Mincemeat With Dried Fruit Recipes

MARY BERRY'S MINCEMEAT LOAF CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C/160Fan/350F.
• Grease and line 2 1lb (450g) loaf tins.
• Simply mix all the ingredients except for the blanched almonds together until they are well incorporated.
• Spoon the mixture into your loaf tins. Stud with the blanched almonds/halved cherries.
• Bake for 1 hour if using 1lb loaf tins or 35-40 minutes for mini loaf tins or until the cakes are shrinking from the sides, risen and golden and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.

MINCEMEAT MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Stir together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
• In a small bowl mix together buttermilk, melted butter and egg. Add wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir until everything is moist.
• Fold in mincemeat and pecans, until evenly incorporated.
• Fill a greased muffin tin ¾ full with batter. Bake 15-20 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to serve or cool completely.

MINCEMEAT

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.

BEST TRADITIONAL MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except for the brandy and rum in a medium-sized pot and slowly bring to a simmer to prevent scorching. Reduce the heat to LOW and simmer uncovered for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, more towards the end to prevent burning. (If the liquid reduces too soon and the mincemeat starts to stick/scorch on the bottom, add a little bit of apple juice or water.) Stir in the brandy and rum. (Note: If you prefer to have the alcohol cooked out, add them at the same time as the other ingredients.)
• Spoon the hot mincemeat into sterilized jars (spooning it in the jar while hot will ensure the suet rises to the top to create a layer of fat). As the mixture cools the suet will harden, creating a seal to help preserve the mincemeat. *If you're including the beef be sure to refrigerate the mincemeat. If you're storing it for more than a couple of weeks follow the directions in the blog post for pressure canning the mincemeat for longer-term storage.See blog post for additional ways of storing your mincemeat.
• Makes about 1 quart. Feel free to double, triple, etc, as needed.
• Use this mincemeat to make Homemade Mince Pies! (click link for recipe)
• Note: Mincemeat is traditionally stored for several months before using to allow time for the flavors to deepen, however this mincemeat is also delicious eaten within just a few days.

BOOZY MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Wash the dried fruit thoroughly in a colander under the cold tap (you may find it easier to do this in batches) - whatever it says on the packet, washing the fruit is something I've (Ruth Watson) always done. Tip the fruit on to clean tea towels and dry by patting in the cloths.
• Put the dried fruit in a very large bowl with the apples, suet, almonds, sugars and spices. Grate the zest of the lemon into the bowl, then squeeze in the juice. Tip in the peel and the alcohol.
• Mix all the ingredients very thoroughly - it's easiest to do this with your (very clean) hands.
• Cover and leave to stand for 24 hours, asking the family to stop and give it a good stir with a spoon when they pass by.
• Pack the mincemeat into sterilised or dishwasher-clean jars (Kilner jars are ideal) and top with greaseproof paper jam covers. Seal the jars tightly and store in a cool place. The mincemeat will last from one year to the next, but's best used within 6 months.

ALL-FRUIT MINCEMEAT PIE RECIPE

Steps:

• Make the filling: In a large saucepan, combine all the filling ingredients. Cook over low heat, covered, for about 40 minutes, until the dried fruit is saturated and plump throughout.
• Using an immersion blender or food processor, roughly purée the mixture until there are still pea-sized pieces in it. Store in the refrigerator for at least 1 week to allow the flavors to deepen.
• Make the pie: Preheat the oven to 450 F. Roll out the bottom crust and place it into a 9-inch pie plate. Fill with 3⅓ cups of mincemeat filling, pour the melted butter over top, and then add the top crust. Cut a few slits into the top crust to allow steam to escape.
• Place the pie on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes, until the crust looks dry. Turn the oven down to 350 F and continue baking for 45 to 55 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling through the slits in the crust.
• Cool completely before slicing, then serve at room temperature.

DRIED-FRUIT MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• Make mincemeat:
• In a food processor coarsely chop mixed dried fruit and dates with spices, salt, and sugar. In a heavy saucepan combine dried-fruit mixture, cranberries, and 2 cups water and cook at a bare simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes, or until fruit is tender (mixture will be very thick). In a small bowl stir together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until combined well. Stir cornstarch mixture into dried-fruit mixture and simmer, stirring frequently, 2 minutes. Stir in brandy and cool mincemeat. Mincemeat may be used immediately but will improve in flavor if kept, covered and chilled, at least 1 day and up to 1 week. Bring mincemeat to room temperature before proceeding.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Keeping remaining dough chilled, on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin roll out half of dough into a 13-inch round (about 1/8 inch thick). Fit round into a 9-inch (1-quart) glass pie plate and trim edge, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Chill shell, covered, 30 minutes, or until firm.
• Coarsely chop pecans and in a shallow baking pan toast in middle of oven until a shade darker, about 4 minutes. Stir pecans into mincemeat and spoon into shell, smoothing top. Roll out remaining dough 1/8 inch thick and arrange over filling. Trim dough, leaving a 3/4-inch overhang, and fold overhang under edge of bottom shell, pressing to seal. Crimp edge decoratively.
• In a small bowl whisk together 1/2 tablespoon water and yolk and lightly brush crust with egg wash. Sprinkle crust with sugar and with a knife cut several steam vents.
• Bake pie in middle of oven until crust is golden, 30 to 35 minutes, and transfer to a rack to cool. Pie may be made 8 hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Serve pie warm or at room temperature.

MINCEMEAT WITH DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl, combine both raisins, currants, peaches, apricots & dates. Set aside.
• In large nonreactive saucepan, combine cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice & ginger, then stir in corn syrup, rum, brown sugar, apple cider syrup & apple juice.
• Add butter & bring to boil over medium heat. Boil 3 minutes.
• Pour hot liquid over dried fruit & stir.
• Cool to room temperature.
• When COMPLETELY cooled, pour/spoon equal amounts into 3 clean quart glass jars, seal tightly & refrigerate up to 12 months.