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The holidays might be over, but it's never too late for a mince pie! Here's an easy guide to how UCL Baking Project make their mince pies...

 

 

  1. Bring together a team of committed Student-Led Project leaders, UCL volunteers and enthusiastic Baking Project participants.
  2. Use a welcoming kitchen, like the one at Castlehaven Community Association.
  3. Find a purpose! You can sell the pies during the Community’s New Year’s party, for example.
  4. Start baking!
  5. To make the pastry, mix 225g of butter into 350g plain flour, then mix in 100g sugar and a pinch of salt.
  6. Preheat the oven to 180C while you flatten the dough with a rolling pin.
  7. BONUS 1: get to know the other participants, baking is the perfect activity to start a chat!
  8. Cut out round pieces and press them into the holes of a 12-hole patty tin.
  9. Fill in the pies with 280g mincemeat.
  10. Take slightly smaller pieces of pastry to make round lids, big enough to cover the pies.
  11. BONUS 2: you can decorate the lids with a fork or a toothpick while the pastry is still soft.
  12. Bake 20min until golden (you might want to start cleaning up the kitchen at that point).
  13. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 mins, then remove the pies to a wire rack.
  14. Ready to eat! (but don’t forget to leave some for the party).

 

 

Enjoy your mince pies and Happy New Year!

Written by Anais Fiault - UCL Photojournalist.

You can volunteer with Castlehaven Community Association, or UCL Baking Project!  Or, take a look at how you can get involved in our Student-Led Volunteering Programme.