Naice mince pies without alcohol | Mumsnet (2024)

FAQs

Do all mince pies contain alcohol? ›

Experts say that despite the notion of a sumptuous, brandy-laden mince pie, there isn't much alcohol in the regular shop-bought pies. Alcohol helps to give the pies a 'robust' flavour, but by the time they have been cooked, there isn't much spirit left. The advice is to check the ingredients carefully when buying.

THE MINCE PIE IS FINISHED WITH AN ALL BUTTER PASTRY STAR TOP. DELICATELY HAND FINISHED WITH CRUNCHY SUGAR NIBS AND A LIGHTLY GLISTENING GOLD SPARKLE. Contains alcohol. Although every effort has been made to remove stones, some small stones or fragments may remain.

How to stop the mince pies from leaking. Be sure to seal the edges of the pies with some egg (or milk) and press down lightly with a fork. Also, don't overfill them as this will make the contents bubble out.

Traditions, folklore and superstitions

Stirring the mincemeat was quite an event, and English tradition dictates that it should only be stirred clockwise. Stirring the mincemeat anti-clockwise would lead to bad luck and poor fortune in the coming 12 months.

Nowadays, it's easy to find mincemeat pies still made with beef suet and a small amount of minced meats (usually beef). All-vegetarian mincemeat pies are readily available as well, especially if you purchase a premade jar of mincemeat filling.

Don't worry about serving your boozy pie to young or abstaining holiday guests: The heat of the oven will burn off most of the alcohol. Vodka won't change the flavor of your pie crust one bit. But you can get adventurous and try out more flavorful alcohol to find one that will compliment your pie recipe.

If the bottom crust doesn't set before the filling soaks in, it's going to be gummy. A metal pie pan placed on a preheated surface will set the bottom crust quickest; once cooked, the liquids from the filling above won't soak in, and as a result: no soggy bottom.

They became a popular treat around the festive period thanks to a tradition from the middle ages, which saw people eat a mince pie for 12 days from Christmas day to Twelfth Night. Doing this was believed to bring you happiness for the next 12 months.

A mince pie (also mincemeat pie in North America, and fruit mince pie in Australia and New Zealand) is a sweet pie of English origin filled with mincemeat, being a mixture of fruit, spices and suet.

Going on to how one should formally eat a mince pie, she explains: 'One would pick up the mince pie with a thumb and first finger, and lift [it] away from the plate. 'The mince pie is crumbly, so make sure anything that falls from the mince pie falls onto your plate.

Should mince pies be eaten hot or cold? ›

Many people enjoy mincemeat pie served warm, but it can also be served cold. The recipe below features both mini pies or you can make two nine-inch pies. You can pair mincemeat pie with ice cream, custard, or low-fat Greek yogurt for a sweet treat that's sure to impress!

The mince pie was originally filled with meat but it's believed that it wasn't until the late Victorian period and the early 20th century that mince pies shifted to a pie made from fruit fillings. Is it still illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas day?

Mincemeat

Mince pie / Main ingredient

Before the pie was sealed, a top layer consisting of ground pieces of meat from small, stewed birds (species unspecified) and rabbit was added. The pie was then baked. Each pie was large and oblong, enough to feed a family and guests in one sitting. Although the royal cooks used pork, mutton was more normally used.

Wheat Flour*, Apples, Water, Sugar, Sultanas, Margarine*, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Currants, Candied Cut Mixed Peel (Orange, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Lemons, Citric Acid, Sugar, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate, Vegetable Suet*, Modified Maize Starch, Egg, Preservatives Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Metabi-Sulphite, Acidity ...

It once contained minced meat and fat (lamb usually), and well into the 20th century, beef suet was always included, even when made at home. Today, most recipes or mince pies use vegetarian suet instead, but check the label if you're buying ready-made.