Cranberry & Goat's Cheese ''Mince Pies''

I enjoy a mince pie or 2 over Christmas time, but this year, I decided to do a more savoury spin on them. First of all, a homemade shortcrust pastry is a must - and this one is so short, buttery and simply melts in your mouth. One wouldn't guess that it was done in a flash using a food processor. The filling is a combination of spiced caramelised onion & dried cranberries and goat's cheese. I also make a quick thyme sugar for sprinkling after baking. So the flavour profile is sweet, tart, spicy, salty and herbaceous. It just works! If you really want to mess with your guests' minds, make these.
Need to see how I made them? Click here to view our last cooking video for 2017! Videography by with Popped Red Balloon Productions.
Thanks for all the support! Wishing you a blessed Christmas with loved ones and a kick-ass 2018. See you next year 😉
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Snack
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

Shortcrust Pastry

  • 3 c (750 ml) cake flour
  • 3 Tbs (45 ml) icing sugar
  • a good pinch of salt
  • 260 g chilled salted butter cut into blocks
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 20 ml lemon juice
  • 1/4 c (60 ml) ice-cold water

Filling

  • 1 Tbs (15 ml) butter
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 125 g dried cranberries
  • 1/4 c (60 ml) brown sugar
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) mixed spice
  • 100 g goat's cheese or chevin sliced into 12 pieces
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/4 c (60 ml) sugar
  • handful of fresh thyme

Instructions
 

  • Place the cake flour, icing sugar and salt into a food processor. Add the block of butter and blend until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
  • Beat the egg, lemon juice and water together and pour into the processor. Blend until the pastry just comes together. Do not overwork it.
  • Divide into 2 pieces. One slightly bigger than the other. Wrap or cover and chill for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat the butter. Add the onion, cranberries, sugar and spice. Simmer for +- 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Cool to room temperature.
  • Preheat oven to 200 Degrees Celsius.
  • Roll the bigger portion of pastry out to cut out 12 x 10 cm circles. Grease a cupcake tray or patty pan and line with the pastry circles.
  • Fill each one with a heaped teaspoon of cooled cranberry filling, top with goat's cheese and a few thyme leaves.
  • Roll the smaller portion of pastry out to cut toppers for each pie: smaller circles, stars, leaves - whatever you like 🙂
  • Brush the exposed pastry with egg and top with cut pie toppers. Brush with egg.
  • Bake for 12 - 15 minutes.
  • Grind sugar and thyme together until fragrant. Place in a sieve and sprinkle of the mince pies!
  • Serve warm or room temperature.

Notes

Feel free to replace goat's cheese with brie or blue cheese.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!