Healthy Mince Pies

As we roll into the Christmas season, we start to think about mince pies, mulled wine, and all the other treats that make this time of year so special. However, this time of year is also more challenging for those who wish to continue eating healthily while also being able to enjoy all the festivities. For this reason I am always on the look out for healthier versions of classic recipes.

This healthier take on classic mince pies offers the same great taste, but with much less sugar and a healthier take on the standard short-crust pastry.

Makes 25

For the filling

• 1 large apple, like Braeburn, Gala

• 75g raisins

• 75g golden sultanas

• 75g currants

• 65g dried, unsweetened cranberries

• 60g other dried fruit (sour cherries, blueberries, mango, apricots - dried but unsweetened)

• Zest and juice of an orange

• 50g coconut palm sugar (or 2 tsp Stevia if you prefer)

• 4 tbsp organic butter, cubed

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• ½ tsp ground nutmeg

• ½ tsp ground ginger

For the pastry

• 150g ground almonds

• 75g coconut flour

• 1 tbsp coconut palm sugar

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp sea salt

• Zest of an orange

• 115g butter, frozen. Plus a little extra for greasing

• 1 egg, lightly whisked

Method

Making the filling

1. Add all of the ingredients above (other than the brandy, if using) into a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir

2. When the butter is fully melted, turn the heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring often.

3. Take the saucepan off the heat and stir through a Tablespoon of brandy, and decant into sterilized glass jars.

4. Leave to cool with the lid slightly ajar, then secure tightly and store until you’re ready to use.

Making the pastry

1. Put the ground almonds and coconut flour in a bowl with the sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in the orange zest.

2. Grate the frozen butter into the flour and mix together with your fingers till a crumb forms.

3. Stir in the egg and bring together with your hands to form a dough. Divide the dough in half, wrap each in film and place in the fridge for 1 hour (or overnight).

4. Preheat the oven to 175˚C. Grease the moulds of a muffin pan with a little butter.

5. Remove the dough from the fridge and place between 2 sheets of baking/ greaseproof paper. Roll with a rolling pin to flatten out the dough till it is pie-crust thin.

6. Using a cookie cutter (or an upturned jam jar - needs to be about 8cm diameter) cut out 25 circles and lightly press into the muffin pan moulds. The pastry can be tricky to work with as there is no gluten holding it together. Be patient. If the pastry splits just push it back together with your fingers and use any pastry scraps to fix it up.

7. Fill up each pie mould with a heaped teaspoon of the mincemeat. Using the remainder of the dough cut out 25 stars to top each pie. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes. Leave to cool in the tins, before gently easing them out. Don’t be tempted to remove from the tin when they come out of the oven. They WILL fall apart!