A small, round pastry tart filled with mincemeat, topped with a pastry lid, baked until golden, and dusted with icing sugar. The mince pie is the quintessential British Christmas treat, eaten throughout December and traditionally served warm with cream, custard, or brandy butter. Pastry may be shortcrust or puff, sometimes with a star-shaped lid. Folklore suggests eating twelve, one for each day of Christmas, brings luck. Quality varies from mass-produced versions to rich homemade pies with buttery pastry and well-matured filling. Despite the name, the filling is spiced fruit, not meat.