Mincemeat Crumble Tart

The Christmas decorations may be down now but the house is still full of festive food. I have plenty of jars of mincemeat to use up. I find before Christmas it actually gets too busy to find the time to make the pastry for mince pies. Mincemeat recipes aren't just for Christmas. It's still cold and dark out so the comfort of such a pudding is a welcome treat. For something a little bit different I've made a crumble topping for this instead of just covering it in pastry.

Equipment: 9in (23cm) Loose base non-stick flan tin, greaseproof paper, baking beans.

Ingredients

8oz (225g) Plain flour
2oz (55g) Ground almonds
3oz (85g) Icing sugar
6oz (170g) Unsalted butter, straight from the fridge, diced
2 Eggs

Filling

Jar mincemeat

Crumble topping

1½oz (40g) Plain flour
1½oz (40g) Demerara sugar
1½oz (40g) Oats
1½oz (40g) Unsalted butter, straight from the fridge
1½oz (40g) Flaked almonds

Method

1. Measure out the flour, grounds almonds, and icing sugar into a bowl. Stir together until all the mixture is well combined.
2. Put the mixture into the food processor and add the butter. Process until the butter is mixed in and it looks like crumbs.
3. If you have a dough blade for your processor change to it now.
4. Add the eggs and process again until the mixture all comes together in one ball. If it is slightly dry add a little bit of water.
5. Take the pastry out of the processor and wrap in cling film. Chill for around 15 minutes.
6. Once chilled pre-heat the oven to 180°C/Gas mark 4.
Flour your work surface well and roll out the pastry. Transfer to the tin and gently push into the sides. Prick the bottom all over with a fork.
7. Put the greaseproof paper over the pastry and spread the baking beans out evenly over it.
8. Bake for 10 minutes and then remove the greaseproof paper and baking beans. Bake again for another 10 minutes.
9. Take the flan tin out of the oven and put to one side while you make the crumble topping.
10. Put the flour, sugar, oats and butter together in a small bowl and rub together.
11. Spread the mincemeat over the base of the flan and smooth out evenly.
12. Spoon the crumble topping over the mincemeat and then sprinkle the flaked almonds over.
13. Cook for another 15 minutes until the flaked almonds are toasted.

Serve hot or cold.