Air Fryer Mince Pies

Start by making the shortcrust pastry. Measure the flour, caster sugar and salt into a bowl and stir to combine.

Scatter the cold cubed butter on top and use your fingertips to rub the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles chunky breadcrumbs.

Gradually add the cold water and fold together until the ingredients start to come together. The mixture should look like crumbly wet sand and if you pinch a piece with your fingertips, it should stick together and form a pastry dough.

Tip the mixture out onto a worktop and use your hands to bring it together into a dome (do not knead), then pat it into a thick disc. Don’t worry if it’s a little crumbly this is a good thing, and the pastry will solidify in the fridge. 

Wrap in clingwrap then place in the fridge to chill for 1 hour.

To assemble the mince pies. Take the pastry out of the fridge and let it soften at room temperature for 15 minutes.

Lightly dust a worktop and rolling pin with flour. Roll the pastry out to roughly 0.5 thickness.

Use a 5cm round cutter to stamp out 32 circles (you will need to reroll the scraps to get 32 in total). Use the pastry offcuts to stamp out small decorations for your mince pies such as stars or gingerbread people.

Add a teaspoon of mincemeat in the middle of half of the circles.

Beat the egg into a small bowl and lightly brush around the edge of each mincemeat-topped pastry circle. 

Place the pastry lids on top and use your fingertips to press the edges together. Use a fork to crimp the outside edge.

Brush the pies with egg wash and stick your decorations on top. Brush again with egg wash and then use a knife to make a cross in the middle to let the steam out during cooking.

Transfer to a baking tray and place in the fridge to chill for 20 minutes.

Depending on the size of your air fryer, place 4-5 mince pies into the base of the basket and cook at 180°C for 8 minutes. Carefully flip the mince pies over and cook for another 2 minutes.

Remove and place on a serving plate. Leave to cool for 10 minutes, then generously dust with icing sugar and enjoy!