ellen_datlow

I had American mince pie once. I was expecting the English sort and got a nasty surprise. :(

And how do the two types differ?

All of the British ones I've ever had have been composed of a shortbread-y crust and a very thick mixture inside, almost the consistency of pecan pie filling (but otherwise nothing like pecan pie, just for the record). Gooey. This American one had a thinner crust and a runny brown filling that tasted very, very strongly of alcohol, maybe rum or bourbon. Definitely not what I was expecting.

Maybe it was just a another type of mince instead of the traditional one I was used to having in the UK? Anybody know what I'm talking about, here? Not really sure if it was a regional thing or what.

The one I had in America looked more like this or this, as opposed to this or this.

And now I've made myself hungry looking at pictures of pie. Great.

I don't remember having seen (mock) mince pies with a lattice crust before. The ones I've had definitely were along the American lines, though, not shortbready at all.