SMALL FRUIT PIES RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4, and lightly grease a shallow cupcake tray with butter.
  2. Roll out half the pastry on a clean flour-dusted surface to 3mm thick, then cut out 12 circles using a pastry cutter or a clean glass tumbler. Lay them in the hollows of the tray and place in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
  3. Spoon the mincemeat into a mixing bowl, breaking it up with a spoon as you go, then pour in the brandy.
  4. Peel the apple and chop into small chunks, then finely chop the ginger and apricots and stir it all to the mincemeat with the cranberries and mixed spice.
  5. Roll out the remaining pastry to the same thickness, then using a smaller cutter or tumbler, cut out another 12 circles – these will be the lids for your pies.
  6. Knead the pastry trimmings together briefly, roll out and cut into shapes to decorate the tops of your pies (stars and tree-shapes work well).
  7. Take the pastry bases out of the fridge and fill them just over halfway up with mincemeat, then smooth the filling out to the edges. Beat the egg and milk together, then brush over the top edges of the pastry.
  8. Lay the lids over the top, then crimp the edges together with your thumb and forefinger so the lids stick to the bases. Top each pie with a cut-out shape, then brush once more with the eggwash.
  9. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden. Dust with icing sugar before serving, then dig in.
  10. Take the pastry bases out of the fridge and fill them just over halfway up with mincemeat, then smooth the filling out to the edges. Beat the egg and milk together, then brush over the top edges of the pastry.
  11. Lay the lids over the top, then crimp the edges together with your thumb and forefinger so the lids stick to the bases. Top each pie with a cut-out shape, then brush once more with the egg wash.
  12. Bake in the hot oven for around 25 minutes, or until the pastry is cooked through and golden on top. Dust with icing sugar before serving, then dig in.

Steps:

• For the sweet shortcrust pastry, mix the flour and icing sugar together in a bowl. Add the butter and rub it in lightly with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Alternatively, do this in a food processor or a mixer and then transfer to a bowl.
• In a separate bowl or jug, mix the egg with the lemon juice and two tablespoons of water. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the egg mix. Using a table knife, work the liquid into the flour to bring the pastry together. If it seems too dry, add a splash more water. When the dough begins to stick together, use your hands to gently knead it into a ball. Wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
• To make any of the fillings, first cut the fruit into 1cm/½in pieces.
• Melt the butter in a large frying pan or deep saucepan set over a medium heat. Add the fruit, sugar, lemon zest (if applicable) and the alcohol. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the fruit is tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Leave the fruit mix to go cold, mix in the mascarpone (if applicable), then chill the mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry to a thickness of 2–3mm. Using an 8.5cm/3½in plain cutter, cut out 12 circles and use them to line a bun tray (the kind you would use for fairy cakes, not a deep muffin tray). Re-roll the pastry as necessary and cut out 12 smaller circles, 6cm/2½in in diameter, for the lids.
• Spoon the fruit filling into the pastry cases, taking care not to overfill them. Dampen the rim of the pastry with a little water and top each pie with a lid. Press a smaller cutter over the pie to seal the edge and trim away any excess pastry. Make a couple of small steam holes in the top of each pie.
• Brush the pastry lid with a little milk and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the pastry is crisp and golden-brown.
• Leave to cool in the tin for five minutes before removing. Serve warm or at room temperature, within 24 hours of baking (or they’ll start to lose their crispness).