Vegetarian mincemeat for mince pies

This fruity vegetarian mincemeat contains no suet, is quick and easy to make and will add a touch of luxury to your mince pies.

Making your own vegetarian mincemeat for mince pies is likely to be easier than you may have expected. Simply place the ingredients in a pan, heat for around 10 minutes and then stir in the brandy once it has cooled. What could be easier!

But why make your own mincemeat? Firstly, homemade mincemeat will most definitely add a touch of luxury to your mince pies. I'm sure that once you have tried homemade mincemeat you are unlikely to return to using the ready made mass produced equivalent.

Secondly, by making your own mincemeat you will know exactly what is inside each one of your mince pies. They will contain real ingredients - no additives and no ingredient names you don't recognise.

Traditionally, mincemeat is made using suet but this recipe uses butter which I find adds a better flavour and texture than if vegetable suet were used.

The quantities in this easy mincemeat recipe are sufficient to make approximately 1.5 kg mincemeat.

If you wish to make vegan mincemeat simply substitute a plant based margarine for the butter.

Ingredients

For this homemade mincemeat recipe you will need:

• 2 apples - use eating apples, either red or green.

• Zest of 2 oranges - scrub the peel before zesting.

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon - ideally use organic unwaxed lemons. Alternatively, scrub the peel before zesting.

• 400g dried fruit - such as sultanas, currants, dried cranberries. A bag of mixed dried fruit commonly sold in the UK is ideal for this recipe.

• 300g golden raisins - I like to use these as they add a variation in colour to the mixed fruit.

• 2 teaspoons ground mixed spice - or you can use your own combination of spices such as allspice, nutmeg, ground cloves. Is you are in the US you could use pumpkin spice.

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon - this will add a warm, sweet flavour to complement the fruit.

• 200g soft brown sugar - such as muscovado.

• 75g butter - this is used as a substitute for traditional suet or vegetarian suet. If you wish to make a vegan version of this recipe simply substitute a plant based margarine.

• 120ml brandy - alcohol helps to preserve the mincemeat. You can substitute other types of alcohol such as rum or sherry if you prefer.

Equipment needed

No specialist equipment is need for this easy mincemeat recipe but the following may be useful:

• Chopping board
• Sharp knife
• Apple corer (optional)
• Large pan
• Kitchen scales
• Measuring jug
• Teaspoon
• Zester or grater
• Juicer (optional)
• Long handled spoon

How to sterilise jars for preserves

There is no need to go out and buy jars for your mincemeat (or any other preserves such as red onion chutney, tomato chutney or persimmon jam). You can use previously used glass jars so long as they are clean and in a good condition.

Prepare your jars as follows:

1. First, check the jars and lids are in a good condition. Discard any lids which show any signs of damage or corrosion and discard any jars with cracked or chipped glass.
2. Wash the jars and lids in hot soapy water and dry with clean kitchen paper. Alternatively, the jars and lids can be cleaned in a dishwasher on a hot wash. 
3. Place the jars (with lids removed) and lids on a baking tray in the oven at a low setting for around 10 to 15 minutes. 
4. Your jars will now be sterilised and ready to fill with your homemade mincemeat.

How to make vegetarian mincemeat

Peel and core the apples and finely dice.

Place the diced apples in the pan. Add the orange zest, lemon zest, lemon juice, dried fruit, spices, brown sugar and butter in the pan.

Heat over a low heat until the butter has melted, stirring regularly. This may take around ten minutes or so. Stir the mixture well to ensure all the ingredients are mixed together and coated with the melted butter. Set aside to cool.

When the mixture has cooled stir in around 120ml brandy.

The mincemeat is now ready to to be used.

Tips

1. If you plan to use the mincemeat within a few days it can be covered and stored in the fridge until ready to use.
2. If you plan to keep it for longer, the mincemeat should be stored in sterilised jars. So long as the jars have been thoroughly cleaned and sterilised the mincemeat can be stored for several months. If the mincemeat becomes dry then simply stir in a little brandy until it is the right consistency again.
3. You can make mince pies in bulk and store in the freezer. Simply defrost when needed on a plate at room temperature, or, pop in the microwave or in the oven on a low setting (but be careful not to overheat the mincemeat as it can easily become very hot).
4. Homemade mincemeat also makes a great gift during the festive period. Your friends or family are sure to appreciate a homemade gift, especially one which is not only useful but delicious too!

How to use sweet mincemeat

The most obvious way to use mincemeat is as a mince pie filling. Homemade mincemeat is full of flavour and will add a touch of luxury to your Christmas treat.

Mincemeat is also great for adding to other fruits such as stewed apples or pears in desserts such as wholemeal fruit crumble or strudel. It also makes a tasty filling for mincemeat Chelsea buns.

Other Christmas baking ideas

Take a look at some other festive recipe ideas.