Flash Freeze: Wrap the pan in a sheet of cling film to protect it in the freezer. Pop the whole pan into the freezer and freeze for a few hours. Decorated trees, snow men, mince pies - there are some things that just define Christmas. But how is it that a meaty pudding from the Middle Ages has come to play such a central role in our modern Christmas celebrations? Let’s explore the history of mince pies – maybe while biting into a freshly warmed Walkers mince pie of your own? Mince pies throughout history

It’s been a while since meat featured in the commercial sweet and spice mince pie treats we know and love. Today, the Luxury Mince Pies made by Walkers are filled with a warming spiced fruit mix with plenty of currants, sultanas, apples and candied peel. There's no meat in our mince meat pies and all our mince pies are suitable for vegetarians, and encased in the best quality shortcrust pastry, with just the right level of crumbliness. There’s also a mini mince pie version available, which are a bite-sized treat for canapéstyle desserts. And if you want to try something slightly different, the uniquely flavoured Orange and Cranberry Mince Pies are going down a treat, filled with plump cranberries, tangy orange peel, juicy vine fruits and warming spices. These are the benchmark by which I judge all mincemeat as we call it in the US pies. The crust has a lovely flavor, almost as good as homemade, but SO much easier. The filling is delicious, with a lovely note of orange peel. These are Christmas to me! Also, you can’t heat them up to combat any sogginess you get from the freezing process. If you have iced mince pies that would end up going to waste then there is no harm in freezing them.The reason mincemeat is called meat is because that’s exactly what it used to be: most often mutton, but also beef, rabbit, pork or game. Mince pies were first served in the early middle ages, and the pies were quite sizeable, filled with a mixture of finely minced meat, chopped up fruit and a preserving liquid. Mincemeat originally came about as a good way of preserving meat, without salting, curing, smoking or drying it. The Express: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/food/629261/mince-pies-10-ten-facts-you-didn-t-know-festive-treat Mince pies do freeze well, generally. You should expect there to be a little change in texture between those that are freshly baked and those which have been frozen – but this is the case for most pastry foods. Please note – Deliveries cannot be made on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays in the country or region of destination. Jamie Oliver: http://www.jamieoliver.com/news-and-features/features/stir-up-sunday-christmas-puddings/

Bake Your Mince Pies: Follow your usual recipe, cook them as you normally would and then allow them to cool completely. As children we were limited to only one as they were quite potent, they would be served with custard and we all adored this festive treat. This batch I have now, I have decided not to leave one out for him . Both Santa and I think they are delicious although Santa must have an eating problem as he always leaves a little bit of pastry on his plate, I think it is to let me know he has been (He tends to leave the presents in a different room) Flash Freeze: Pop them onto a baking sheet. Make sure they aren’t touching each other. Put the whole thing into the freezer and freeze them for a few hours.Love these! My Christmas table is never without mince pies. Walkers are my favourite choice, if I don't make them myself. These are the closest to homemade I've found yet. They have a flakey, buttery pastry and rich, moist filling, that just simply tastes like Christmas. These are my hubby's favorite! Delicious flavour, and always arrive fresh. He likes he just warmed a little and nothing on the side. There is nothing like a delicious Glenfiddich Mince Pie that's drenched in Birds Custard! These are most definitely an essential holiday treat: We stopped by the Walkers Headquarters on our last trip to Scotland preCOVID partly because we love all their products and partly because their Headquarters used to be my old boarding school......the staff were ever so lovely and welcoming if you ever get a chance to visit you should stop by! The only thing I would suggest is to look at the box of 9 pies too. They are 'mini', but not really. They are a nice size.

The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/sweet-delight-a-brief-history-of-the-mince-pie-6270572.html Decide on a size for your mince pies before you start—Choose from a standard 12-cup muffin tin down to small canapé size. The number of pies will depend on the size of the tin you use. Trying, single-handed, to keep up all the British traditions in my Anglo-Italian home is no mean feat, especially when it comes to producing Christmas lunch and tea for at least 12 people. Everybody loves mince pies but I have to admit that I am not the world's best pastry chef. In my opinion Walkers are definitely the best, buttery and sweet, with lots of filling - delicious eaten just as they are with a cup of tea, or served warm with cream or custard at the end of a meal. Mince pies that have been cooked will keep in the fridge, in an airtight container, for between 4 and 5 days. Uncooked mince pies should be cooked within 2 days. How Do You Defrost Mince Pies? For hundreds of years the delicious mince pie has been enjoyed as a tasty, warming and filling treat - early on as a main dish, now most often to finish off a meal or to serve up as a treat. Warm, spicy mincemeat and the crisp pastry crust complement each other, and also go beautifully with a spoonful or two of whipped cream or a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream. But that’s not always been the case.We’ll explain how to go about defrosting and reheating them (whether they’re baked or not) down below. How to Freeze Iced Mince Pies Defrosting mince pies is fairly easy but you do want to do it carefully to minimise any risk of the pastry becoming too soggy. Whether you’ve frozen them baked or unbaked, the method remains the same:

I'm not too keen on cooking and baking myself but I love to be surrounded by traditional cakes and pastries at Christmas time. I find Walkers products in general to be of excellent quality and their Mincemeat Pies taste as good as or better than, homemade ones, or at least, better than anything I can bake. It's also a very pretty box which makes a good traditional British Gift. Made with all butter pastry and filled with delicious, rich mincemeat, Walkers Luxury Mincemeat Pies are particularly good alongside a cup of tea, and also work well with a glass of mulled wine or a well-earned nip of whisky! These are excellent of course, like all Walkers products. The pastry and the mincemeat have that great traditional taste and the pastry doesn't crumble - well, not more than it should anyway. By freezing them unbaked, you get to bake them fresh which means you get those Christmas scents of mincemeat and cinnamon wafting through the house as you bake them. How Long Can You Freeze Mince Pies?The reasons mince pies are so intricately linked with Christmas is complex. With its original content of meat and fats, it was superb for eating in the lean, dark winter months. A warm mince pie would feed you well and keep you happy as the storms raged outside the window! The trio of spices used, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon, is said to be symbolic of the gifts given to the Baby Jesus by the three wise men in Bethlehem. Originally, mince pies were often made in an oval shape, reminiscent of the crib in the manger where Christ was born, while the top represented the cloth he was swaddled in. Later on, different shapes became ways of showing off the skill of the best pastry makers, who would create intricate mince pies with stars, crescents, hearts, flowers and sugar knot gardens. Whether eaten cold or heated up and enjoyed with cream, custard or brandy butter, Walkers Luxury Mincemeat Pies will form an integral part of your Christmas celebrations. Once thawed, you can warm them through in a warm oven if they’re already cooked. If they’re uncooked then brush with beaten egg and bake for the same time as you normally would following your favourite recipe. Although you can freeze them with icing, it’s not something we would advise as icing, in general, doesn’t freeze that well.Add icing after thawing or simply sprinkle with icing sugar if you’re short for time. I get these as part of my traditional English Christmas every year. There will always be an England or at least a small part of it in my pantry at this time. Never seen in Portugal except down south but loved by many once they try them as part of Christmas teatime.