny!

Who's gettin me a Morny then?

Morny Glory

If you like an alternative mince pie, I would have to suggest Lidl's Speculoos mince pie which is amazing.
They also do an Amaretto version which was good, but not quite in the same class.

Konditor mince pies - too buttery, too intense

We have the same Irish ones as last year. Quite nice once warmed up. Tomorrow I will be solving the lack of booziness with some home made American style eggnog that has been resting in the fridge for 3 weeks. (Egg, cream, sugar, lots of bourbon and rum).

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Have one of these for later… if a hit might take some to Dorset for family.

Have booked a Saturday collection for 2 mince pie slices at Chatsworth bakery.
If i can’t go I might auction off the collection spot.
I guess this is what it feels like when plimsole geeks get in a lottery for a pair of running pumps at Size?

My first ever attempt at making mince pies - using my aunts mincemeat and my father inlaws pastry recipe (altered slightly as it’s used for egg tarts and he doesn’t actually have a recipe…!)

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I don’t think I’ve enjoyed any of the supermarket mincers this year. Pretty sure they’re all exactly the same as last year, but I’m finding them all incredibly sweet this year. I think Greggs has won it for me this year.

As in really enjoyed. I’ve still liked eating them…

Done 3 batches this year and got worse at it each time :(

I always panic there's not enough filling and overfill the pies, then get distracted while leaving them to cool enough to touch and miss the sweet spot when the pies are stable but the escaped filling is still soft, and they get welded to the tin and have to be chiselled out.

I'm feeling this. The only exception is some Lidl (edit seems it was Aldi) ones laced with gin of all things. Warmed up with double cream they hit the spot. Tasting could have been swayed by the volume of fiz and red I'd already consumed during dinner with friends so YMMV.

Sometimes you just have to improvise:
Iceland mince pie,
30 seconds in the microwave,
prise lid off,
soy yogurt,
squirt of Sri Racha.

Replace lid.
Cut, with edge of spoon into 4 unequal mouthfuls.

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Show me the way to Amaretto.