Puff Pastry Mince Pies are super-easy, quick and delicious. You need just a handful of ingredients to bake this delicious festive treat in your oven or the air fryer. Vegetarian and vegan friendly so everyone can enjoy them!
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It’s that time of year again, as we jump from Christmas party to Christmas party, when debate begins to rage over one simple question: What are the best mince pies?
These absolutely addictive treats (also known as mincemeat pies in the US and fruit mince pie in Australia and New Zealand) start appearing in the weeks leading up to Christmas time and, every year, people insist that theirs is the best, whether store-bought or homemade.
The fact is that, by the time the big day comes around, we’ll have eaten our fill. By the start of the new year, they will be put away until the next festive season. But while we’re here and we’re hungry for just the right party treat, why not try this traditional British shortcrust classic with a modern spin?
As air fryer recipes go, this easy mince pie recipe might be one of the easiest ways to put together the perfect Christmas spread and keep your family and friends asking for more.
PUFF PASTRY MINCE PIES INGREDIENTS
The ingredients used in this great recipe date back to the 13th century, when European crusaders brought meats, fruits and spices back from the Middle East, along with their cooking methods.
Dishes could combine meat, fruit, beef suet and various spices like cinnamon and cloves (though the ground meat was eventually dropped – just don’t tell Rachel from Friends!).
Typically made with shortcrust pastry, we’ve taken a slightly different approach and created a puff pastry mince pies recipe to keep things simple and quick, especially when made in an air fryer.
Best of all you can find this flakey pastry in most grocery stores rather than spending time putting together your own homemade version. It also gives you more choice as you can decide whether you want all-butter, vegan or gluten-free puff pastry.
You will also need a good quality mincemeat, as this is what makes mince pies so delicious. It’s basically a fruit filling made up of chopped dried fruit (such as apple, citrus peel, currants, etc) alcohol (like brandy or rum) and spices, and aged to give it a more intense taste.
Thankfully, there is a wide range of mincemeat available on the market, you just need to shop around to find your preference. I have also included some tips on how to make it a little more “homemade” with a few easy additions.
HOW TO MAKE PUFF PASTRY MINCE PIES
Full measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Please take a look at the steps and video before attempting this recipe!
STEP 1 Take the pastry out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature for five minutes. Unroll the puff pastry, leaving it on the paper it came rolled in.
STEP 2 Use a 3inch (7cm) round cookie cutter to cut out circles in the puff pastry sheet, evenly spaced. You may want to use a smaller cutter to keep these bite sized. Gather any leftover pastry and roll out again to use.
STEP 3 Brush the edges of each circle with egg wash. Add a spoonful of the mincemeat mixture to each circle of pastry and then cover with another circle of pastry.
STEP 4 Brush the top of the pies with a bit more of the egg wash. Cut small small slits in the top of each pie using the tip of a pair of scissors. This will allow excess steam to escape. Use a fork to crimp the edges to seal and trim the edges using a round cookie cutter.
STEP 5 Sprinkle your puff pastry mince pies with Demerara sugar to add a welcome crunch.
BAKE IN THE OVEN OR THE AIR FRYER
TO OVEN BAKE Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the mince pies on a cookie sheet, spaced slightly apart, and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the puff pastry is puffed and golden.
TO AIR FRY Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F) for 2 minutes and bake the mince pies, in batches, for 10-12 or until the pastry is puffed and golden. Cooking time may vary depending on how hot your air fryer runs, so keep an eye on them – you might need to adjust the temperature if they are browning too quickly.
SERVE AND ENJOY!
Cool slightly on a wire rack in a single layer. Dust with icing sugar and serve warm with a glass of mulled wine or other festive treats – why not bake a batch of gingerbread cookies and some Lebkuchen for good measure;)
RECIPE TIPS & FAQS
Should I make my own mincemeat or buy it from a store?
That’s entirely your choice and there are loads of homemade mincemeat recipes out there. One thing to remember is that store-bought mincemeat tends to use less alcohol when it’s being prepared and sold, which can influence the taste.
You can easily jazz up store-bought mincemeat. I like to add a splash of brandy or rum, orange zest and a little cranberry sauce. Try it – you won’t be sorry!
Why should I use ingredients from a store rather than making my own homemade mince pies from scratch?
The simple answer is time. Making traditional mince pies from start to finish can take a few days, depending on how long you want to age the mincemeat. This approach produces a batch of delicious, buttery and flaky mince pies in literally no time!
STORING PUFF PASTRY MINCE PIES
These easy mince pies are as easy to store as they are to make. Once your warm mince pies have cooled down, you can put them in an airtight container and they will keep for up to three days. Refresh the pastry by reheating in the air fryer or the oven for a few minutes at 180°C (350°F).
You can also freeze the mince pies for up to six weeks. Cook from frozen, adding a few minutes to the recommended cooking time.
TRY THESE POPULAR FESTIVE RECIPES!
- Gingerbread Cupcakes with Biscoff Frosting
- Mary Berry Mincemeat Loaf Cake
- Melomakarona – Greek Honey Christmas Cookies
- Stollen Bites (no yeast!)
HAVE YOU MADE MY PUFF PASTRY MINCE PIES RECIPE? Please leave a rating, post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #supergoldenbakes and make my day 🙂
Puff Pastry Mince Pies
Equipment & Tools
Ingredients
For the filling
- 250 g mincemeat from a jar
- 3 tbsp cranberry sauce or marmalade
- 1 orange zest only
- 1 tbsp brandy or rum (sub with fresh orange juice, if needed)
For the pies
- 640 g (2 packs) puff pastry
- 1 small egg beaten with 1 tsp water or milk (or see notes)
- demerara sugar, to sprinkle as needed
- icing sugar to dust, as needed
Instructions
Prepare the puff pastry mince pies
- Combine the mincemeat, cranberry sauce, orange zest and rum in a bowl.250 g mincemeat, 3 tbsp cranberry sauce, 1 orange, 1 tbsp brandy or rum
- Take the pastry out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature for five minutes. Unroll one pack, keeping it on the paper it comes rolled in.640 g (2 packs) puff pastry
- Use a small round cutter (3 inches / 7 cm) to cut out circles on the pastry sheet.
- Add a teaspoon of mincemeat on half of the circles and brush the edges with the beaten egg using a pastry brush.1 small egg
- Top with a pastry lid, pressing the edges with your fingers to seal. Cut a small hole on each mince pie using scissors or a knife to allow for steam to escape.
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with a little demerara sugar.demerara sugar, to sprinkle
- Crimp the edges with a fork and use a round cutter to trim to a perfect circle if you like. Repeat with the second sheet of pastry.
Air Fry
- Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F) on the Bake setting. Mist the basket with a little sunflower oil and bake in batches for 10-12 minutes or until the pastry is golden. Check on the mince pies halfway through – you might need to bake them for less time or adjust the temperature by a few degrees if your model runs hot.
Oven Bake
- Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F). Transfer the pies onto a cookie sheet (on the paper the pastry came rolled in) and bake for 12-15 minutes.
Serve
- Transfer to a wire rack if you are baking in batches. Dust with icing sugar and serve.icing sugar
Video
Notes
- Check the mincemeat and puff pastry is vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free according to your diet preferences.
- Replace the egg wash with oat milk if baking vegan mince pies.
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