This is my attempt to be slightly original in the mince pie department. I absolutely love anything to do with mince pies, but since making my own I do struggle with enjoying shop bought pies. I also realise I am making more work for myself in choosing to knock up a curry, instead of using the local take aways. But I am becoming fussier with age. Which means I do end up cooking sweet and savoury dishes every day for my family. Am I on my own here??!!
I am lucky that generally the family are all pretty good eaters. I also sometimes take it for granted that Mr.Scott will eat whatever I produce. But, he does and I am so grateful for it. He even likes salad and scoffs up all manner of vegetables so I do have free reign of all the ingredients I could ever wish to eat. The children are not quite up to his very open minded approach to food, but they do like mince pies .
This is a pear and mincemeat strudel I have created which uses mincemeat in a pudding as opposed to individual pies. The combination of pears with mincemeat is so good that I also like to use it in a crumble mix and may add a few chopped nuts or ground almonds too. I also had some orange sherbet (recipe here) left over from my Dan Lepard meringues and I used it as an extra flavouring between each sheet of buttered filo as well as a final topping to the buttered strudel.
Pear & Mincemeat Strudel
A delicious alternative Christmas dessert idea
Ingredients
- 1 packet filo pastry
- 1 jar mincemeat home-made or shop bought
- 3 medium pears peeled, cored and chopped into small pieces
- 125 g butter melted
- orange sherbet/demerara sugar for sprinkling between the pastry layers and to top the finished strudel
Instructions
-
Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees
-
Melt the butter in a small saucepan
-
Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment
-
Take a sheet of filo and lay on your baking sheet, cover with a layer of butter and orange sherbet or demerara sugar
-
Repeat this process until you have used up the entire packet of pastry (about 8 sheets)
-
Spread your mincemeat over the pastry making a thick line down the centre (about 2inches wide)
-
Place the chopped pears over the mincemeat and press them down into the mixture
-
Butter the edges of the pastry then roll into a sausage shape, turning so that the seam is on the underside
-
Brush with melted butter and some more sherbet/sugar
-
Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes
What a great idea, it can be a little exhausting making yet another tray of mince pies, I love your solution. And I can almost taste the pears, scrumptious! Jude x
Thanks Jude, I actually think it shows off pears to their advantage and they need a bit of boosting up as they don’t sell well anymore it seems!
This looks so delicious!
Thanks Rachel, it is so easy to make too! 🙂 x
Ooh another lovely alternative to mince pies! I love flaky pastry with mincemeat – it’s just as delicious as a more traditional pie, and much more dramatic to serve 🙂
I do like to have a different take on the traditional mince pie much in the same way as I loved your baked alaska version with clementine pastry!
Love this recipe .. especially as it is with pear!
Thanks Vanessa, pears are so good in baked puddings aren’t they!
What a fabulous combination of flavours, pears and mincemeat in a strudel! LOVE this recipe idea……
Your family are a very lucky bunch. It’s very hard to beat home made food, not only does it taste better, but it’s so much healthier. We try and cook ourselves, but are often so tired and hungry by the time we get back from work, we end up with beans on toast. But at least the bread is my own! This mincemeat strudel sounds delicious.
Well that is true, in some ways it is good , particularly if I am going to be teaching others how to cook too! xx
this looks absolutely delicious! I love the idea of strudel and lightening the mince with some pear is a great idea
Thanks! I think it is good in terms of not having to make individual mince pies, so would be great if you were having to feed a few guests as it’s quick to put together xx
Thanks! I think it is good in terms of not having to make individual mince pies, so would be great if you were having to feed a few guests as it’s quick to put together xx
Love the lack of faff involved with this recipe. Ideal for a lovely bumper family lunch over the holiday season 🙂