1. Use a light touch

Just like other pastry items, treat your mince pie pastry with a light touch. If using a food processor, only process the dough until it resembles breadcrumbs, before finishing it off by hand. Also, make sure you allow the pastry to rest for at least 20 minutes before rolling it out and cutting the circles.

2. Make them the right size

You can make mince pies any size you like. Choose a muffin tin for a conventional size, or opt for a mini muffin tin to make bite-sized treats. Use an 8.5 cm pastry cutter to make the right-sized discs for a standard muffin tin, or 4 cm cutter to for a mini muffin tin.

3. Make them vegetarian friendly

Traditional mince pie pastry is made from a mix of animal shortening and butter. If you have vegetarians in the family, or don't like the idea of using shortening, try using an all-butter pastry recipe.

Mince pie recipe: Tips for making the perfect Christmas treat

4. Know where to cut corners

If you're short on time, but still want to make mince pies, it can help to know where you can cut corners. You can find good-quality pre-made fruit mince in gourmet food stores and some supermarkets leading up to Christmas. Of course, if you have the time, homemade fruit mince still can't be beaten.

5. Make ahead

You can store any uncooked mince pies in the freezer for up to 2 months. Simply place a sheet of grease proof paper between the pies to prevent them from sticking and store in an airtight container. Pop the frozen pies straight into the preheated oven, and be aware that they will take a little longer to cook than stated in the recipe.

Fruit Mince Pies recipes:

For more ideas, take a look at our Christmas baking recipes collection.