Making your own fruit mince is the key to melt in your mouth Christmas mince pies that everyone will love. Ready made mince from the supermarket often has bits of red and green jelly pieces which are artificially coloured and are meant to imitate cherries, instead this recipe uses pineapple and apricots to sweeten and bind the ingredients together.
For the most delicious fruit mince it’s best to leave it in sealed jars for a couple of weeks before making your pies, this gives time for the flavours to combine and develop. Did you know that in the middle ages there was a custom that said if you eat a mince pie on every day from Christmas to Twelfth Night (evening of the 5th January) you will have happiness for the next 12 months!
My favourite Christmas pies are those without a sealed lid, cutting out a wee star and placing on top is much more festive, especially with a sprinkle of icing sugar before serving. This recipe is Wendyl’s version of former Woman’s Weekly food editor Tui Flower’s wonderful creation. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Christmas Mince Pies
1 cup currants
1 ¼ cup raisins
1 cup sultanas
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1 small (234g) tin well-drained pineapple pieces
¼ cup blanched almonds
1 granny smith apple
1 tsp finely grated lemon rind
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup brown sugar
¼ tsp mixed spice
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ cup brandy or rum
125g clarified butter
Chop the currants, raisins, sultanas and apricots and place in a bowl. Chop the pineapple and almonds coarsely and add to the fruit. Peel and core the apple and chop finely. Add prepared apple, lemon rind and juice to the bowl, together with the sugar, spices, brandy or rum. Mix together well.
Melt the butter over a low heat and pour into the fruit mixture. Stir until the butter is blended into the mixture. Spoon into dry jars and seal. Allow to mature for a couple of weeks before using.
To make mince pies make (this recipe is pretty easy) or buy some sweet short pastry and line your tins with it. Add the fruit mince and leave uncovered or cut out a star and place on top of each one. Brush with a little milk. Bake at 180 degrees C for 10 to 15 minutes until golden.
Comments 8
Just quering, what peel !!! is placed in bowl with currants,raisin, sultanas??? Is it the apricot’s as they aren’t mentioned in the method of putting it all together.
Author
Sorry Kris! I changed out apricots for peel but forgot to change instructions. Have corrected now and thanks for alerting me!
Is clarified butter easy to find at supermarkets? Or can you replace it? Thanks ?
Author
That’s a good question, I’ve made my own, here’s how if you’d like to give it a try, https://paleoleap.com/making-clarified-butter-ghee/ However I’m sure regular butter or a butter substitute would be fine.
Yum! How many mince pies does this recipe make and do you just use a muffin tin?
Author
Hi, it depends how much mince you put in each one, this recipe makes around 6.5 cups of fruit mince 🙂
Hi there just wondering whether the jars need to be properly sealed add you would with jam? The fruit won’t ferment? Thank you
Author
Yes you do need to seal the jars properly and leave them for a couple of weeks.