OK, last mincemeat recipe for this year, I promise. This one I couldn’t resist, especially given my rediscovery of cider thanks to Dick and Cath of Cider Buzz Manchester, and Cider Women.
And I mean proper cider, not the sugar laden, never been near an apple stuff.
Much like all of my mincemeat recipes, it’s less heavy than the traditional stuff, but still with all the Christmas spices about it. And it’s genuinely easy to make – the most arduous bit is measuring, and peeling and grating the fruit. And once it’s made, you can just grab a pack of ready made pastry from the supermarket, and you can wow friends and family with your homemade treats.
For this, I used Hogan’s Medium Cider, because it’s what Stretford Foodhall had in. But this is quite an adaptable recipe. I think Raison D’Etre from Ross on Wye Cider would be amazing in it, with that hint of smoke. You could easily be do this recipe with a perry too, and you could even swap out the grated cooking apples, for grated pears.
Enough waffle from me, here’s the recipe. I hope you enjoy it!
Christmas Mincemeat with Cider
A distinctly fruity take on a Christmas classic
Ingredients
- 300 grams Cooking apples
- 50 grams Flaked toasted almonds
- t tbsp Ground Mixed spice
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 250 ml Medium Cider
- 100 grams Coconut oil/or vegetarian suet
- 100 grams Raisins
- 100 grams Currants (if you don't like them, switch them out for more raisins or sultanas)
- 100 grams Sultanas
- 125 grams Mixed candied peel
- 175 grams Soft brown sugar
- 1/2 Lemon - zest and juice
- 1/2 Orange - zest and juice
Instructions
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Put all the ingredients into a large ovenproof bowl, and mix until combined.
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Cover, and leave overnight.
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The next day, set your oven to it's lowest setting.
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Remove the cover, stir it the mincemeat, and put it into the oven, on the bottom. Don't re-cover it.
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Leave it for four hours, checking on it, and stirring occasionally.
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Remove from the oven and leave it to cool. This can be put into sterilised jars and will keep, sealed, for up to three years. If it lasts that long - mine never does!
