Mince Tarts (Fruit)

Prep Time: 1 hr 30 minutes (Including time to fully make the pastry)

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Yields: Makes 1 1/4 cup fruit mince (12 small tarts)

Description
Mince Tarts are a delicious treat for the whole family. My mum used to always make them for Christmas every year. They have always been a favourite of mine. You can use the fruit mince straight away but the flavours develop if you keep it for a while.

Ingredients
Pastry-Shortcut or Butterscotch

1/3 cup chopped raisins

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sultanas

1/4 cup mixed peel

1 tbspn chopped almonds

1 small apple, grated

1 tspn lemon juice

1 tspn finely grated orange and lemon rind

1/2 teaspoon mixed spice nutmeg

25g melted butter

1 tspn brandy essence

Eggwhite for brushing shapes on top of tart (optional)

Directions
To make the fruit mince:

Combine all ingredients apart from the eggwhite and pastry into a bowl and spoon into a sterylized jar if keeping it

To make the tarts:

1. Roll out the pastry and cut out the bases for the tarts

2. Spoon the fruit mince into the base of the tarts

3. if you want to, cut out a small shape to put on top of the fruit mince (I usually use a star of a leaf shape)

4. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until golden 5. Leave in the tins for five minutes and then carefully lift each one out with a knife and allow to cool on a/some wire rack/s