Tom Aikens is one of the UK’s most acclaimed and inspirational British chefs. His remarkable career has taken him to David Cavalier’s in Battersea, Pierre Koffman’s La Tante Claire, Pied-à-Terre and Joel Robuchon in Paris to name a few. At 26, Tom became the youngest British chef ever to be awarded two Michelin stars.
So, we are delighted to bring our readers Tom Aikens’ recipe for Christmas Mince Pies.
Makes Minimum 24
Ingredients
Mince Meat Pastry
- 325g-cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped 270g all-purpose flour
- 115g shredded suet 1.5g salt
- 150g raisins 140g butter
- 115g sultanas and currants 110g caster or powdered sugar
- 115g mixed candied peel 2 egg yolks
- 150g soft dark brown sugar 1 whole egg
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon and orange Few drops vanilla essence
- 30g nibbed almonds
- 2 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Large pinch fresh grated nutmeg
- 5g ground ginger
- 5g salt
- 4 tbsp brandy
Method
Mincemeat
- Mix all the ingredients together, except the brandy, in a bowl and leave in a cool place for 12 hours to marinade.
- Place the mixture in a baking dish, cover with tin foil and bake for 2.5 to 3 hours at 140°c / 225°f.
- Leave to cool stirring from time to time and then stir in the brandy.
- Spoon the cooled mixture into storage jars and cover with waxed discs and seal. This is then ready to use, however it’s best to leave it to mature for one month.
Pastry
- Sieve the flour and salt, put into a stand mixer and place on a low to medium speed, then add the butter mix till crumb like. Add the sugar then eggs and yolks, it will slowly come together, then refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment to a 0.5cm thickness, then let it rest for 10 minutes. Cut out 48 pieces with a round cutter, you need the tops to be medium and the bottoms to be large.
- Make the mince pies in either small Yorkshire pudding moulds or tartlet cases. Lightly grease the moulds/cases then flour. Line with the pastry then add the mince pie mix. Place on the lid, crimp the edges and bake at 180°c /375°f for about 10-15 minutes, dust with icing sugar.