Maids of Honour

Some people really cannot stomach mincemeat, so it’s useful to have some little pie to serve as a substitute for mince pies. The recipe from the Maids of Honour tea rooms in Richmond, Surrey, is what is commonly called a ‘closely guarded secret’, but unofficial recipes abound for these tarts, with their filling somewhere between cheesecake and custard. This one is the result of a collaboration between me and one of my oldest friends, Tracey Scoffield.

I like a short