Home made Mincemeat

This is a simple to make mincemeat without beef or vegetable suet. It is naturally vegetarian and can easily be adapted for vegans.

Home made Mincemeat

Makes 2 x 1lb jars (enough for over 24 mince pies)

Ingredients

 

300g Mixed dried fruit and peel

100g Ready to eat apricots (chopped into small pieces)

100g Dried cranberries

200g Soft Dark Brown Sugar

1/2tsp Ground mace or 1 tsp grated nutmeg

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon

2 tsp Ground Mixed Spice

Finely grated zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon

6 tbsp Cointreau/Brandy/Port or a mixture ! (or use fruit juice for alcohol free)

8 tbsp. orange/lemon juice from the fruits

6 Cardammon pods split and the seeds crushed

50g Butter (or dairy free alternative for vegans)

15g Dark Chocolate Chips (or vegan chocolate) - I add this simply to darken and help to prevent the mincemeat bubbling over during baking. No chocolate flavour.

Preparation

Finely grate the zests from the lemon and the orange and put to one side. In a large pan melt the butter, the sugar and the fruit juices over a low heat. When the sugar is no longer grainy add all the other ingredients, making sure everything is well combined. Stir over a low to medium heat for about 10 minutes and allow the mincemeat to bubble then take from the heat.  Transfer to warm sterilised jars and seal.  If you want to use the mincemeat straight away make sure it is cold.
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