These spiced orange and cranberry mince pies make the perfect fruity treat this Christmas.

“Mince pies are such a Christmas classic, but the filling in these is refreshingly light and clean-tasting, so you don’t feel that you have over-indulged – even if you eat a couple!” Tana Ramsay

Makes 18

What You’ll Need:

For the pastry:

• 350g (12oz) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 225g (8oz) unsalted butter, chilled and cut
• into cubes
• 100g (3½oz) caster sugar
• pinch of salt
• 2 tsp finely grated unwaxed orange zest
• few drops of vanilla extract
• 1 large beaten free-range egg, to glaze
• sifted icing sugar, for dusting

For the filling:

• 350g (12oz) mincemeat
• 2 tsp finely grated unwaxed orange zest
• 30g (1oz) dried cranberries
• 15g (½oz) flaked almonds
• 2 tsp brandy
• pinch of chilli flakes

What To Do:

1. Start by making the pastry. Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the butter cubes. Using your fingertips, rub the butter in until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mix in the sugar, salt, orange zest and vanilla extract, and combine the pastry into a ball. Work together using your hands, as it will be fairly firm. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.

2. While the pastry is chilling, mix together all the filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas mark 7.

3. Roll out the pastry dough on a lightly floured surface until about 5mm (¼in) thick. Using a 7cm (2¾in) round cutter, cut out 18 circles and use to line 18 holes of two 12-hole nonstick cupcake tins. Spoon an equal quantity of the filling into each pastry case.

4. From the remaining pastry, cut out different shapes for the lids, such as stars or bells, and use to cover the pies, re-rolling any offcuts. Press gently on top to seal.

5. Brush the tops of the pies with beaten egg to glaze. Bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. To serve, dust lightly with icing sugar.