Description
At its heart, Mince Pie Baklava is a creative mash-up of two iconic desserts. On one side, you have the mince pie, a staple of British Christmas celebrations. It’s a small pastry filled with mincemeat—a sweet, spiced fruit mixture that traditionally contained meat but is now purely vegetarian. Mince pies evoke a feeling of cozy holiday warmth with their aromatic blend of dried fruits, spices, and often a splash of brandy or rum.
Â
Ingredients
- Filo pastry – 2 x 270g packs
- Butter – 250g, melted
- Mincemeat – 350g
- Ground almonds – 100g
- Pistachios – 100g, chopped
- Pecans – 70g, chopped
- Crystallised ginger – 25g, finely chopped
- Orange zest – from 1 orange
- Sea salt – a pinch
For the syrup:
- Granulated sugar – 200g
- Cinnamon sticks – 3
- Orange rind – peeled from 1 orange
- Orange juice – from the same orange
Instructions
- Prep the tin: Preheat oven to 160°C (140°C fan). Line a 25x35cm tin with parchment and brush with melted butter.
- Make the filling: Mix mincemeat, nuts, ginger, orange zest, ground almonds, and salt in a bowl.
- Layer the pastry: Cut filo sheets to fit the tin. Layer 10 sheets, brushing each with butter. Spread the filling evenly.
- Top layers: Add remaining filo sheets, brushing each with butter. Brush the top generously.
- Cut & bake: Score into diamonds or squares. Bake for 1 hour until golden.
- Make syrup: Simmer sugar, cinnamon sticks, orange rind, and juice until thick. Pour over hot baklava.
- Final bake: Increase oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and bake for 5 more minutes.
- Cool & serve: Let cool completely before slicing. Keeps well for up to a week!
Notes
This festive twist on a classic baklava brings together the warm, spiced flavors of mince pies with the nutty sweetness of traditional baklava. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it can be served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or enjoyed cold with a cup of tea or coffee
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion (Middle Eastern / British)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: Low
Keywords: Mince Pie Baklava