I love baking with my children. Measuring and weighing, chopping, mixing and decorating our home bakes make for a fun and educational activity. It also gives us special time. We are totally focused on our activity and each other. We chat more, laugh together and learn together.
Having your children enjoy creating in the kitchen is also an important life skill. I realise that one can cope just fine without mince pies, but I’m talking about baking or cooking in general. Simple things like using a knife, following a recipe, mixing ingredients, working the oven…these all add up to a more savvy child. And hopefully one who will enjoy making food in their own kitchen one day.
This Christmas, we have a quick and easy mince pie recipe for mum’s to help get their toddlers involved in preparing for the Christmas dinner. Follow the simple steps below and instead of the usual cup cakes try making this delicious festive treat!
Toddler Mince Pies
Mince Pie Filling
For the filling it is fine to use a bought mincemeat of your choice. Add additional spices to the mincemeat to give richer flavour if you like.
What you need:
Mince Pie Pastry
- Mince Pie pan
- 15ozs or 1 1/2 cups flour
- 3ozs or 1/4 cup caster sugar
- Pinch salt
- 9ozs or 1 cup Unsalted Butter
- 4 or 5 egg yolks
What to do:
- Place the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl
- Rub the butter into these until the mixture resembles coarse meal
- Blend together with the egg yolks until thoroughly mixed through. Chill.
- Remove from the refrigerator and press out into mince pie tins
- The pastry can be rolled out between two sheets of grease proof paper. It is very rich so falls apart quite easily.It is easier to press out.
- Using an appropriate sized cutter, cut out tops to fit onto the pies
- Drop a spoonful of mincemeat into each of the lined mince pie tins
- Place a pastry lid on each little pie. These can be forked in place if they cover the entire mince pie top. Prick gently to release steam when baking. For extra kid appeal place a shaped piece of pastry over the mince pie e.g. star/tree/heart shape
- Bake in oven 400ºC/200ºF for about 15 minutes or until golden brown
- Sift a little icing sugar over the top of the pies before serving
- Serve hot with brandy butter.
This simple recipe is a hit with my children, who don’t like the traditional mince pies. They are a little too spicy and rich in fruit flavours. But this one is more subtle.
You might also like Easy Kids Christmas Party Ideas.
I am a preschool and primary school teacher and mum to 3 children. I have been involved in education since 1997 and have trained in a variety of educational specialist areas. It is with this expertise that I write articles to help parents and educators provide quality learning experiences for the children in their care.
