Sweet Apple and Cider Mince Pies with Cheddar Pastry

Ingredients

• 3 eating apples (peeled, cored and diced)
• 7 tbsp dry cider
• 6 tbsp raisins
• 2 tbsp dried mixed fruit
• 3 tsp light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 150 g plain flour
• 75 g cold butter (cubed)
• 35 g mature cheddar (grated (I used Wyke Farms Vintage Cheddar))
• 1 tsp caster sugar
• 1 cold egg (lightly beaten)
• Powdered icing sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   --- For the cider and apple mincemeat: ---

2. 2

   Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan over a medium/high heat. Stir well and heat until the liquid boils. Reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring often.

3. 3

   --- For the cheddar pastry: ---

4. 4

   In a food processor, blitz the flour, butter, cheddar and sugar until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg and whiz until it forms a ball. If necessary, add a teaspoon of very cold water to make it come together.

5. 5

   Wrap the pastry in cling film and chill for 10 mins.

6. 6

   --- To assemble: ---

7. 7

   Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan/400F, lightly grease the cups of a tart or muffin tray.

8. 8

   Roll out the pastry to 3mm thick and cut into rounds slightly larger than the holes in the muffin tray.

9. 9

   Cut the scraps into shapes with a small cookie cutter. Re-roll the pastry if necessary.

10. 10

    Place the circles into the tart/muffin tray, add a heaped teaspoon of the filling and top with a pastry shape.

11. 11

    Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and allow to cool before serving.

12. 12

    Optional: dust the tarts with powdered icing sugar.