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The identifying ingredient in a Victorian mince pie is meat. Though it was in this period that there was a revolution in the composition of this festive dish. Mixes without meat began to gain popularity within some of the high echelons of society. This particular recipe comes from Mrs Rundle's cookbook Modern Domestic Cookery (1851) and includes meat.

• Topic: Food
• Difficulty: Medium
• Time: 1 hour

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Mince meat:

450g/1lb sirloin steak, finely chopped
450g/1lb suet, grated
4 large apples, peeled, core removed, flesh chopped
1.35kg/3lb currants
½ small loaf day-old bread, grated
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
Ground cinnamon, to taste
Ground cloves, to taste
Ground ginger, to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
450g/1lb sugar
2 lemons, zest and juice
3 large oranges, juice only
Candied peel, diced (optional)
250ml/9fl oz brandy
250ml/9fl oz ruby port

Short crust pastry:

225g/8oz flour, plus extra for dusting
115g/4oz butter or margarine, cut into cubes
Water, as necessary
4-6 tsp milk
1 tsp sugar

This recipe makes 8-10 meal-sized mince pies

Step 1: Prepare the mincemeat:

Mix the ingredients together

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.

For the mincemeat, mix all of the mincemeat ingredients together in a large bowl, using your hands, until well combined.

Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and heat over a very low heat for 3-5 hours, stirring occasionally, or until it has reduced to a thick, dark paste.

Step 2: Make the Shortcrust Pastry

Make the pastry

Meanwhile, for the shortcrust pastry, sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter or margarine cubes, then rub them into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Gradually add the water, a tablespoon at a time, stirring well until the mixture comes together as a stiff dough.

Step 3: Fill the mince pies

Add mincemeat to pies

Turn out the pastry onto a lightly floured work surface and knead well until smooth and elastic.

Roll out the pastry onto a lightly floured work surface to a 1cm/½in thickness. Using an upturned bowl, cut eight discs from the pastry. Reserve the remaining pastry.

Place a coffee mug into the centre of each pastry disc and draw the sides of the pastry up against the mug, overlapping the edges, to form free-standing pastry cases.

Divide the mincemeat evenly among the pastry cases.

Step 4: Add lids to the mince pies

Make the lids

Roll out the remaining pastry onto a lightly floured work surface. Using the same mug as before, cut eight discs from the pastry to create four 'lids'.

Place one pastry 'lid' on top of each pie, tucking the edges into the pastry case. Pinch the pastry together well to prevent the filling from leaking out during baking. Using a sharp knife, cut a cross into the top of each pastry lid to allow the steam to escape.

In a bowl, mix together the milk and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Brush the top of each pie with this mixture.

Step 5: Place into the oven

Allow to cool before eating

Place the mince pies onto a baking tray. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is crisp and golden-brown.

Remove the mince pies from the oven and cool on a wire rack.