My mince pies are vile....

[brightwell]

I usually use nigella's receipe....butter & trex, Tesco didn't have Trex so I used cookeen....they're hard. Does anyone have a tried & tested receipe...not using lard.

Will give it ago....any margarine?

My mum has always used this recipe which was given to her by a neighbour years ago, it is delicious.

10oz self raising flour, 2 and a 1/2oz butter or margarine, 2 and a 1/2oz white flora, 2 and a 1/2 oz caster sugar, 1 egg, beaten.

Cut fats into flour until like breadcrumbs. Stir in sugar. Bind with beaten egg. Pastry will be very crumbly - chill for 15 - 20 minutes. Makes about 20-24 mince pies. Bake at 200C for about 8-10mins.

Variants: add grated orange rind. brush milk on top of pies and sprinkle with sugar.

I buy redady rolled puff pastry and make mincemeat turnovers....much nicer.

A bit late, I know, but the pastry on these is lovely!! I roll it out though, rather than press into the tins. Its also nice to use for jam tarts

Sweet pastry is really easy. 125g butter blended with 125g caster sugar. Add 1 egg. Stir in 250g flour. Knead it gently together in the bowl, wrap in in cling film and put it in the fridge for about 20 mins before rolling out. Cook it a bit cooler than normal pastry as the sugar in it means it can catch.
This recipe can be adapted to make nice quick biscuits. You can put things like cinnamon in for added flavour.