Best 4 Traditional British Mincemeat For Christmas Mince Pies Recipes
Christmas in Britain is a time of joy, celebration, family gatherings, and delicious food. Among the many culinary delights associated with this festive season, traditional British mincemeat holds a special place. This rich, fruity, and aromatic mixture is an essential ingredient in classic mince pies, a beloved treat that has been enjoyed by generations of Brits. Whether you prefer a sweet or savory mincemeat filling, there are countless variations of this traditional recipe to suit every taste. In this article, we will guide you through the art of making the perfect British mincemeat, ensuring that your mince pies are the star of your Christmas feast.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
MINCEMEAT
Mincemeat is a traditional English treat that is usually used as filling for mince pies during Christmas, but it tastes great mixed with vanilla ice cream, as well. This recipe uses butter instead of the traditional suet, which makes this mincemeat suitable for vegetarians. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.
Provided by Ita
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European UK and Ireland English
Time 50m
Yield 24
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Combine cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl. Reserve 1 heaped teaspoon for the mincemeat. Store the rest in a small jar for a later use.
- Inspect two 12-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until mincemeat is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
- Combine apple, sultanas, sugar, currants, raisins, and butter in a saucepan. Cook over low heat and stir gently until butter has melted. Stir in chopped almonds, orange zest, 1 teaspoon of mixed spice, and cinnamon. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and set mincemeat aside to cool down for 30 minutes. Stir in brandy. Spoon into sterilized jars.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 156.3 calories, Carbohydrate 21.9 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 5 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 0.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, Sodium 32.6 mg, Sugar 19.5 g
TRADITIONAL BRITISH MINCE PIE
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Place the flour, butter, and salt into a large clean bowl.
- Rub the butter quickly into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles rough sand.
- Stir the egg into the mixture using a cold knife.
- Add the cold water, a teaspoon at a time, and stir until the mixture binds but is not sticky.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
- Gather the ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F / 200 C / Gas Mark 6. Choose a muffin or bun tin for the size of the tart you want. Choose from a standard 12-cup muffin tin down to small canapé size. The number of pies will depend on the size of the tin you use.
- Dust a work surface lightly with a little flour and roll out 2/3 of the pastry to 1/8 inch thick. Cut circles to line the cups of your tin; don't worry if the pastry doesn't come to the very top.
- Fill the pastry-lined tins 2/3 full with mincemeat.
- Roll out the remaining pastry to the same thickness and cut smaller circles to fit as lids on the tarts or, to be decorative, cut stars or other fancy shapes.
- Dampen the edges of the tart bases with a little cold water and press the lids on. Make a small hole in the surface of each pie with a small sharp knife to allow the steam to escape.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes (15 minutes if making canapé-sized ones), or until golden brown.
- Let cool and sprinkle with the confectioners' sugar.
- Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 292 kcal, Carbohydrate 36 g, Cholesterol 37 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Sodium 123 mg, Sugar 13 g, Fat 15 g, ServingSize 12-18 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
TRADITIONAL MINCEMEAT
Try making your mincemeat well in advance of Christmas to give the flavours maximum time to mature
Provided by James Martin
Categories Treat
Time 20m
Yield Makes about 2kg (4 x 500ml jars)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Soak the raisins and currants in the brandy and lemon juice for 1 hr until plumped up, then drain and set the brandy aside. Mix all the ingredients together in the order given, then pour in the brandy when everything else is well mixed. Spoon and press into sterilised jars, to exclude any air (the easiest way to sterilise jars is to run them through a dishwasher on its hottest setting). Cover and leave for at least a fortnight. Will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 70 calories, Fat 3 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 10 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 9 grams sugar, Sodium 0.01 milligram of sodium
TRADITIONAL BRITISH MINCEMEAT FOR CHRISTMAS MINCE PIES!
A subtle blend of sweet and savoury with just a hint of alcohol which echoes the ancient practice of adding spice and fruit to meat dishes. I also have a "Boozy Fat Free" mincemeat recipe posted,Recipe #184762, but if you wish to make a mincemeat recipe with little or no alcohol, this is a wonderful traditional recipe for long lasting mincemeat. Mincemeat was always made at home before the advent of commercial brands, and although this is based on an old recipe, this was obviously made after the introduction of sugar into England. In earlier times mincemeat was a mixture of real meat, spices and fruit. The only remaining and symbolic ingredient of this ancient culinary practice is the inclusion of the suet - which can be beef or vegetable suet for vegetarians. Excellent in mince pies and all manner of steamed and sticky puddings! PS. If you cannot obtain suet locally, you can use grated butter instead; place the butter in the freezer until nearly frozen and very firm and then grate into the bowl straight away.
Provided by French Tart
Categories Lemon
Time P14DT30m
Yield 4-6 Jars
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Chop the nuts and candied peel finely.
- Peel, core and chop the apples into small pieces.
- Stir together with all the other ingredients and seal in sterilised jars.
- Keep for at least 2 weeks before using in mince pies, mincemeat cakes, mincemeat puddings and steamed puddings.
Tips:
- To make the best mincemeat, use a variety of dried fruits, such as raisins, currants, sultanas, and mixed peel. You can also add chopped nuts, such as almonds or walnuts, and spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Soak the dried fruits in alcohol, such as brandy or rum, overnight before using. This will plump up the fruits and add flavor to the mincemeat.
- Cook the mincemeat slowly over low heat. This will help the flavors to develop and the mincemeat to thicken.
- Let the mincemeat cool completely before using. This will help it to set and make it easier to work with.
- Use mincemeat to make mince pies, tarts, and other holiday treats.
Conclusion:
Traditional British mincemeat is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used to make a variety of holiday treats. With its rich flavor and festive spices, mincemeat is sure to please everyone at your table. So next time you're looking for a special holiday treat, be sure to give mincemeat a try.
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