Low Syn Mince Pies

Did you even have a Christmas if you haven't had a mince pie? They can be high in syns though, with most mince pies setting you back 15-20 syns. If you make your own with a few clever swaps, you will save many syns for the many other Christmas indulgences. 

There are many recipes out there for low syn mince pies, coming in at 1 or 2 syns each. However, they are often tiny! These ones are closer to the real deal.

TIPS! Mincemeat is hard to come by, but you can save time by ordering online. Why not try the family favourite: Robertsons Classic Mincemeat.

You can save 8 syns from the recipe (or 1 syn per pie) by choosing to make a baked apple and mincemeat filling. (225g baked apple & 1 level tbsp of mincemeat for healthy B) 

Makes 16 Pies (7 syns each)
Prep Time:
Resting Time:
Cook Time:
Ready In:

Ingredients

  • Frylight (preferably butter flavour)
  • 225g Plain Flour
  • 110g Margarine
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 16 tbsp Mincemeat
  • 1 level tbsp icing sugar, to dust

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5. Lightly spray some bun tins with low calorie cooking spray.
  2. Make the pastry. Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the fat and gently rub it in with your fingertips.
  3. Add sufficient cold water to mix to a ball that leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  4. Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface. Cut out 32 rounds with a 7.5cm/3 inch fluted cutter. Use to line the prepared bun tins.
  5. Divide the mincemeat between the pastry cases. Roll out the remaining pastry trimmings and make some little stars with a star cutter. Use to decorate the tops of the tarts.
  6. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until the pastry is crisp and lightly coloured. Cool on a wire rack and dust lightly with the icing sugar.

Nutri Brex - 5 ways to enjoy on slimming world

When I started slimming world and as I became more educated about the choices I was making, Granola was one of those foods that I found out was typically much higher in sugar and fat than originally believed. So, I put it on the ol' "block list" and skimmed past it when I saw it in supermarkets.

Nutri-Brex reached out to see if I'd like to try their granola and to come up with some fun ways to use it. They had two varieties: ‘HONEY, ALMONDS AND SEEDS’ and ‘HAZELNUT, COCONUT AND QUINOA’.

 
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 This granola has 50% less sugar than typical granola, is high in fibre and is packed with superfoods (almonds & grains), it sounded appealing - but step one was to check it on the slimming world app. It was more than reasonable at just 5 syns per 25g, so I got the thinking cap on, and came up with 5 ways to use it with slimming world.

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1. Breakfast Bowl with toasted granola - 4 syns

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This is a comforting breakfast as we get into the colder months. Not to mention, your house will smell delicious with the toasty cinnamon filling the air.

Ingredients:

  • Fruit of choice (I used banana, pears, blueberries and clementines)
  • Fat Free greek-style natural Yoghurt
  • Pinch of cinnamon powder
  • 20g Nutri-brex, honey, almonds and seeds.

Method:

  1. Spray a small frying pan with frylight
  2. Add the granola and the pinch of cinnamon
  3. Toast for 3/4 minutes until the granola is golden
  4. Slice fruit as desired and pop into a bowl
  5. Add a dollop of fat free greek toghurt
  6. Sprinkle the toasted granola on top and enjoy! 

2. Banana, Choc Shot and Granola Pops - 1.5 syns each

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These are fun to make, ideal for a late night sweet treat. A decent substitute for an almond magnum :) if you have kids they will love these too.

Ingredients:

Serves 4 | 1.5 syns per Pop

  • 2 Bananas
  • 25g Nutri-brex almond, honey and seeds granola (5 syns)
  • 4 tbsp Sweet Freedom Choc Shot (2 syns)

Method

  1. Peel the bananas and cut in half. 
  2. Spread the choc shot onto a bowl or plate
  3. Gently roll the top of the banana into the choc shot, until evenly covered.
  4. Sprinkle the granola over the chocolate covered area.
  5. Place on a container, cover with cling film and put in the freezer for 3-4 hours.

3. Oaty Cinnamon Flapjacks - 1.5 syns each

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For this recipe, regular oats make up the bulk of the recipe, with the granola acting as a crunchy topping. Enjoy these with a coffee as a breakfast, or an on the go snack.

Ingredients

  • 80g Porridge Oats (2 x Healthy Extra)
  • 25g Nutri-Brex Hazelnut, Quinoa & Coconut, (5 syns)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp vanilla essence
  • Pinch of cinnamon
  • 1 muller light yoghurt (vanilla and dark choc)
  • 2 heaped tbsp granulated sweetener (1 syn)

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees
  2. In a medium sized bowl, whisk the egg. Add the sweetener, vanilla essence and muller light and mix.
  3. Fold in the oats and cinnamon until well mixed.
  4. Spray a loaf tin with frylight or line with baking paper
  5. Pour in the mixture, ensuring an even spread
  6. Sprinkle the Nutri-brex evenly on top of the mixture
  7. Bake in the middle shelf for 20 mins or until golden brown.
  8. Allow to cool, cut into 4 rectangular pieces.

4. Overnight Oats, Fruit and Granola Jar - 2.5 syns

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In the morning, the oats will have absorbed much of the yoghurt, and the granola crunch on top really packs a punch. This will give you a hearty and filling start to the day.

Ingredients:

  • 40g Porridge Oats
  • 1 Heaped Tbps of Nutri-brex Hazelnut, Quinoa & Coconut, Granola
  • Fruit of choice (I went for sliced pears, banana and blueberries.
  • Any syn free yoghurt

Method:

  1. Layer oats, yoghurt and fruit in that order. 
  2. Add Nutri-brex as your top layer
  3. Pop in the fridge overnight

5. Chocolate Crunch Pear Bites - 1.5 syns each

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It's super simple to make these little bites, and they are a perfect snack if you are craving something sweet. Not to mention, pears are a speed food. Make sure your pears are nice and ripe, so that you don't lose a tooth :) 

Ingredients:

  • 2 pears
  • 4 teaspoons of Sweet Freedom Choc Shot
  • 20g Nutri-Brex Granola

Method:

  1. Cut the two pear sides just off the middle to avoid the core.
  2. Add a teaspoon of crunchy granola to each
  3. Drizzle a teaspoon of choc shot on top.

If you would like to get your hands on Nutri-Brex, you can buy it Ocado, Asda, Morrison’s and directly from www.nutribrex.co.uk

NOTE: This post is sponsored, but all opinions and recipes are my own. Syn Values are correct at time of posting and to the best of my knowledge.