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    Home » Recipes » Pies

    Christmas Mince Pies with Beetroot Pastry

    Published: Dec 7, 2014 · Modified: Dec 13, 2020 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe

    I've used beetroot pastry to make these Christmas mince pies extra special. You can't taste the beet, but they leave the pastry bright purple!

    Christmas Mince Pies with Beet Pastry on a vintage plate on a wooden table. Bright purple pastry with stars.

    mince pies

    My American readers may be puzzling over this recipe.

    Mincemeat mini pies?

    Mincemeat contains no meat, but is a spiced, sweet mix of dried fruits and alcohol.

    It's rich, it's boozy and delicious. You can even mix it up and try pumpkin mincemeat.

    See? You want to get in on this traditional British festive staple - vegetable style.

    Mince pies are small pies, filled with mince meat. Perfect at Christmas.

    beetroot pastry

    For my vegetable spin on mince pies, I've added vibrant beetroot to the pastry.

    Pastry is so easy to make in a food processor and now it even has veg - and a nice Christmassy colour.

    The flavor of the beets fades away, but stains the pastry a beautiful purple color.

     

    A plate of mince pies.

    In the UK, mince pies are usually left out on Christmas Eve with a warming glass of brandy or whisky for Father Christmas, and a carrot for Rudolph.

    At least with these, Santa will get a little veg to help him deliver his pressies.

    I feel that I should admit now that I've lost Christmas.

    We moved across the country to a temporary house a few months ago and put half of our belongings in storage until we buy our house (fingers crossed we're in before Xmas!!).

    But, erm, well, we appear to have left our tree, decorations, elf on the shelf, stockings and all the other festive paraphernalia in storage containers a half day's drive away.

    Oops. My kids are 4 and 2 so keep asking when the elf is coming.

    We've borrowed decorations from my mum and just keep hoping that we'll find the elf box.

    Oh dear...

    Uncooked mince pies with beet pastry ready to go into the oven.

    Get the recipe for Christmas Mince Pies with Beetroot Pastry

    A plate of mince pies.

    Christmas Mince Pies with Beetroot Pastry

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    I've used beetroot pastry to make these Christmas mince pies extra special. You can't taste the beet, but they leave the pastry bright purple!
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Resting time 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine British
    Servings 24
    Calories 104 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 3.5 oz (100g) raw beetroot, peeled
    • 1 ¾ cups (225g) all-purpose flour (plain flour)
    • ½ cup (115g) cold butter cut into cubes
    • ⅓ cup (40g) powdered icing sugar
    • pinch of salt
    • A few tablespoons of very cold water
    • 1 cup (250g) mincemeat (I used my Pumpkin Mincemeat)

    Instructions
     

    • Whiz the beetroot in a food processor until fine. Set aside in a bowl.
    • In the food processor, pulse the flour, butter, icing sugar and salt until they resemble fine breadcrumbs. Add the beetroot and pulse to combine. Add the cold water, a tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together in a ball. You don’t want it too wet.
    • Press the dough into a flat disc shape, to aid rolling later, cover in clingfilm and refrigerate for at least half an hour or even overnight.
    • Lightly grease a bun or muffin tray. Preheat oven to 190C/375F.
    • Take half of the dough from the fridge and roll it out thinly. Cut circles slightly larger than the holes in the tray using a cookie cutter or the edge of a glass. Cut out shapes, such as stars, to top the mince pies. Gently press the circles into the tray, fill ¾ full with the mincemeat and top with the star shaped pastry.
    • Bake for 10 minutes or until they just begin to brown. Remove from the tray and cool on a wire rack. When the tray is cool, repeat with the remaining pastry.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 104kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 23mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 118IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 3mgIron: 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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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah Reid, CNP (@jo_jo_ba)

      August 12, 2017 at 1:08 am

      do you just process the beet until minced, or puree it? If its minced, won't it leave lumps in the pastry - but if pureed, won't it be too liquid? Want to try this (I have a gazillion beets in the garden) but dont want to mess it up!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        August 12, 2017 at 10:12 am

        Hi, whiz the beets until they're a fine crumb. They don't need to be pureed, but as you say, you don't want large chunks. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Deena Kakaya

      December 17, 2014 at 12:04 am

      5 stars
      So pretty! I, like Kellie am not a fan of traditional mincemeat even though I was born here. I have got to try out that pumpkin filling! X

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        January 03, 2015 at 8:12 am

        I find it normally quite heavy, so I thought I'd lighten it up a bit with a load of pumpkin and it worked really well!

        Reply
    3. kellie anderson

      December 15, 2014 at 8:33 pm

      What a truly striking idea, and I love the sound of your pumpkin mincemeat. I'm away to look that up! Not keen on trad mincemeat (I think you have to be born here to really appreciate it) so tweaks of it always interest me.

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        January 03, 2015 at 8:10 am

        So British, isn't it? So bizarre and heavy usually - but I love mincemeat as it just shouts: CHRISTMAS!

        Reply
    4. Lisa

      December 13, 2014 at 6:55 am

      I had mince pies a few years ago when I was in the UK and I love them! What a great idea to add beetroot into them!

      Hope you'll find the elves soon!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        January 03, 2015 at 8:09 am

        Thanks Lisa. They're such a great British Christmas tradition! No sign of the elf this year, sadly. Oops!

        Reply
    5. Sally

      December 11, 2014 at 6:02 pm

      So beautiful. These are an amazing creation and really beautiful.

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        January 03, 2015 at 8:08 am

        Thanks so much, Sally. I was pleased that they turned out so vibrant!

        Reply
    6. tamingtwins

      December 11, 2014 at 1:50 pm

      Oh I love the fact that these are something festive and all natural. I have a tendency at this time of year to colour far too many sweet treats with red and green E numbers (bad mother).These are so pretty, thanks for sharing with #festivefoodfriday. I hope that the elf appears soon and that you're into your own house in the next couple of weeks.

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        January 03, 2015 at 8:08 am

        Thanks Sarah.I love experimenting with veg as natural food colourings. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Julie's Family Kitchen

      December 11, 2014 at 9:58 am

      The colour of the pastry is incredible. Love them. #FestiveFoodFriday Happy Christmas. x

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        January 03, 2015 at 8:04 am

        Thanks Julie. I love how vegetables can make food so vibrantly coloured!

        Reply
    8. Elizabeth

      December 09, 2014 at 9:39 am

      What a super idea! Alas, beetroot is no longer appearing in my veg box 🙁

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 09, 2014 at 7:40 pm

        Shame, maybe next year, Elizabeth!

        Reply
    9. Ann from vancouver

      December 08, 2014 at 5:42 pm

      I love both the red & green pastry, very festive & natural colour. Good idea!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 09, 2014 at 7:40 pm

        Thanks Ann, it's so nice to use natural, healthy, colouring through veggies!

        Reply
    10. Dragons And Fairy Dust

      December 08, 2014 at 12:15 pm

      These look so festive with the red pastry. Great idea

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 09, 2014 at 7:39 pm

        THanks! It's an easy way to colour them naturally. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Manish

      December 08, 2014 at 6:30 am

      I absolutely loved these pastry. Like the idea of beetroot. fantastic..looks yummy too..!!
      Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 09, 2014 at 7:39 pm

        Thanks Manish. They were as tasty as they are bright!

        Reply
    12. Katie

      December 08, 2014 at 6:25 am

      Very festive and eye catching. Maybe the elf was needed by father Christmas this year for a secret mission.

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 09, 2014 at 7:39 pm

        Perfect - that's what I'll tell my kids, Katie!

        Reply
    13. Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla

      December 07, 2014 at 10:50 pm

      I'm not a bit fan of mince pies but those look really good, especially that they have my favourite beetroots in them! 🙂

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 09, 2014 at 7:38 pm

        I love beetroots as well, Margot - raw, cooked, sweet, savoury!

        Reply
    14. kavey

      December 07, 2014 at 11:26 am

      These look so festive. Hope you find the elf box!

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 09, 2014 at 7:38 pm

        Still no elf box, Kavey - uh oh!

        Reply
    15. ciaraattwell

      December 07, 2014 at 11:21 am

      I absolutely LOVE the idea of putting beetroot in the pastry. So clever! #festivefoodfridays

      Reply
      • Kate Hackworthy

        December 09, 2014 at 7:37 pm

        Thanks Ciara! It's so festive, isn't it? 🙂

        Reply

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    Popular recipes

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    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

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