Mince pies
Ingredients
* 360g (2 cups) dried mixed fruit
* 200g (1 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar 
* 50g (1/3 cup) slivered almonds, finely chopped
* 1 apple, peeled, quartered, cored, coarsely grated
* 40g butter, melted
* 3 tsp finely grated lemon rind
* 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
* 1 tsp ground cinnamon
* 1 tsp mixed spice
*Pinch of ground nutmeg
* 1 egg, lightly whisked
*Pastry
*300g (2 cups) plain flour
* 70g (1/3 cup) caster sugar
*160g chilled butter, chopped
*1 egg yolk
* 2 tbsp iced water
Method
Finely chop half the mixed fruit. Place in a large bowl. Add the brown sugar,, almond, apple, butter, brandy, lemon rind, lemon juice, cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg and the remaining mixed fruit. Stir until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside overnight, stirring occasionally, to macerate.
Transfer the fruit mixture to a fine sieve over a bowl and stir to remove excess liquid.
To make the pastry, place the flour, sugar and butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and water, and process until the mixture just starts to come together Turn onto a clean work surface. Shape into a disc. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes to rest.
Preheat oven to 180C. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until 5mm thick. Use an 8.5cm-diameter round pastry cutter to cut 20 discs from the pastry. Use a 5cm-diameter star-shaped pastry cutter to cut 20 stars from the remaining pastry.
Line twenty 80ml (1/3-cup) capacity muffin pans with pastry discs (see tip 2). Divide the fruit mince among the pastry cases. Top with pastry stars. Brush the stars lightly with the egg and sprinkle with white sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until light golden. Set aside in the pans for 5 minutes to cool before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Christmas cookies
ngredients
* 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* ½ teaspoon salt
* 1 cup margarine, softened
* 1 ½ cups white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Method
*Step 1
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Gradually blend in the sifted ingredients until fully absorbed. Cover dough, and chill for 2 hours.
* Step 2
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a clean floured surface, roll out small portions of chilled dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
*Step 3
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are barely brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
Source : Internet