Mince pie

This article is about fruit pies. For meat pies, see Meat pie.

An individual mince pie

An American mince pie

A mince pie (sometimes also minced, minced meat, or mincemeat pie) is a British festive sweet pastry, traditionally consumed during the Christmas and New Year period. Mince pies normally have a pastry top, but versions may also be found without the top in which case they are known as mince tarts. Mince pies are filled with mincemeat – a preserve typically containing apple, dried fruits such as raisins and sultanas, spices, and either suet or vegetable shortening. Modern mince pies typically do not contain any meat, but because suet is raw beef or mutton fat, mince pies made with suet are not suitable for vegetarians. Individual mince pies are usually 6–7.5 cm (2.5-3 inches) in diameter, although larger mince pies, suitable for slicing, may also be baked.

In some countries, the term mince pie refers to pies made from minced meat, that is, ground meat, and the fruit-based pies discussed here are called Christmas mince pies.

History

The mince pie dates back to the Middle Ages, it originally contained spices and dried fruit to help preserve the commonplace meat. King Henry V was served a mincemeat pie at his coronation in 1413. During the reign of Oliver Cromwell mince pies were banned along with other traditions and acts associated with Christmas. When they were reintroduced to Britain their size was again reduced, to the size as they are today, so that they could be served individually, especially to guests. They were named Wayfarer Pies.

Variations

Other variations include

• the mincemeat tart, similar in form and taste, save for the lack of a pastry top.
• mincemeat slices, which replace the pastry lid with a Victoria sponge topping; they are baked in a large square tin and cut into slices or as individual pieces in a bun tin
• the mincemeat pasty (similar in appearance to a Cornish pasty)
• the 'iced-top' variation, where the pastry lid is replaced by fondant icing
• mince lattice pies, in which the pastry lid is replaced by a pastry lattice, often with fondant icing on top.

In popular culture

• In Great Britain and other countries such as Australia and Ireland, mince pies are seen as a favourite food of Father Christmas or Santa Claus. Children leave one or two mince pies on a plate at the foot of the chimney (along with a small glass of brandy, sherry or milk, and a carrot for the reindeer) as a thank you for filling their stockings.
• The government of Pitt the Younger formed on 18 December 1783 was satirically dubbed the mince-pie administration as it was widely believed that it would not last until Christmas.
• In Cockney rhyming slang 'mince pies' means 'eyes'.

External links

• Pie Club Mince Pie Reviews for 2009
• Which? Magazine Mince Pie Reviews for 2008