Make your own rich, fruity vegetarian mincemeat and use it as a filling for luxury mince pies for Christmas. This quick and easy mincemeat recipe is a must for your Christmas baking recipes.
It is perfect for mince pies, to use as a tart filling or you could make frangipane mince pies. It also makes a useful homemade food gift.
Traditionally, mincemeat is made using suet. I'm not keen on suet, not even vegetarian suet. So, I experimented and came up with this recipe to create a luxury mincemeat made using wholesome ingredients which is full of flavour but suet free. And I think this is the best mincemeat I have tried.
The quantities in this recipe are sufficient to make around 1.5 kg mincemeat.
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 ingredients with names you don't recognise.
Mincemeat ingredients
See the recipe card below for quantities and detailed instructions.
- Apples - use eating apples, either red or green.
- Orange zest - scrub the peel before zesting.
- Lemon zest and juice - ideally use organic unwaxed lemons. Alternatively, scrub the peel before zesting.
- Dried fruit - such as sultanas, currants, cranberries or a mixture. A bag of mixed dried fruit commonly sold in the UK is ideal for this recipe.
- Ground spices including mixed spice and cinnamon - you can make your own mixed spice or use pumpkin spice as a substitute.
- Soft brown sugar - such as muscovado.
- 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 use a plant based margarine instead.
- Brandy - alcohol helps to preserve the mincemeat. You can substitute rum or sherry if you prefer.
If you want to make vegan mincemeat
If you want a vegan version of this mincemeat simply substitute a plant based margarine for butter.
How to prepare
Simply prepare the fruit and place all the ingredients apart from the brandy in a pan. Heat for around 10 minutes, leave to cool and then stir in the brandy.
Once your mincemeat is ready, transfer to sterilised jars where it will keep for several months. See how to prepare and sterilise previously used jars.
Storage instructions
- If you plan to use the mincemeat within a few days it can be covered and stored in the fridge until ready to use.
- If you want 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 over time, stir in a little brandy until it is the right consistency again.
How to use sweet mincemeat
While the flavours will mature with time, your homemade luxury mincemeat can be used straight away if you wish.
The most obvious way to use mincemeat is as a mince pie filling.
You can also use your homemade mincemeat to make one of these easy festive recipes including frangipane mince pies, this attractive lattice topped apple and mincemeat tart, mincemeat crumble slices or you could make some mincemeat pinwheels for a festive breakfast, brunch our snack.
Mincemeat is also great for adding to other fruits such as stewed apples or pears in desserts such as wholemeal fruit crumble or strudel.
FAQs
Yes, you can substitute fruit juice for alcohol but this will not act as a preservative. Your alcohol free mincemeat will need to be stored in the fridge and used within one to two weeks. If you want to keep it any longer it can be frozen.
Yes, mincemeat can be frozen as an alternative to storing in sterilised jars. Defrost before using in your Christmas baking recipes. It is a good idea to freeze in several small batches so that you can defrost the quantity you need.
Recipes using mincemeat
- Vegetarian mince pies (without suet)1 Hours 50 Minutes
- Frangipane mince pies1 Hours
- Apple and mincemeat tart45 Minutes
- Mincemeat slices45 Minutes
Vegetarian mincemeat for mince pies
Ingredients
- 2 apples
- 2 orange zest
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 700 g dried fruit (sultanas, currants, cranberries, etc)
- 2 teaspoon ground mixed spice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 200 g soft brown sugar
- 75 g butter
- 120 ml brandy
Instructions
How to prepare the vegetarian mincemeat
- Peel and core the apples and finely dice.
- Juice and zest the lemon and zest the oranges.
- Place the diced apples in a large pan. Add the orange zest, lemon zest, lemon juice, dried fruit, spices, brown sugar and butter.
- Heat over a low heat until the butter has melted, stirring regularly so that the dried fruit is all coated in the melted butter and everything is evenly mixed.
- Set aside to cool.
- Stir in the brandy.
- Store in the fridge for a few days or transfer to sterilised jars if you wish to keep any longer.
Video
Notes
- If you plan to use the mincemeat within a few days it can be covered and stored in the fridge until ready to use. 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.
- If you are going to use the mincemeat for mince pies the mince pies can be made in bulk and stored 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).
- Mincemeat isn't only for mince pies, try mixing it with an equal quantity of stewed apples to use as a filling for pies, crumbles or strudel. Or why not make a tray of mincemeat Chelsea buns?
- Homemade mincemeat also makes a useful food gift. Your friends or family are sure to appreciate a homemade gift, especially one which is not only useful but delicious too!
Brittany F.
Such a flavorful recipe! I can't wait to use this mixture in my pies. I love your idea of giving as a gift, too- I know my family will enjoy!
Sarah
I make mince pies for Christmas every year, must try this next time I make them, yum!
Judith
I hope you enjoy your mince pies! 🙂
Nancy
Love this plant based minced meat recipe. It hit the spot and satisfying with the bloat
Judith
Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it 🙂
Abhi
Wow, Judith, you are so creative. I love your idea! This is great for gifting!
Judith
Thank you! I hope you enjoy your mince pies 🙂
Nicola
Saving this to make for christmas! thanks for sharing!