1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (Fan 160°C, Gas Mark 4)

2. To make the sweet shortcrust pastry, sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Cut cold butter into small pieces, rub into the flour and then add the sugar.

3. Stir the egg yolk into the water and gently add to the other ingredients with the blade of a knife.

4. Gently work together by hand and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

5. Then roll out the pastry and cut 12 round shapes to fit your shallow 12-hole pastry tin.

6. Grease the tin and put the cut pastry into each hole, add a teaspoonful of your favourite mincemeat and bake for around 10 mins. Watch carefully as the sweet pastry can burn.

7. Roll out the white icing or marzipan or a combination of both for more indulgence. Then cut out 12 stars with a cutter, and place on top of the mince pies when cooled.

8. Try toasting the marzipan star with a chef’s blowtorch for a decorative finish.