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STOP! Before you hit ‘Jump to Recipe’ check ‘Skip to the Good Bit‘ below. I may answer a query you have about this recipe.
I’m lucky, I can have the regular McDonalds Apple Pie normally but this post for my Festive Pies – Gluten Free Copycat McDonalds Recipe was a quick follow up recipe to my Toffee Apple Pies – Gluten Free Copycat McDonalds Recipe as the festive menu is due to release in the UK.
The yearly addition of McDonalds Festive Pie has alluded me until now. But, once I’d perfect the Toffee Apple Pie recipe, I knew I had to make the festive pies too. Of course, whilst I was at it, I was going to make is so YOU could eat it too!
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Skip to the good bit
- Are McDonalds Festive Pies Gluten Free?
- Is McDonalds Festive Pie and Holiday Pie the same thing?
- Are McDonalds Festive Pies Dairy Free or Vegan?
- How to make these festive pies gluten free?
- How to make these festive pies dairy free too.
- Can I use readymade custard?
- Baked, Air Fried or Fried?
- How to make these Copycat Festive Pies
- Other mincemeat recipes you’ll love
- Festive Pies – Gluten Free Copycat McDonalds Recipe
Are McDonalds Festive Pies Gluten Free?
NO! Neither the normal menu apple pie, nor the limited edition McDonalds Festive Pies are gluten free. They are both made with puff pastry containing WHEAT.
Is McDonalds Festive Pie and Holiday Pie the same thing?
No! Here in the UK we don’t get the Holiday Pie. I think it may have been piloted a few years back in 2017 but can’t have been popular enough to bring back?
Mincemeat tends to be a British thing (not be be confused with minced meat, very, very different ingredient indeed!). As you can see below, the McDonalds Holiday Pie resembles a Pop Tart with water icing, sprinkles and filled with custard. Not very Christmassy if you ask me.
Our Festive Pies taste like a hot puff pastry pie version of our humble Mince Pies, of which I have many variations for on this website – Gluten Free Mince Pie Collection.
Are McDonalds Festive Pies Dairy Free or Vegan?
As I am not Coeliac I can normally eat the McDonalds Apple Pies due to the fact they have no egg or dairy in them (they do have ‘may contains’ but I am not allergic).
However, the yearly McDonalds Festive Pie packed with sweet mincemeat and vanilla custard is not Dairy free or Vegan due to the custard they add.
How to make these festive pies gluten free?
To make this Copycat McDonalds Festive Pie gluten free you simply need to swap the pastry for a gluten free puff pastry. I always opt to use the UK’s No1 puff pastry, Jus~Rol. That sounds like an advert but cross-my-heart it’s not. I just can’t fault it, and don’t see the point in stressing out making my own gluten free puff or rough puff when this is so easy to use.
If you are not UK based and have a go-to gluten free puff pastry then please do mention what brand in the comments and where in the world you are so others can use this information.
Not dairy free? Make this version instead.
Did I just catch you rolling your eyes at me? Not another gluten free AND vegan recipe Rebecca (giggles). Not to worry, this recipe is super simple to make dairy-filled too. Just use your favourite gluten free puff pastry.
Then, make your vanilla custard using normal milk (or use a carton of readymade custard).
Finally, make a simple swap for normal milk for the pastry wash.
How to make these festive pies dairy free too.
As mentions above, I have made this Festive Pie dairy free too. This means a change in the custard I use. I prefer to use Birds Original Custard Powder [seen below], however, this has a may contain for DAIRY. This makes Birds unsuitable for those with a dairy allergy. Therefore I would recommend you use Just Whole Foods Vanilla Custard Powder.
Can I use readymade custard?
Technically, yes you can. I say this with a little hesitation because you need the custard to be a bit thicker than normal so that it
a. doesn’t seep out of the pie
b. merge with the mincemeat filling and become indistinguishable.
Feel free to have a go and let me know how you got on in the comments.
Baked, Air Fried or Fried?
Ooh good question. The pies in the images are baked – honest! They seriously don’t look it though. I even surprised myself. The more you go to town with your pastry wash, the better the crispy-flaky finish to your Gluten Free Festive Pies.
Baked Version – I simply add to a baking sheet and cook on 220°C | 200°C fan | 425°F | Gas 7 for 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on these beauties, they can colour really quickly due to the sugar coating.
Air Fried Version – Same as above really, add to your air frier (probably 3 at a time but will vary depending on size of frier) and air fry for 15-20 minutes. Just keep checking in on them and spoon away any excess fat if necessary.
Deep Fried Version – I have not tried this and I’m hesitant to do so. I’m not sure the pies will stay in one piece. If you DO try this then I implore you to come back and let me know how you got on comment below
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How to make these Copycat Festive Pies
To build the pie
- Cut your gluten free puff pastry into 6 equal sized squares.
- Brush the edges with some of the ‘milk’, this will help the festive pies to seal.
- Add a small amount of cooled vanilla custard to the centre of each pastry square. Next add a couple of teaspoons of mincemeat on top of the custard.
TOP TOP: do not overfill, the pies will burst open on baking if you do. - Now gently fold the edges over to create a small overlap and roll the whole pie over so the sealed side is faced down. Press very gently to flatten a little.
- Finally, take a fork and seal the ends of each festive pie.
Other mincemeat recipes you’ll love
Festive Pies – Gluten Free Copycat McDonalds Recipe
If you make it and like the recipe I would be eternally grateful if you popped back and commented leaving a star rating as this will tell search engines that this recipe is worth checking out and others will get to find it in searches.
Festive Pies – Gluten Free Copycat McDonalds Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- Jus-Rol Gluten Free Puff
For the mincemeat filling
- 80 g mincemeat check for may contains
For the vanilla custard
- 1 level tbsp Birds original custard powder see notes if allergic to dairy
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 60 ml dairy free milk or normal milk
For the glaze
- 2 tbsp dairy free milk or normal milk
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Instructions
To make the vanilla custard
- Start by making your custard, to do this add the custard powder and sugar to a jug and mix with a small whisk to combine.
- Add a little of your milk (milk alternative) to make a paste then add the remaining milk.
- Hob Instructions: Pour the custard liquid into a small milk pan and heat gently until the custard begins to thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature whilst preparing the puff pastry.Microwave Instructions: Heat for 20 second blasts until the custard begins to thicken. Whisk with a small whisk and stand aside as above while you set to work on the pastry.
To build the pie
- Cut your gluten free puff pastry into 6 equal sized squares.
- Brush the edges with some of the 'milk', this will help the festive pies to seal.
- Add a small amount of cooled vanilla custard to the centre of each pastry square. Next add a couple of teaspoons of mincemeat on top of the custard.TOP TOP: do not overfill, the pies will burst open on baking if you do.
- Now gently fold the edges over to create a small overlap and roll the whole pie over so the sealed side is faced down. Press very gently to flatten a little.
- Finally, take a fork and seal the ends of each festive pie.
To glaze the pies
- Brush all 6 pies liberally with 'milk' and sprinkle with the combined sugars, be liberal with this stage so you get that authentic looking crust to each pie.
- Place on a lined baking sheet and pop into a preheated hot oven at 220°C | 200°C fan | 425°F | Gas 7 for 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the pies as these brown really well.
- Remove once beautifully golden and place on a cooling rack for 5-10 minutes before eating – these are HOT!
Notes
Nutrition
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For full transparency, in 2020 I made my first £25, and in 2022 I reached my next £25 (Amazon don’t transfer the money until you reach £25). Recently I got paid a whopping £27.10 for 2023.
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Love this, hubbies favourite ingredients, he will be in heaven ☺️
I have to agree with your Hubbie so I’m biased :-D