Michelle Darmody: How to bake the perfect mince pies this Christmas

"There are a few rules of thumb that if you follow, you will have a good solid pastry in your baking repertoire, and these tips stand for savoury shortcrust pastry as well as sweet."

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A good mince pie is all about the ratio of mince to pastry, of course, the crisp, butteriness of the pastry, and the richness of the mince are important as well, but it is good to get the balance of both right.

This is why I opt for a star on top of the pies rather than a full pastry lid. I feel it allows you to taste the mince and it not be overpowered by the pastry.