tasting fresh with a good blend of warm spices and a generous boozy kick. With the filling outshining the pastry it feels that there is no good balance between the two components of the mince pie.

For mince pies, you want the pastry to be extra soft ... However, you can use other warm spices too, such as cardamom, ...

Mince pies are a Christmas staple and this really ... Remove to a wire rack and serve warm.

(Keep this at warm room temperature or it will not pipe.) Fill the tartlets with the mincemeat, then pipe a swirl of Viennese paste on top of each pie. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Serves: Makes approximately 12-16 pies, or 20 mini pies First make the mincemeat in advance ... icing sugar to have begun to caramelise. Serve warm.

It wouldn't be Christmas without the humble mince pie, so James Tanner is jazzing up ... to cool slightly and dust with icing sugar. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream if liked.

This Christmas traybake is very quick and easy – much faster than making mince pies. The cooked streusel freezes very well – always serve warm with cream or brandy butter. For the mincemeat ...