No Added Sugar Mince Pies Recipes

Steps:

• To make the pastry, rub the butter into the flour, then mix in the golden caster sugar and a pinch of salt.
• Combine the pastry into a ball - don't add liquid - and knead it briefly. The dough will be fairly firm, like shortbread dough. You can use the dough immediately, or chill for later.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line 18 holes of two 12-hole patty tins, by pressing small walnut-sized balls of pastry into each hole.
• Spoon the mincemeat into the pies. Take slightly smaller balls of pastry than before and pat them out between your hands to make round lids, big enough to cover the pies.
• Top the pies with their lids, pressing the edges gently together to seal - you don't need to seal them with milk or egg as they will stick on their own. Will keep frozen for up to one month.
• Brush the tops of the pies with the beaten egg. Bake for 20 mins until golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 mins, then remove to a wire rack. To serve, lightly dust with the icing sugar. Will keep for three to four days in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients for the mincemeat in a bowl and add brandy or rum to cover the fruit. Stir well, then let it rest overnight. The next day, stir again and then divide among sterilized preserving jars.
• To make the pastry, mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Rub the butter into the mixture until it is the consistency of fine breadcrumbs. Add the water and egg yolk and knead until the mixture comes together into a smooth dough. Alternatively, use a food processor to make the pastry. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Preheat your oven to 350° F. Grease the tart molds with butter and cover the base of each with a small circle of parchment paper. Dust with flour.
• Briefly knead the pastry until smooth, then pat it into a rectangle and roll it out to a thickness of ⅛ inch. Use a round cutter with a diameter of 2¾ - 3¼ inches to cut out pastry circles. Gently push the pastry rounds into the tart molds. Prick the base or each tart shell three times with a fork.
• Knead the remaining dough back together and roll it out to cut out the lids-you can choose whichever shape you like, but stars are the most traditional.
• Divide the 8 ounces of filling among the tarts and press down gently. Place the lids on top and brush with the egg wash.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or cold.

Steps:

• Quarter and core apples, but do not peel.
• Grind in old-fashioned meat grinder (food processor makes them too fine), using medium-coarse blade.
• Remove seeds from lemon and orange, grind and add to apples.
• Grind 1 cup raisins.
• Mix all ingredients except rum flavoring in large bowl, stirring in spices and flour, then date sugar if desired.
• Add flavoring and mix again.
• Place in covered bowl or other container with tight lid; refrigerate at least one week before using or canning.
• CANNING:.
• 1/2 inch head space, boiling water bath 20 min for pints after water returns to boil, longer for altitudes over 1000 ft.
• If any jars fail to seal, freeze for later use. To freeze after refrigerating for the recommended week, place in clean freezer containers or jars, leaving 1/2 inch at top. Cover with clean lids and place in sharp-freeze section of freezer until frozen.
• Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
• Makes 1 quart, enough for 2 8-inch pies.
• 1/4 cup 116 calories, 2 diabetic fruit exchanges Protein 1, fat 0, carbohydrate 28 grams, 0 cholesterol If salt omitted, 1/4 cup contains 7 mg sodium.
• Source: Canning and Preserving without Sugar by Norma M. MacRae, R.D. Third Edition 1993.