RECIPE | FRANGIPANE MINCE PIES

I love baking and I love trying new things, especially when it's a twist on something I already love to bake. I saw this recipe on the countryliving website and because my family love mincepies and anything almond/marzipan flavoured I knew they'd be excited to try these!

Serves: 36

Ingredients:
400g plain flour

200g butter

2tbsp caster sugar

1 medium egg, beaten with 2tbsp cold water

450g mincemeat (We didn't have enough to had to use jam for some!)

icing sugar for dusting

For the frangipane:
150g butter

150g caster sugar

85g self-raising flour

100g ground almonds

2 medium eggs

1/2 tsp almond extract

flaked almonds

Method:

• In a food processor, combine flour and butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Add the sugar.
• Keep the motor running and add enough egg until it starts to clump together. 
• Bring together with your hands to make a ball. 
• Knead briefly, cover in clingfilm and leave for 20 minutes. 
• On a lightly dusted worktop, roll out the pastry to roughly 2mm thick.
• Stamp out "36" circles and place into bun tins (cupcake tin!)
• Fill with mincemeat, then chill. 

For the frangipane:

• Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 
• Beat in the flour, almonds, eggs and extract. 
• Put a heaped teaspoon onto each of the mincepies, and spread to the sides to cover the mincemeat and seal the edges. 
• Sprinkle with flaked almonds. (We put a quarter glacé cherry on the ones with jam)
• Heat the oven to 180ºc and bake for 15 - 20 minutes until golden. 

They were really yummy and went down a treat with all the family and they're perfect for freezing too!

What do you think? Have you made any mince pie variations, let me know in the comments.