Ah, mince pies. Those delicious little pastry-encased treats are a much-loved part of the holiday season. Every year, they appear around Christmas and disappear as quickly as they arrive.
So, can you buy mince pies all year round? YES. Unfortunately, not many stores stock them year-round. Only a few supermarkets, bakery shops, and online stores sell them. Some stores also carry frozen mince pies, which can be thawed and enjoyed all year round.
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Let’s find out when we can easily find these seasonal pies and where we can buy the delicious pies all year round.
A mince pie is a sweet treat made of shortcrust pastry filled with dried fruits and spices. It is believed that mince pies originated in the Middle Ages when it was customary to add meat to the pie filling. Nowadays, however, most types of mince pies are meat-free. A traditional mince pie is usually rectangular or circular and can contain raisins, currants, sugar, apples, mixed peel, brandy or rum, and spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon.
Christmas Sweat Treats
Mince pies are especially associated with the Christmas season and are a popular festive treat. Many families enjoy mince pies during the holiday season as a snack or dessert, while others serve them at special occasions such as parties or dinners.
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Where Can You Buy Them All Year Round?
Although mince pies are typically only available during the winter, there are plenty of places where you can find them all year round.
Some independent bakery shops may offer them all year round when buying freshly made mince pies. Additionally, a few stores specialize in selling mince pies year-round.
ASDA
The first one is ASDA. Asda revealed that it sells mince pies all year round – despite them being associated with Christmas.
An Asda spokesperson said: “Mince pies are firm favorites with our customers, which is why we have them available in our stores all year round and not just for Christmas.”
Their variants include the BAKERY at ASDA 6 Mince Pies, 4 Puff Pastry Mince Pies, and ASDA Baker’s Selection 4 Shortcrust Mince Pies.
They are available at Asda Groceries as well as their online store.
Hall’s Quality Bakers also offers mince pies all year round. Hall’s Quality Bakers is a family-owned business that has been around for over 50 years, and they specialize in baking traditional British treats like mince pies.
Jack and Beyond is an award-winning online cake shop in Battersea, London, with a welcoming café and shop. And they offer delivery service in the UK.
They have several types of mince pies, such as Deep Filled Mince Pies, Deep Filled Gingerbread Mince Pies, Deep Filled Peanut Butter & Chocolate Pies, and Vegan Deep Filled Mince Pies.
Hume’s Bakery in Halstead, England, is another option for buying mince pies throughout the year. They offer a variety of traditional British sweet treats, including mince pies.
Their mince pie selection includes Mini Mince Pies, Traditional Mince Pies, and Christmas Spiced Fruit Mince Tarts. They can be purchased online or in-store.
The other option is the Sara Lee Frozen Mince Pie. This mince pie is made with a shortcrust pastry filled with suet, dark muscovado sugar, sultanas, currants, raisins, and orange oil.
They can be purchased from the Sara Lee website and several offline and online supermarkets such as Dave’s Supermarket, Yoder’s Country Market, and Kroger.com.
Mrs. Smith’s frozen classic mince pies are the perfect holiday indulgence! The delectable pastries are made with a flaky crust and filled with raisins, currants, sugar, apples & mixed peel – all inspired by traditional recipes!
Available in packs of six at Walmart and Target as well instacart.com or other online stores.
Off course, if you want to eat these pies anytime you want, you can also make them. Making mince pies at home is relatively easy and can be a fun activity for the entire family.
All you need are essential ingredients like butter, flour, sugar, mixed dried fruit, suet, and some spices. You’ll also need a few kitchen tools, such as a pastry cutter, rolling pin, and muffin tin pan.
Easy Classic Mince Pie Recipe
Enjoy this traditional British treat with friends and family!
Ingredients:
350 grams (2 3/4 cups) of all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting the work surface
225 grams (16 tablespoons) of unsalted butter (or vegan alternative)
2 satsumas, segmented and finely chopped
1 apple, finely chopped
Zest of 1 lemon
Little icing sugar for dusting
1 large jar of mincemeat (about 600g)
¾ cup dried currants
¾ cup finely chopped rump steak (about 3 oz.)
½ cup raisins
½ cup packed dark brown sugar
2 Tbsp. brandy or bourbon
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix the flour and butter in a bowl until it forms a crumbly texture. Add cold water and knead until it forms a dough ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ⅛ inch thick. Cut out circles slightly larger than your muffin tin holes and line each hole with one circle of pastry dough.
Mix the mincemeat, satsumas, apple, lemon zest, currants, steak, raisins, brown sugar, and brandy or bourbon until well combined. Spoon into each pastry-lined hole in the muffin tin.
Cut out stars from the remaining pastry dough using a cookie cutter or knife and place them on top of each pie-filling mound in the muffin tin holes. Brush with milk or egg wash if desired, then sprinkle with icing sugar.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Allow cooling before serving warm or at room temperature with cream or ice cream if desired! Enjoy!
To make these vegan, substitute the butter for vegan butter and the steak for a plant-based alternative.
Feel free to mix the ingredients – try adding nuts or other dried fruits of your choice!
For a sweeter mince pie, increase the amount of brown sugar or add additional tablespoons of brandy.
To store it, keep the pies in a sealed container for up to 5 days at room temperature.
Serve with cream, custard, or your favorite ice cream for a decadent treat!
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FAQs
Why do we eat mince pies at Christmas?
Mince pies were crafted to commemorate the birth of Jesus. They were shaped in an oblong form, symbolic of the manger where baby Jesus rested, and even had a pastry depiction of ‘baby Jesus’ carved onto them. It is customary to eat one mince pie for each day during The Twelve Days of Christmas celebration.
How long do mince pies last?
Once made, mince pies can last up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. The pies can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Is a mince pie halal?
Mince pies are generally not considered halal due to the use of alcohol in some recipes. Check ingredient labels if unsure.
