Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup confectioners (powered) sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 5 oz cold butter cut into pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon orange essence
• 4 tablespoons iced water
• 1 1/2 cups minced fruits (mincemeat)
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• powdered sugar for dusting

Method:

• Sift flour, sugar, and cinnamon into a large bowl
• Rub in butter until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs.
• Stir in orange essence. Add iced water and mix to a firm dough.
• Knead lightly and roll out onto a board to about 1/4 inch or a little less thickness
• Cut out circles with a 2 – 2 1/2 inch round biscuit cutter.
• Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
• Place a small spoonful mincemeat into each pastry and top with another round and seal by pressing the edges.
• Lightly brush each pastry on the top with egg and leave in the refrigirator for about 30 minutes
• Pre Heat oven to 400 F.
• Remove from the refrigirator and bake for about 20 – 25 minutes.
• Remove and cool on wire rack.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve warm
• Yields: 22 pastries.

Minced meat (minced fruits) – you can buy these in any grocery store during christmas time.  They come in small bottles/jars.