If you or your children can’t stand Mince Pies, and let’s face it a lot of kids can’t bear them, then here’s a fabulous alternative that’s gluten free and packed with zesty oranges and tangy apples. I’m sharing this zingy recipe from Organix as part of the #NoJunkJourney campaign this Christmas, along with some tips for making Christmas dinner a bit more manageable!
Here's a great alternative to Mince Pies with a little zing!
- 2 eating apples
- 2 oranges
- 1 orange zest and juice only
- 70 g raisins
- 1 tbsp runny honey or maple syrup optional
- 50 g tapioca flour
- 70 g buckwheat flour
- 50 g rice flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 orange zest and a squeeze of juice
- 100 g cold butter cut into cubes
- 1 egg
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Peel the apples and oranges and dice roughly into 1cm cubes. Put into a pan with the orange juice, zest raisins and honey, if using.
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Heat gently for around 25 mins until the fruit becomes soft, then set aside whilst you make the pastry.
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Mix the flours together with the cinnamon, if using, and then add the orange zest. Lightly rub the butter into the flour with your finger tips to form a breadcrumb texture.
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Beat the egg and add to the mixture along with the squeeze of orange juice and form a ball of pastry. You can wrap your pastry in cling film and chill for 20 mins although not essential.
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Pre-heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6.
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Flour your work surface and roll out the pastry into a thin sheet with a rolling pin. Cut out small circles (around 8cm diameter) and stars for lids (around 6cm across.) You can adjust the size to match your tart tray.
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Place the circles into a greased mini tart tray, add a heaped tablespoon of filling, and top with a pastry star.
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Bake for 10-15 mins until golden, and allow to cool before serving.
If gluten and wheat aren't an issue you could use plain wheat flour, if you do make sure you chill your pastry. Before adding any honey or maple syrup, try the apple and orange filling as it may already be sweet enough, it depends how tart the apples are.
Take the stress out of cooking Christmas Dinner
Cooking up the big feast for the entire family can be more than a little bit stressful, so my approach is to plan the living daylights out of it. Literally.
Follow my Essential Christmas Dinner Planner and you’ll be one step ahead… it’s worth printing off and sticking it on the fridge, so once the fizz starts to flow you won’t lose the plot of how long the roast potatoes have been in the oven and why didn’t you remember to get the red cabbage out of the freezer?!
Organix Christmas Selection Box
And while we’re on the #NoJunkJourney topic, if you’re looking for a chocolate-free selection box to give little ones in their stockings, Organix have bought out a fabulous Christmas Selection Box packed with some of their most popular treats suitable for 12+ months. You’ll find inside:
- Organic Mini Gingerbread Men Biscuits
- Organic Fruit Shapes
- Organic Apple & Raspberry Soft Oaty Bars
- Organic Apple & Orange Soft Oaty Bars
- Organic Mini Cheese Crackers
What is the Organix No Junk Journey?
Organix are passionate that we take more care with how we’re feeding our children. From paying close attention to food labelling, to making sure that children have a clear understanding about the food they eat, and of course minimising the amount of junk in their diets. You can find out more about the research they’ve done and why I joined the campaign in my blogpost from the beginning of the year – Why I’ve Joined the Organix No Junk Journey
Disclosure: This is part of a series of partnered posts I’m working on with Organix to promote their No Junk Journey campaign. It’s an issue I feel strongly about and want to share with you here on my blog.
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