Mince Pies

I always think I don’t like mince pies: in my memory, they’re too sweet, too dense, too cloying. And then I eat one. I think the trick is, if you’re using bought mincemeat, to grate over a little sharp apple and squeeze in some lemon juice. But you’ll see from the recipes below that making your own mincemeat is not a strenuous activity.

I’ve given three recipes here, and I should say that I’ve copied the small, star-topped ones, in idea if not actual recipe, from the mince pies I used to buy from Waitrose. They are the perfect size: one small mouthful.