Whisky-Laced Mince Tarts - Holiday Tradition

Very few cooks make good pie crust. This is unfortunate, because a fine pie is one of the most delicious desserts, while a pie with a tough or soggy crust is one of the worst. The technique for making a perfect crust is comparatively simple, once you have acquired the knack.If you follow the tools, you should achieve good results every time.

• The mixing of the dry ingredients is simple. Just sift them together.
• The mixing a butter and flour, using two knives or a pastry blender. The bowl and knives should be dry to prevent lumping of the flour.
• Add the minimum amount of cold water required to just moisten, not wet, the flour.
• If shell is to be baked and then filled, prick the surface with a fork to release air bubbles.

Mincemeat gets the luxury treatment with addition of whisky to make a marvelous filling for these traditional tarts.

Note: Replace the whisky in the filling with Cointreau or brandy, if you like.

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup dark raisins
• 1 cup golden raisins
• 1 cup dry currants
• 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced or coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup mixed candied peel (of your taste)
• grated zest from 1 small orange
• grated zest from 1 small lemon

• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• pinch of salt
• 2/3 cup pecan nuts, chopped

• 2 1/2 Tbsp. melted butter
• 1/4 cup whisky

For the pastry:

• 1 ego yolk
• 1 tsp grated orange rind
• 1 Tbsp. superfine sugar
• 2 cups plain, all-purpose flour
• icing sugar for serving

Directions: 

To make the pastry: Mix the egg yolk with the orange rind, sugar and 2 teaspoons chilled water in a small bowl and set aside. Sift the flour into a separate mixing bowl. Rub or cut in the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the egg mixture and mix to a dough. Wrap in clear plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

To make the mincemeat: Put the first six ingredients into the food processor. Process until finely minced, but not puréed. Then add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt. Process until JUST combined. Add the pecan nuts and process briefly, just to break up the nuts. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Add melted butter and whisky. Stir to combine thoroughly.

Store airtight in the refrigerator, until ready to use; stir it occasionally, to redistribute the juice. Mince will keep for several months in the refrigerator, tightly covered. Or freeze it, for long-term storage.

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Roll out three-quarters of the pastry. Stamp out fluted rounds and use to line small muffin pan or 12 individual cupcake tins. Roll out the remaining pastry thinly and stamp out round tops. Spoon a little filing into each pastry case and top with rounds. Brush with a little beaten egg or milk and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Leave to cool. Dust the mince tarts with a little icing sugar.

This recipe was entered to Shine Supper Club.



Postcard from Cooking Melangery.