How do I make mince pie pastry which tastes like a really good shop bought mince pie?

[OMGitsnotgood]

I much prefer homemade mincemeat to the fillings you normally get in shop bought pies, it’s just a different product.
However, although I make a decent shortcrust pasty, there is something about pastry in the shop bought ones that I really like.
What is the best pastry you’ve ever made for mince pies?

Can you buy the shop ones and scoop the mince meat out?

Bought pastry-home made mince. Perfect compromise! You can even use ready rolled.

There is an amazing mince pie recipe on good food - it’s an orange flavoured sweet pastry using icing sugar. It’s the only recipe I make now (and had done for years!).
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/orange-pastry-mince-pies

All butter pastry

Swop 1/4 of the flour for ground almonds; use butter as the only fat; grate a bit of orange or lemon zest into the dry mix.

I always get great results from Darina Allen's recipe. It's in the Ballymaloe cook book, but a quick search shows people have posted it online too. Tasty and flakey pastry.

Just noticed this recipe asks for strong flour! @southwestlife is that right? Do you use strong flour, not plain?

I don’t like shop bought pastry as it always tastes too sweet.
I make my mince pies with shortcrust pastry (fat flour and water). So I think you need to make sweet shortcrust pastry which adds icing sugar and (I think) an egg yolk.

I’ve been making these for about 20 years and
I’m regularly told these are the best mince pies people have ever eaten. Tragically, I can’t eat them any more 😂

Jill Dupleix mince pie recipe

@LadyBlakeneysHankyI usually use Plain flour for ours, the important part is to chill the pastry. It does make quite a big batch, So I make the whole recipe but before I chill it, I cut it in half and save half to make at a later date.

I find that replacing half the butter with trex makes the pastry much nicer. This was a tip from an elderly auntie and it really works.

Trex makes amazing pastry - and roast potatoes - but I’ve been struggling to find it recently

Waitrose has it

Thank you. Waitrose is the supermarket furthest away from us and then only a small one so don’t really go there. Will pop in next time I’m over that way.

I put crumble on the top of home made mince pies and not pastry.

Lard makes lovely, slightly flaky pastry and is great for roast potatoes too. It's also lower in cholesterol and saturated fat than butter.

I use it half and half with butter.

Pâte sucrée is the one to use

git.macropus.org/bbc-food/www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pate_sucree_39572.html

Do you let people know they are made with lard before they eat them?

Lard is the best for pastry, half fat to flour and the fat should be half butter, half lard. The lard makes the pastry really short - excellent pastry but not for veggies/vegans, but using butter would rule out vegans anyway.

Thanks Jellycats

Not that I usually make mince pies any more. If I did, I think I'd be trying the orange one recommended upthread

I can’t use lard as we have several potential guests who are vegetarian. I use vegetable suet in my mincemeat for the same reason.

Add an egg yolk, it adds softness and richness.

This is the absolute best pastry for mince pies, so light and melts in the mouth:

For a dozen.

Process 175g plain flour, 100g butter and 1 tbsp caster sugar.
Add 1 large egg yolk and 1-2 tbsp cold water and process till it comes together in a ball.
Chill for at least 20 mins before using.

I wasn’t trying to be goady or judgemental btw as I know that adding lard makes lovely pastry.
I’d go with one of the recipes that adds a bit of sugar and some orange juice.

I absolutely didn’t take it that way at all. My Mum always did half lard half margarine, but as said I can’t use lard. Am on the look out for Trex as I know that makes a lovely short pastry. I like the suggestion of icing sugar, it feels like it will add what I am looking for and maybe an egg yolk too.
if I have time, I will make some jam tarts to try out a couple of the suggestions.

Thank you everyone