I may be chastised for it, but I know I’m not alone in my love of Christmas. I’m not one of these curmudgeonly people who complain about the shops having their Christmas displays up in April. I revel in the cosy feeling you get from the warm pine scent of the Christmas tree standing next to the fire, its lights twinkling like the frost on the windowpane.
I adore the idea of roasting chestnuts by candlelight and boiling Christmas Puddings for six hours. As I get older, the meaning of Christmas takes on a greater significance. It is a time to spend with your loved ones, appreciative of what you have, and not dwelling on what you don’t have. To play Christmas Carols and to gild walnuts, stringing them to the tree. Satsumas in Stockings. A glass of Sherry and a Mince Pie left out for Saint Nicholas. Sugar Plums and Plum Pudding.
I remember my early Christmases, which were always spent at my grandparents. The men of the household would visit the local pub sometime around 10am (and I can’t really blame them, if you so much as entered the kitchen, my grandmother would transform into a snarling, spitting hellcat) and re-emerge at around 1.30pm. My grandmother was demoniacal about the turkey being perfect and would quite literally pull her hair out with frustration.
One year my granddad persuaded her to cook it upside down, because he had seen a TV chef prepare one that way. However, not only did she cook it upside down, she also served it upside down. My mother had to pinch my leg hard enough to draw blood to assuage my childish snickering as this deformed, one-legged tipsy looking turkey was produced. In fact, it was the best turkey she had ever cooked but her mortification at serving a less than attractive turkey ensured that every year thereafter, the turkey was cooked – and served – right side up.
To me, it still means cooking lots of ‘once a year’ things, but advance prep, like pickles and preserves, for when, on Boxing Day, sated but still peckish, you serve bread, chips, hummous, peanuts, mince pies and Satsumas for people to lazily help themselves to.
Adding the processed dried fruit to the processed fresh fruit How the cooked Mincemeat should look Jarred and ready to preserve!
I am boycotting the latent commercialism of Christmastime in my own small way by making my own mincemeat (and therefore, mince pies), Christmas cake, all baked cruelty free.
The mincemeat uses a wonderful Pennsylvania Dutch recipe and lots of fresh fruit that add a real lightness of flavour. It’s also made without suet. I find that suet adds a greasiness that I don’t enjoy, and omitting it, makes the mincemeat slightly healthier too! I have 2 large jars sitting, steeping, in the kitchen, flavoured with Amaretto which smells more like Marzipan than Marzipan itself.
Contents
Mincemeat FAQs
Mincemeat is really easy to make! I use my smoothie maker to blend up the fruit (I add a little cider to each blended batch to make it easier to pulse), but I don’t have a food processor! A food processor will make the process even easier!
I like to keep a quarter cup of dried fruit aside to stir through to the mixture before cooking, just to add a little more texture.
Can I modify the fruit?
You can! Providing you keep the ratio between fresh and dry fruit as close as possible, then feel free to add fresh or dried cranberries, an extra orange instead of lemon, some more peel or glace cherries, or an extra apple. This recipe is very forgiving, but I would suggest if you find you’ve used a little more fruit that the recipe, then just cook it down for a little bit longer.
How can I tell when the Mincemeat is cooked?
You are looking for a “dry texture”, which is to say, you want any liquid that might have been on the surface to have evaporated. If you still have a little liquid, just cook gently for a bit longer.
What can I use Mincemeat for?
- Mince Pies
- Stir some into a Christmas Cake or Pudding
- Place a spoonful into vanilla muffin batter before baking
- Mincemeat Slices
- Mincemeat Filo Parcels
Vegan Mincemeat Recipe (no suet)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Orange large, cut into quarters, seeded
- ½ Lemon cut in half and deseeded
- 2 Apples cooking, cored and cut into large chunks
- 1 cup Raisins
- ¾ cup Currants or a mixture of mixed peel, dried cranberries, glace cherries
- ½ cup dried Cranberries
- ¼ cup mixed Peel
- ¼ cup Maraschino Cherries optional
- 1 cup Cider (I used alcoholic, but feel free to use apple juice)
- 1¾ cup dark brown Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon each of cinnamon, ground cloves, ground coriander, mixed spice, ground ginger and freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ cup Amaretto or Brandy or Whiskey (optional)
Instructions
- Using a food processor or blender, process the apple, orange, lemon and most of the dried fruit (keep ¼ cup aside) until combined but not smooth. You don't want any large lumps, but you need some texture. I use a little of the cider to help process it easily.
- Add this, along with the reserved ¼ cup of dried fruit and the rest of the cider to a large saucepan
- Bring to a boil, but quickly turn down to a very gentle simmer. Do not cover.
- Simmer for about 15 minutes or until the mixture starts to dry out (the cider has basically evaporated). Stir frequently to avoid the mixture from sticking.
- Now add the brown sugar, salt and spices, stir well, and simmer for another 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and, if using, stir in your alcohol of choice.
- Decant into sterilised jars. Leave for at least 1 week before using.
Nutrition
I have to be honest, I had no idea what mincemeat was so I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this was! I turned it into a pie and it was great!
This recipe will come in handy in the Holiday season! Thank you so much! I can’t wait to try it!
Freya, I loved your recipe! Really nice yummy flavors! I will make another batch next week! Thanks for the clear steps, they were very easy to follow!
Thank you for the straightforward and easy instructions on how to make vegan mincemeat. This recipe is absolutely fantastic, now I can use my homemade mincemeat in my pies. How awesome!
Oh what a great recipe! I’m all about xmas too. So much so we do xmas in July too! Just so I can have an excuse to put the tree up twice in a year.
This vegan mincemeat it’s exactly what I was looking for. Recipe saved I can’t wait to make it this Christmas!
I LOVE mince pies. One of my favorite Christmas desserts. I never made them from scratch but maybe now I will with your delicious mince meat.
You speak my mind when you mention commercialism and holidays! I make my own mincemeat too, but I have never tried a cooked version. I made a note of your recipe to try this winter:)
I’ve always found suet mincemeat to be a bit heavy. I love how light and flavorful this is!