Learn more about what goes into making this classic seasonal staple.

<p>It’s the true sign that <a href="https://www.asda.com/good-living/category/christmas?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Christmas</a> is here: the smell of mince pies warming in the oven. This year, Bells of Lazonby brings you the <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tarts-pies-bakewells/asda-extra-special-6-brown-butter-rum-mince-pies/1000383189390?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Mince Pie</a>.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Not sure when you should be eating your first mince pie? Ask Ionela Nandra, a Development Technologist and Product Developer at Cumbria-based bakery, <a href="https://bellsoflazonby.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bells of Lazonby</a>. ‘As soon as the adverts come on the telly, ideally – but you definitely can’t go past the first of December without having a mince pie!’&nbsp;</p>
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<p>For Ionela, she’s sampling mince pies all year round. ‘We work on concepts about 18 months ahead,’ she explains. With the team she’s responsible for a host of bakery products you can see in store, including Free From cakes, slices, and tarts as well as cereals.</p>
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<p>Located in the picturesque surrounds of the Lake District – apparently there are more sheep than people! – the team has quality, integrity, and care at its core.</p>
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<p>‘We’re a family business, founded in 1946 by the late Mr John Bell,’ says Ionela. ‘He was a war veteran and, when he returned, he came to Lazonby where he bought a house with a flour mill attached to it. He started making bread and cakes, which he sold to local families and small businesses. We’ve grown a lot in the last 75 years and remain 100% family owned. We now have two bakeries on site and supply products across the country. We’ve even started exporting ‘free-from’ products to Australia.’</p>
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<p>But it’s the <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tarts-pies-bakewells/asda-extra-special-6-brown-butter-rum-mince-pies/1000383189390?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Mince Pies</a> that we’ve got our eye on. The award-winning team at Bells of Lazonby has been busy crafting the recipe and will be producing a belt-busting  1.2 million of them this year in the lead-up to Christmas (not to mention the other nine mince pie products they supply to Asda). Quite impressive for a humble village bakery with a team of just 350 people, many of whom are from the local surrounding villages.</p>
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<h2>Full of flavour</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tarts-pies-bakewells/asda-extra-special-6-brown-butter-rum-mince-pies/1000383189390?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Mince Pies</a> incorporate <a href="https://www.asda.com/good-living/article/our-signature-flavour-brown-butter-spiced-dark-rum" target="_blank">Asda’s signature flavour</a> this year and Bells of Lazonby has created a mince pie they describe as extremely unique and flavourful. ‘It’s definitely elevated,’ says Ionela. ‘Using the brown butter (or beurre noisette) is something that a lot of independent artisan places are doing right now. It brings a really quality, nutty flavour and aroma, as well as a different texture compared to your standard mince pie,’ she adds.</p>
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<p>The pastry is made in huge 250kg mixers, using both normal butter and brown butter, creating a truly rich and indulgent pie. After mixing to exactly the right consistency at exactly the right temperature, the pie cases are filled generously with a Jamaican rum-laced spiced fruit and citrus peel mincemeat. You can almost smell the festive flavours. Ionela explains the process: ‘We mix the rum in with the mincemeat and it’s the unique fermentation of Jamaican rum combined with the brown butter that creates a really well-rounded and intense flavour.’&nbsp;</p>
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<h2>Don't forget the cream!</h2>
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<p>When it comes to serving up your mince pies, keeping it simple is the key, says Ionela. ‘I’d definitely warm them up. The heat brings out all of those natural flavours from the mincemeat and the rum – the aroma just adds to the Christmas spirit, doesn’t it?’ she says. ‘Oh, and a good dollop of thick cream – it’s Christmas, after all!</p>
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<h2>Inspired by our Tastemakers story?</h2>
<p>Feeling the craving to crack out the mince pies after this read? Treat yourself and give our Good Housekeeping Institute taste approved Extra Special Brown Butter and Rum mince pies a go. If you fancy something different to the classic mince pie, Bells of Lazonby have recreated the festive pie in other delicious flavours such as, Frangipane & Amaretto and Chocolate & Cherry Crumble... Yum!</p>
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<img src="https://ui.assets-asda.com/dm/asdagroceries/5063089158197_T1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
<center><p><a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tarts-pies-bakewells/asda-extra-special-6-brown-butter-rum-mince-pies/1000383189390?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Asda Extra Special 6 Brown Butter & Rum Mince Pies</a></p></center>
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<img src="https://ui.assets-asda.com/dm/asdagroceries/5063089158203_T1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
<center><p><a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tarts-pies-bakewells/asda-extra-special-6-frangipane-amaretto-mince-pies/1000383189383?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Asda Extra Special 6 Frangipane & Amaretto Mince Pies</a></p></center>
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<img src="https://ui.assets-asda.com/dm/asdagroceries/5063089158210_T1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/>
<center><p><a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tarts-pies-bakewells/asda-extra-special-6-chocolate-cherry-crumble-mince-pies/1000383189394?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Asda Extra Special 6 Chocolate & Cherry Crumble Mince Pies</a></p></center>
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<p>Want to try our new mince pie flavours? Find all our <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/dept/christmas/extra-special-christmas/1215684243334-1215686353196?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Extra Special Christmas</a> treats online at <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_tastemakers-brown-butter-mince-pies&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Asda.com</a> or pop into <a href="https://storelocator.asda.com/" target="_blank">your local store</a>.</p>

Mince Pies - Meet the Tastemakers

By Asda Good Living,28th October 2023

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