Mince pies with orange and almond pastry

Method

1. Put the flour, caster sugar and ground almonds in a large mixing bowl with a small pinch of salt. Add the butter and rub into the flour mixture to give a course breadcrumb texture. Stir in half the beaten eggs and the the orange zest with a wooden spoon or dough scraper until it just comes together. Bring the pastry together in the bowl and shape into a fat disc. Wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour. Alternatively, put the flour, sugar and almonds in a food processor and mix to combine. Add the butter and pulse until just combined. Add 1 egg and the orange zest, then pulse again until just combined. Chill for 1 hour.
2. Heat the oven to 200ºC/180ºC fan/gas 6. Roll out the dough on a lightly dusted surface to a 3mm thickness. Cut out 12 x 9 circles and use them to line the holes of the prepared tin. Spoon 2 teaspoonfuls of mincemeat into each pastry case, then lightly brush the rims with a little of the remaining beaten egg.
3. Cut out 12 x 8 cm circles from the remaining pastry and place them on top of the mince pies, lightly pressing the edges down to seal. Cut 3 small slights in the top of each pie with the tip of a sharp knife, then brush the tops with beaten egg. Chill for 10 minutes in the freezer. Scatter with demerara sugar, then bake for 15-20 minutes until the pastry is lightly golden. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, put on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes, then serve.
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