Nothing beats a homemade mince pie in our opinion. It has buttery pastry filled with sweet, spiced mincemeat – what's not to love?
There are of course plenty of excellent supermarket mince pies but making your own is an easy Christmas activity that fills the kitchen with nostalgic festive aromas from mixed spice to softly cooking apples in sugar, plus the gentle boozy aromas of cider, port or Grand Marnier – whatever you’re choosing to add.
At Good Housekeeping we have spent years developing and testing mince pies and these are our favourites to serve friends and family, or enjoy on our own during a rare moment of quiet before Christmas Day.
Prefer your mince pie with a twist? Try our Aperol mince pies which uses the popular Italian summer drink and candied orange peel for a distinctive citrussy kick.
Our snowy deep-filled mince pies take the classic bake to a new level and are topped with a peak of meringue rather than a pastry top.
For mince pie traditionalists, its hard to beat our ultimate mince pies filled with apples, cherries, mixed spice and orange zest. A firm family favourite for good reason.
Head here for more inspiring Christmas recipes to see you through the festive season.
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1
Snowy deep-filled mince pies
This delicious sweet twist on a classic puts the mince pie firmly in showstopper territory. If you want to enhance the orange flavour further, stir a little orange juice (or orange liqueur) into the mincemeat before using it to fill the pies.
Recipe: Snowy deep-filled mince pies
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2
Viennese Whirl Mince Pies
Buttery, flaky pastry and juicy mincemeat topped with a melt-in-the mouth biscuit spiral – thee deep-filled pies are a fantastic luxury twist on a classic.
Recipe: Viennese Whirl Mince Pies
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3
Ricciarelli Mince Pies
Chewy almond biscuits make a beautiful mince pie topping.
Recipe: Ricciarelli Mince Pies
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4
Shortbread Mince Pies with Last-Minute Mincemeat
The buttery pastry on these mince pies will convert any mince pie dodger. The mincemeat can be made and used immediately, no need for maturing. If you can’t find mixed peel, use extra mixed dried vine fruit instead.
Recipe: Shortbread Mince Pies with Last-Minute Mincemeat
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5
Easy mince pies
Using bought pastry and a simple crumble topping makes these mince pies as easy as can be.
Recipe: Easy mince pies
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6
Aperol mince pies
Looking for a mince pie recipe with a kick? We’ve taken the popular summer drink and made it festive! Try our twist on the traditional classic with our Aperol jelly-topped mince pies.
Recipe: Aperol mince pies
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7
Frangipane mince pies
Make your own mincemeat to fill these nutty frangipane tarts, or use a ready-made one from the supermarket to save time.
Recipe: Frangipane mince pies recipe
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8
Ultimate mince pies
For those who believe there's no need to mess with perfection, we've developed our traditional and best mince pie recipe. A firm family favourite for a reason.
Recipe: Ultimate mince pies recipe
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9
Freeze-ahead mince pies
Bake these fruity mince pies from frozen for easy Christmas entertaining when guests come calling. Recipe: Freeze-ahead mince pies recipe
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10
Mince pies with a difference
With a pretty lattice top, this special mince pie recipe is sure to go down a treat. Why not bake an extra batch to gift to a loved one? Recipe: Mince pies with a difference recipe
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11
30-minute mince pies
Make your own mincemeat and store it, ready to turn into delicious mince pies with ready-made pastry. Recipe: 30-minute mince pies recipe
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12
Chocolate orange mince pies
This easy mince pie recipe has been taken to the next level with the addition of dark chocolate chips. One for the mincemeat haters! Recipe: Chocolate orange mince pies recipe
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13
Cranberry and apple mince pies
Almond pastry, shortbread topping and a fruity filling make up this truly delicious mince pie recipe. Recipe: Cranberry and apple mince pies recipe
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14
Mini meringue mince pies
Our revamped version of a Christmas classic lifts the traditional mince pie to new heights – and they're easier than you might think!
Recipe: Mini meringue mince pies recipe
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15
Fruity mince pies
There's a healthy dollop of extra berries in the mincemeat for this fruity mince pie recipe.
Recipe: Fruity mince pies recipe
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16
Easy mince pies
The heavenly sweet-spicy aroma of mince pies baking in the oven will fill your house with Christmas spirit and these pretty star shapes just look the part.
Recipe: Easy mince pies recipe
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17
Sweet mince pies
Use homemade mincemeat or shop-bought, if you prefer, in this sweet mince pie recipe. Perfect for leaving for Father Christmas.
Recipe: Sweet mince pies recipe