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...
- Bring together a team of committed Student-Led Project leaders, UCL volunteers and enthusiastic Baking Project participants.
- Use a welcoming kitchen, like the one at Castlehaven Community Association.
- Find a purpose! You can sell the pies during the Community’s New Year’s party, for example.
- Start baking!
- To make the pastry, mix 225g of butter into 350g plain flour, then mix in 100g sugar and a pinch of salt.
- Preheat the oven to 180C while you flatten the dough with a rolling pin.
- BONUS 1: get to know the other participants, baking is the perfect activity to start a chat!
- Cut out round pieces and press them into the holes of a 12-hole patty tin.
- Fill in the pies with 280g mincemeat.
- Take slightly smaller pieces of pastry to make round lids, big enough to cover the pies.
- BONUS 2: you can decorate the lids with a fork or a toothpick while the pastry is still soft.
- Bake 20min until golden (you might want to start cleaning up the kitchen at that point).
- Leave to cool in the tin for 5 mins, then remove the pies to a wire rack.
- 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.