Santas Mince Pie Diamonds Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., For filling, in a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink, 3-5 minutes, breaking into crumbles; drain. Add apples, apricot, brown sugar, raisins, apple juice, vinegar, orange zest and seasonings. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer until apples are tender, 15-17 minutes. Stir in rum. Remove from heat; cool slightly., Preheat oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut 20 circles with a floured 2-3/4-in. round biscuit cutter. Top half the circles with 1 tablespoon filling. Top with remaining circles; press edges with a fork to seal. Cut slits in top. Brush tops with egg; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Repeat with remaining dough and filling., Bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and grease an 18 x 28cm baking tray with melted butter. Brush a sheet of filo pastry with melted butter and lay buttered side up in the tray. Repeat with 4 more sheets, brushing each layer with melted butter. In a large bowl, mix all of the dried fruit, brown sugar, spices and honey together. Spoon a third of the filling into the tray in an even layer. Cover with 3 buttered sheets of filo. Continue until you have 3 layers of fruit, sandwiched and topped with 3 sheets of buttered filo.
• Brush the top with melted butter, then, using a sharp knife, carefully cut into diamond shapes. Sprinkle with a little water (to prevent the corners curling) and bake for 30 mins until golden brown.
• Warm the zest, honey and 2 tbsp water in a pan, then pour over the still-warm pastry. Leave to cool in the tray before loosening the pieces and arranging on a plate to serve.