How to make mince pies - and why the homemade treats always taste best

Christmas just isn't Christmas without a plate of mince pies on the table. We collectively purchase around 370 million of them over the Christmas period annually, with each of us apparently eating (or at least accounting for) around 27 each.

But how many of us actually know how to make our own version?

Although they're encased in a pastry, mince pies aren't all that complicated to make and, let's face it, home-made mince pies taste much better than store bought ones anyway.

Recipe | Xanthe Clays home-made mince pies

Telegraph food writer Xanthe Clay says this is because "unlike shop-bought, home-made pastry is made without sugar. I prefer to cook them with a high heat, which can slightly caramelise the edges of the filling, mitigating the sweetness further.

"Shop-bought ones tend to be made in deep muffin tins and boast an inch of dizzyingly sweet sultana and raisin filling. They are spookily perfect too, which makes them boring."

What's inside them?

Despite the name, mince pies, by and large, don't actually contain any mincemeat. Years ago they did, filled with a mixture of minced meat and suet. However, as the years passed, the recipe became sweeter and the actual meat element of it was erased to give us the mince pies we know and love today.

Nowadays the mince pie contains a mixture of chopped dried fruit (such as prunes, raisins, and currants), distilled spirits and spices - though some staunch traditionalists still advocate for the inclusion of meat.

How to eat them

Turns out, you've probably being eating your mince pies wrong for your entire life. According to etiquette expert William Hansom, mince pies should never be eaten using a fork when eaten alone or be served cold. 

Hanson told the MailOnline: "There is no need to use a pastry fork when eating a mince pie. Your hands are fine, although make sure they are clean.

"Ideally, mince pies for a drinks party will be served gently warmed, but if eating at home you could serve them much warmer with gently melting ice cream, rum or brandy butter. Here, a fork and spoon will be needed to avoid those mucky fingers."

Where to go for the best store bought mince pies

If you don't fancy making your own this year, head over to Co-op and try their 'Irresistible Mince Pies'. Costing just £2, the mince pies won in our blind taste test. Renowned baker Richard Bertinet praised their "golden, crispy yet buttery pastry" and "glossy, celebratory filling"

A twist on tradition

Though they're a firm favourite among just about everyone in the country, eating the same mince pies every Christmas can get a little dull. This year why not switch it up with one of these clever twists on the traditional pie?

Mince pie brownies

Mince pie cupcakes

Mince pie cookies

Mince pie doughnuts

Our favourite mince pie recipes

Josceline Dimbleby's mince pies with orange pastry and fresh cranberries

Hemsley + Hemsley's mince pie

Deliciously Ella's healthy mince pies 

Star-topped mince pies