Mary Berry Almond Mince Pies

Mary Berry Almond Mince Pies

The first time I made these almond mince pies, I genuinely thought, how hard can they be? Itโ€™s just pastry, mincemeat, and marzipan, right? Ha. My first batch turned out like something from a school fete gone wrongโ€”overfilled, soggy-bottomed, and the marzipan stars puffed up like tiny golden UFOs.

But I was determined. These were Mary Berryโ€™s almond mince pies, after all, and Iโ€™d promised them for my in-lawsโ€™ Christmas Eve do. (No pressure.) After two more rounds and a couple of tweaksโ€”like drying the marzipan a bit and finally chilling the pastry properlyโ€”I cracked it. Let me show you how I fixed that.

What Makes This Recipe Special

Most mince pies rely solely on the filling to carry the flavour. But Maryโ€™s version goes that little bit extra with ground almonds in the pastry and marzipan stars on top. And it makes all the difference.

  • The ground almonds give the pastry a subtle nuttiness and tenderness that just melts.
  • Orange zest stirred into the mincemeat adds a pop of citrus that cuts through the richnessโ€”donโ€™t skip it.
  • And that marzipan? It bakes into a soft, sweet lid with a slight chew that honestly outshines any traditional lid Iโ€™ve ever tried.

Most recipes skip these little flourishes. But here, they make it sing.

INGREDIENTS + WHY THEY MATTER

  • Plain Flour โ€“ Classic base for shortcrust. I tried self-raising onceโ€”donโ€™t.
  • Ground Almonds โ€“ Adds flavour and richness. Without it, the pastryโ€™s noticeably flatter.
  • Butter (softened) โ€“ Helps bring the dough together smoothly. Cold butter made the pastry too crumbly.
  • Caster Sugar โ€“ Just enough sweetness for the pastry. Donโ€™t go overboardโ€”itโ€™ll burn.
  • Egg (for pastry) โ€“ Binds it all. I tried water in a pinch once, and it barely held.
  • Luxury Mincemeat โ€“ Big upgrade over the basic stuff. I like the kind with brandy and whole cherries.
  • Orange Zest โ€“ Adds brightness. Lemon zest works, too, but orange feels more Christmassy.
  • Marzipan โ€“ The star on top, literally. I tried one cheap brand that melted into mushโ€”get the good stuff.
  • Egg (for brushing) โ€“ Helps it all go golden. Milk works in a pinch, but itโ€™s not as shiny.
  • Icing Sugar โ€“ For dusting. Optional but very โ€œhello, festive tray of dreamsโ€.

Making It Yours (Without Ruining It)

  • No Eggs? I tested a version with 1 tbsp yogurt in the pastryโ€”it worked, just slightly softer.
  • Gluten-Free โ€“ A 1:1 GF flour blend worked okay, but the pastry was delicate. Chill longer and handle gently.
  • Dairy-Free? Use a plant-based butter thatโ€™s block-style, not soft spread.
  • Fruit Swap โ€“ Iโ€™ve added chopped dried figs to the mincemeat and loved it. Cranberries? Not so muchโ€”too sharp.

MISTAKES Iโ€™VE MADE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)

What Went WrongWhy It HappensHow to Fix It
Marzipan melted weirdlyUsed cheap, soft marzipanUse firm, quality marzipan (I like Renshaw)
Pastry shrank in the ovenDidnโ€™t chill it after lining the tinsChill at least 30 mins before baking
Filling bubbled overOverfilled the casesStick to 1 tsp per pieโ€”yes, really
Pale topsForgot to egg washAlways brush the marzipan + edges

HOW TO MAKE MARY BERRYโ€™S ALMOND MINCE PIES

  1. Make the Pastry
    In a food processor (or by hand), blend flour, ground almonds, sugar, and softened butter until crumbly. Add egg and pulse until dough forms. Tip onto floured surface, bring it together gently, wrap and chill 15 mins.
    (First time I skipped the chillโ€”regretted it instantly. Dough was too soft to roll.)
  2. Roll & Cut
    Roll the chilled dough thin (about 3mm), cut out 24 rounds with a fluted cutter, and line shallow bun tins. Prick bases with a fork and chill againโ€”at least 30 minutes.
  3. Mix the Filling
    Stir the orange zest into your mincemeat. Spoon 1 tsp into each case.
  4. Top with Marzipan
    Dust a board with icing sugar, roll the marzipan 2โ€“3mm thick, cut out stars (or other festive shapes), and pop them on top of the mincemeat.
  5. Bake
    Heat oven to 200ยฐC/180ยฐC fan/gas 6. Brush edges + marzipan stars with egg wash. Bake for 15โ€“18 minutes until golden.
  6. Cool & Dust
    Let cool in tins 5 mins, then transfer to rack. Dust with icing sugar while still warm. Brandy cream on the side = heaven.
Mary Berry Almond Mince Pies
Mary Berry Almond Mince Pies

TIPS FROM MY KITCHEN

  • I roll the marzipan slightly thicker than the pastryโ€”helps it bake just right.
  • My bun tin is old and metalโ€”it gives a better crisp than non-stick or silicone.
  • I weigh out 250g of marzipan into two chunks before rollingโ€”itโ€™s easier to manage.
  • I freeze the pastry cases in the tin for 10 minutes before bakingโ€”helps them keep shape.

STORAGE + SERVING

  • Fridge: Keep in an airtight tin for up to 3 days. Still tasty on day 3!
  • Freezer: Freeze baked pies once fully cool. Wrap tightly. Theyโ€™ll keep 3 months.
  • To Reheat: Pop in a 160ยฐC oven for 8โ€“10 mins. They crisp up again beautifully.
  • Serve With: Brandy cream, clotted cream, or just a strong cup of tea.

FAQs

Q: Can I make these ahead of time?
A: Absolutely. I often bake them, freeze them, then reheat straight from frozen for 12โ€“15 mins at 160ยฐC.

Q: Can I skip the marzipan?
A: You can, but it loses that lovely almond vibe. Try flaked almonds on top instead for crunch.

Q: Whatโ€™s the best mincemeat to use?
A: Anything labelled โ€œluxuryโ€ with booze and whole fruit usually wins. I once tried a supermarket basicโ€”it was more sugar than fruit.

Q: My pastryโ€™s too stickyโ€”what should I do?
A: Add a tiny sprinkle of flour while rolling and chill it longer next time.

Try More Recipes:

Mary Berry Almond Mince Pies

Course: DessertCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy
Servings

24

servings
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

18

minutes
Calories

477

kcal

Festive, fruity, and full of charmโ€”these almond mince pies have buttery pastry, zesty filling, and golden marzipan stars on top.

Ingredients

  • Pastry:
  • 150g plain flour (+ extra for dusting)

  • 30g ground almonds

  • 115g butter, softened

  • 30g caster sugar

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • Filling:
  • 1 x 410g jar luxury mincemeat

  • Zest of 1 orange

  • Topping:
  • 250g marzipan

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • Icing sugar, to dust

Directions

  • Combine flour, almonds, butter, and sugar in a food processor. Add egg and mix to form dough.
  • Roll dough thin, cut 24 rounds, line bun tins, and chill 30 mins.
  • Mix mincemeat with orange zest and spoon 1 tsp into each pastry case.
  • Roll marzipan 2โ€“3mm thick, cut out stars, and place on top.
  • Brush edges and stars with egg. Bake at 200ยฐC/180ยฐC fan for 15โ€“18 mins.
  • Cool in tin 5 mins, then on a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar.

Notes

  • I roll the marzipan slightly thicker than the pastryโ€”helps it bake just right.
  • My bun tin is old and metalโ€”it gives a better crisp than non-stick or silicone.
  • I weigh out 250g of marzipan into two chunks before rollingโ€”itโ€™s easier to manage.
  • I freeze the pastry cases in the tin for 10 minutes before bakingโ€”helps them keep shape.
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