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Home » Recipes » Holidays

Cider Mince Pies with Cheddar Pastry

Published: Dec 14, 2016 · Modified: May 15, 2020 by Kate Hackworthy · 16 Comments

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These Sweet Apple Cider Mince Pies are filled with cinnamon, spices and apples, with a cheddar crust. This recipe brings together the best of Somerset flavours: cider, apples and cheddar cheese. Perfect for a Christmas treat.

Wire rack with mince pies.

commissioned recipe

cider mince pies

These cider mince pies are so easy to make and they taste wonderfully at once both sweet and savoury.

To up the interest, I've made them with a simple cheddar pastry!

The strong flavour from the cheese beautifully complements the cider, apples and spice in the pies.

I know it sounds like an unusual pairing in a mince pie, but eating apple pie with cheese is very popular in America.

They even say that apple pie without cheese is like a hug without a squeeze!

With Somerset's apple orchards neighbouring cheesemaking dairy farms, it makes perfect sense to bring them together for a Christmas treat.

These mince pies have the typical, Christmassy, sweet spice flavour - with a twist!

The filling is full of raisins and apples, then I've added cider and a cheddar cheese crust.

They have a hint of savoury flavour from the cheddar that perfectly balances against the sweetness of the quick mincemeat.

I live in Somerset, a county famed for its cider and cheese.

These cider mince pies merge the best of my local foodstuffs into little festive treats.

Sweet Apple and Cider Mince Pies with Cheddar Pastry on a cooling rack next to pine branches and pine cones.

Somerset Cider and Cheddar

Mere minutes from my house is Wyke Farms, where the Clothier family have been crafting award-winning Cheddar for over 150 years. They also use 100% green energy produced on the farm to make their cheese. Somerset is Cheddar cheese's true home, and it has been produced in the area for hundreds of years, with Wyke Farms being one of only a handle of family-run producers left in the County.

Not much further away, on Myrtle Farm, Thatchers Cider have been making premium cider on the family farm for four generations. They both use traditional methods in their crafts and produce wonderful cheese and cider. I've used Wyke Farms Vintage Cheddar and Thatchers Vintage Oak Aged Cider for my recipe. They're both bold, flavourful and absolutely delicious.

Wooden table with mince pies on a wire rack, with a block of cheese and bottle of cider.

I've loved teaming up with these two local food producers to create these Apple and Cider Mince Pies with Cheddar Pastry. Their products marry well in so many recipes, from soups and stews to casseroles and soda bread.

These mince pies are very easy to make, but if you want to cheat, get some store-bought pastry, thaw it a bit then re-roll it with the cheddar. Though don't be intimidated by making it completely homemade. The pastry really only takes a few minutes to make in a food processor.

You could have these mince pies with a cup of tea... but really you'll want to have them with a nice glass of cider!

YOu'll also love these Carrot Apple Mince Pies, Mince Pie Filo Cigars and Pumpkin Mincemeat.
 

Disclosure: The recipe for these sweet apple and cider mince pies with cheddar pastry was commissioned by Wyke and Thatchers. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to mess up my kitchen and write Veggie Desserts. 

get the cider mince pies with cheddar pastry recipe

 

📖 Recipe

Little pies on a wire rack cooling.

Sweet Apple and Cider Mince Pies with Cheddar Pastry

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
These Sweet Apple Cider Mince Pies are filled with cinnamon, spices and apples, with a cheddar crust. This recipe brings together the best of Somerset flavours: cider, apples and cheddar cheese. Perfect for a Christmas treat.
4.43 from 7 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
Chilling time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine British
Servings 12
Calories 168 kcal

Ingredients
 

For the cider and apple mincemeat:

  • 3 eating apples peeled, cored and diced
  • 7 tablespoon dry cider
  • 6 tablespoon raisins
  • 2 tablespoon dried mixed fruit
  • 3 teaspoon light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the cheddar pastry:

  • 150 g plain flour
  • 75 g cold butter cubed
  • 35 g mature cheddar grated (I used Wyke Farms Vintage Cheddar)
  • 1 teaspoon caster sugar
  • 1 cold egg lightly beaten

To serve:

  • Powdered icing sugar

Instructions
 

For the cider and apple mincemeat:

  • Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan over a medium/high heat. Stir well and heat until the liquid boils. Reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring often.

For the cheddar pastry:

  • In a food processor, blitz the flour, butter, cheddar and sugar until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg and whiz until it forms a ball. If necessary, add a teaspoon of very cold water to make it come together.
  • Wrap the pastry in cling film and chill for 10 mins.

To assemble:

  • Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan/400F, lightly grease the cups of a tart or muffin tray.
  • Roll out the pastry to 3mm thick and cut into rounds slightly larger than the holes in the muffin tray.
  • Cut the scraps into shapes with a small cookie cutter. Re-roll the pastry if necessary.
  • Place the circles into the tart/muffin tray, add a heaped teaspoon of the filling and top with a pastry shape.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and allow to cool before serving.
  • Optional: dust the tarts with powdered icing sugar.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 72mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 230IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

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Comments

    4.43 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Cassie

    February 02, 2017 at 2:39 pm

    5 stars
    These pastries look yummy! I've always been a fan of miniature pies, that make great desserts.

    Reply
  2. Sarah

    December 16, 2016 at 1:39 pm

    The spice and flavor combination in these sounds absolutely amazing! What a perfect holiday dessert!

    Reply
  3. Tara

    December 16, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    Ooh, these mince pies sound incredible! I love that you added cheddar to the crust and cider to the apple filling. So perfect for the holidays.

    Reply
  4. Mark, Compass & Fork

    December 16, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    5 stars
    I love it when all those old-fashioned treats and flavors come out to play during the festive period.

    Reply
  5. Shumaila

    December 16, 2016 at 11:37 am

    What lovely mince pies Kate. I like the slight savory slight sweet flavor they have going on. The pictures are gorgeous as well. Love that the ingredients used are from a family owned company.

    Reply
  6. Ren Behan

    December 15, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    Ooh I can really see this working - what a lovely Somerset twist! It'll remind me of all the gorgeous cheddar and cider on hols whilst being Christmassy!

    Reply
  7. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours

    December 15, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    5 stars
    Somerset has such good produce, we always eat so well when we visit Ed's parents and come home with lots of goodies.

    I love the cheddar pastry in the mince pies. Imagine it tastes amazing.

    Reply
  8. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche

    December 15, 2016 at 9:46 am

    Omg YUM! I've heard of apple pie with cheddar before, but adding it to mince pies is genius. I bet the flavour is amazing. Can't beat a good vintage cheddar 🙂

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      December 16, 2016 at 11:40 am

      Thanks Becca. They really go so well together!

      Reply
  9. Katie Crenshaw

    December 14, 2016 at 6:24 pm

    5 stars
    These look so pretty and festive for the holidays. I can't wait to try these. YUM!

    Reply
  10. Catherine

    December 14, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    Dear Kate, your mini pies are delightful! What a beautiful post...I love mince meat. I would love to make these for my family. Pinning for later. xo, Catherine

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      December 16, 2016 at 11:39 am

      Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy making them.

      Reply
  11. Kristina @ Love & Zest

    December 14, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    5 stars
    yum! these look so good! Cheddar and cider sound great in them.

    Reply
  12. Helene D'Souza

    December 14, 2016 at 5:35 pm

    woooah, I need those pastries! absolutely love cider and with sweet mincemeat..., that's so my kind of food. 🙂
    I am getting into winter mood, they must be giving such a great fragrance in the kitchen.

    Reply
    • Kate Hackworthy

      December 16, 2016 at 11:39 am

      It really did smell lovely and festive in the kitchen!

      Reply
  13. Platter Talk

    December 14, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe provides a direct link to my heart. Mince pies are perfect Christmas time fare!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. Here you'll find vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes celebrating vegetables, from dinner to dessert! If you love vegetables, you've come to the right place. About Me

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