The Queen's pastry chef reveals secret recipe behind the mince pies served at Buckingham Palace - including a filling that's made MONTHS in advance
- Royal pastry chef Kathryn Cuthbertson has shared recipe behind her mince pies
- The mincemeat includes golden sultanas, currants and russet apples
- Her top tips include making sure you have 'plenty of time' and 'cold hands'
With Christmas around the corner, people across the country are tucking into their mince pies - including the Queen, it would seem.
Buckingham Palace's top pastry chef has now revealed the secret recipe behind the baked treat enjoyed by the royal family and their guests.
Royal chef Kathryn Cuthbertson explained how their mincemeat, which includes golden sultanas, currants and russet apples, is made months in advance.
![Buckingham Palace's pastry chef has revealed the secret recipe behind the mince pies enjoyed by the royal family (pictured)](http://web.archive.org./web/20190515004814/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/13/4774048700000578-5194407-image-m-39_1513688811542.jpg)
Buckingham Palace's pastry chef has revealed the secret recipe behind the mince pies enjoyed by the royal family (pictured)
Along with a traditional recipe, a smaller version is topped with flaked almonds for 'texture', while another is made out of puff pastry.
Kathryn revealed how they make over 1,200 mince pies for each Christmas reception at Buckingham Palace.
She said: 'It's probably thousands each, but as long as you are organised, it's doable.'
Sharing her top tips for making mince pies, Kathryn stressed the importance of having 'plenty of time', along with 'cold hands'.
Other festive treats served up at royal receptions include gingerbread men, Jammy Dodgers and mini chocolate roulades.
It comes after it was revealed that the Queen and Prince Philip give their 1,500 staff a rather surprising gift at Christmas.
The official website of the royal family reveals that Her Majesty gifts a Christmas pudding to each and every member of her staff.
![The Queen's pastry chef revealed that 1,200 mince pies for each at Buckingham Palace](http://web.archive.org./web/20190515004814/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/13/19658FFF00000514-5194407-image-m-44_1513688868845.jpg)
The Queen's pastry chef revealed that 1,200 mince pies for each at Buckingham Palace
![Kathryn said they also make a smaller version (left), that is topped for almonds for 'texture'](http://web.archive.org./web/20190515004814/https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/19/13/4774047B00000578-5194407-image-m-45_1513688914618.jpg)
Kathryn said they also make a smaller version (left), that is topped for almonds for 'texture'
The tradition was handed down by her father, King George VI and her grandfather, George V.
In previous years, the Queen is reported to have favoured puddings from Harrods or Fortnum & Mason - which holds a warrant as the royal grocer - but appears to have since swapped to a rather more ordinary retailer.
According to Hello!, the monarch opts for Tesco's Finest Matured Christmas Pudding, having switched to the budget option in order to cut costs.
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