Savvy Dad Recipe: 12p Low Budget Cheap Mince Pies.
Last year, Lidl’s cheap mince pies beat Fortnum and Mason in the taste tests, and for only a 19p each! Can they do it again this year for pennies? We’ll be testing them over the next week or two (all in the name of research obviously).
Savvy and cheap mince pies and festive feasts for pennies.
Of course as a cheap mince pie alternative, you can attempt our own Savvy recipe. It’s even cheaper, and fun to make with the family. Just 12p per mince pie, compared to the approximate price of 40p, per mince pie, for the premium ones currently in stores this year.
Cheap mince pies Ingredient list:
(Our prices were based on Tesco solely in October, but you could get the list cheaper by getting some ingredients elsewhere (but you’d need to pay extra petrol costs or delivery) Prices may change nearer Christmas.
FOR THE CHEAP MINCE PIES FILLING
250g Shredded Suet (60p)
450g Cooking Apples (45p)
200g Candied Peel (45p)
350g Raisins (40p)
250g Currants (25p)
250g Sultanas (25p)
Check stores, as Tesco also had a mixed fruit containing all these above plus cranberries, and soaked for £1.65 for 500g, which although lighter on fruit content would give another flavour addition in the form of cranberries.
350g Brown Sugar (55p)
1 orange (10p)
1 Lemon (15p)
3 tspns Mixed Spice (10p)
1 tspn Cinnamon (5p)
1 orange (10p)
1 Lemon (15p)
3 tspns Mixed Spice (10p)
1 tspn Cinnamon (5p)
FOR CHEAP MINCE PIES PASTRY
350p Plain Flour (10p)
75g Lard (10p)
75g Butter (20p)
Splash of Milk (3p)
Icing Sugar to dust (2p)(Optional) Boozy Version:
4 Tablespoons Brandy (£1.05)
COST PER BUDGET CHEAP MINCE PIE
£3.80 for 30 Non Boozy Pies (12p each – Result!)
£4.85 for 30 Boozy Pies (16p each)
Cheap Budget Mince Pie Method
- First, weigh out the lard, butter (fats), cut into cubes and add them to a blender or bowl.
- Sift flour and tip into bowl slowly mixing until crumbly.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water and mix again, bringing it all together
- If you have time rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour in the fridge, and towards the end of this time preheat the oven to 400°F, 200°C.
- Divide the dough, into two pieces, this depends on how thinly you roll it. So roll it as thinly as possible, then use the cutter to cut the rounds from one piece and place into tins. Save any spare for decoration shapes, like stars, on top.
- Mix the spices, dried fruit, chopped apple and zests of the fruits (plus some of their juice) with 100ml water and simmer in a pan until softened; add sugar. Let cool. (Tip: If making the boozy version add brandy now).
- Add one rounded teaspoon of the fruit mix to each pastry parcel.
- Next, roll out the other half of the pastry. Then use a smaller cutter before dampening the edges with milk and press them lightly into position on top of the mincemeat for lids, sealing the edges well, or use star shapes. (NOTE: If you choose to can make open cheap mince pies to make the pastry go further and make more).
- Next, brush the mince pies with milk, pierce with a fork, then bake them on the top shelf of the oven for 20 minutes.
- Finally, let cool on a wire rack and, when they’re completely cold, place in storage.
- This will make about 30 cheap mince pies.
Still Want More Festive Frugality?
For extra alternative ideas this Christmas, try out my Ultimate Christmas Trifle on a budget.
