Alternative mince pies

This is both lighter than the traditional kind and so much faster to make if you’re short of time – but as with traditional mince pies you’ll need to provide small plates and napkins to catch the crumbs.

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Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4. You’ll also need two 12-hole mini-muffin tins, lightly greased with butter. First of all lay a piece of pastry on a clean, dry chopping-board then cut it into four equal wedges and put a dessertspoon of ground almonds into the centre of each one. Top that with a dessertspoon of mincemeat. Now gather up the edges of one to form the shape of a money-bag, and press it into one of the muffin tins so that all the sharp edges stand proud. Do the same with the rest of the pastry and filling, then bake them in the oven on the centre shelf for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. After that transfer them to a cooling rack. Serve them warm, dusted with icing sugar, or if you want to bake them in advance, you can re-heat them (same temperature for five minutes). These are great served with mulled wine or as a dessert, in which case serve three per person, with rum sauce or maybe some vanilla ice-cream.