Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (2024)

What is mincemeat? We’re here to break down the confusion behind this boozy fruit concoction and share a recipe to make your own homemade mincemeat.

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (1)

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘mincemeat’?

Does it conjure images of an old-school British pie?

But, what’s inside that pie?

If you’re from the States, that pie is probably filled with lots of confusion.

So, let’s back up.

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (2)

Traditionally, what is Mincemeat?

Mincemeat developed as a way of preserving meat. Traditional mincemeat from the 15th -17th centuries contained a mixture of meat and fruits with vinegar or wine that was used as a preservative.

In the 18th century, liquor such as brandy or rum began to be used instead of thevinegar or wine.

And, over time itevolved to contain suet (beef or mutton fat) instead of meat.

What is mincemeat today?

Today, mincemeat is almost better known as “fruitmince” since it typically only contains dried fruits such as raisins, currants, cherries, apricots or candied citrus peel, along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves (or allspice).

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (3)

This mixture is then aged withbrandy or rum, todeepen the flavors and activate the preserving effect of alcohol, which, over time will break down the proteins and change the texture of the mixture.

Since we make our mincemeat only a month or two before we’ll be using it, the texture doesn’t have time to change all that much.

But, the liquor does have time to really get into all the ingredients. Making itquite tasty.

How to make Mincemeat

Making mincemeat is so incredibly simple.

  • chop
  • simmer
  • add alcohol
  • age

Your fruit (dried and fresh) is all chopped to roughly the same size, to make sure the alcohol can evenly penetrate the pieces.

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (4)

The fruit is then simmered to break down the fresh fruit and soften the whole mixture.

Then the alcohol is added. (We do it after simmering, so that we don’t cook off the alcohol.)

Finally, your mincemeat just needs to be aged for a month or two, to let the flavors really come together so that it can be used in your favorite holiday treat!

Homemade Mincemeat without alcohol

If you’d like to give mincemeat a try, but are looking for it to be a bit more kid-friendly, you have a couple of options.

If you want the liquor flavor, without the alcohol, you can add the liquor while the mixture is simmering and cook off the alcohol.

Or, since we’re just using the liquor as a flavoring and not a preservative, you could simply use apple cider in place of the liquor.

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (5)

Stir for good luck!

Do be careful to only stir your mincemeat mixture clockwise while cooking, becausetradition has it, that stirring counterclockwise is bad luck for the coming year.

If you’d like to make Mince Piewith your mincemeat, be sure to check out our recipe HERE.

For a fun twist to your holiday cookie platter, try our Mincemeat Cookies. And, if you’re looking for a unique breakfast idea, try making Mincemeat Muffins!

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (6)

As a side note: We make this mincemeat nearly every year, the lighting is what makes some of the pictures look darker than others. Enjoy!

Yield: 2 c (roughly 24 oz by weight) of mincemeat

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (7)

Sweet and boozy this fruit mincemeat will have you looking for new ways to use it this Holiday season!

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet apples, peeled, cored and diced (Gala works well)
  • 1 large orange, zested, peeled and diced
  • 1 c raisins
  • ½ c golden raisins
  • ½ c dried apricots, chopped
  • 1/3 c dark brown sugar
  • ¼ c lemon juice
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp allspice
  • ½ c brandy*, (bottom shelf is fine)

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, mix diced apples, orange zest, diced orange fruit, and remaining ingredients except the brandy. Stir and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes.
  2. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the brandy.*
  3. Place the mixture in an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks before using, to let the flavors meld.
  4. This will keep in the fridge 2-3 months.

Notes

*If you do not want alcohol in your finished mincemeat, you can either heat the brandy with the fruit mixture to a good simmer, to cook off the alcohol, or use fresh apple cider instead.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1/8 of recipe

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 113

If you liked this recipe, here are some similar dishes you may enjoy!

  • Beer Can Chicken
  • Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf With Cranberries
  • Chivito (Uruguayan Steak and Egg Sandwich)
  • Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned
  • Albondigas (Tapas Spanish Meatballs)
  • Swiss Muesli Recipe
  • Chocolate Pots de Crème
  • French 75 Cocktail

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (16)

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Sarah is one of Curious Cuisiniere’s founding duo. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.

www.curiouscuisiniere.com/about/

Homemade Mincemeat Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (2024)

FAQs

How to pimp up mincemeat? ›

I like to pimp up my mincemeat with a couple of extras though – a little apple adds some extra juiciness, and some dried cranberries for a modern (& tasty!) touch.

How long does homemade mincemeat keep for? ›

The containers you use must be scrupulously clean, so I like to use jars straight out of the dishwasher or I sterilise them in the oven. What is this? If you store it in a cool dark place the mincemeat will last for up to 1 year unopened. Once open store in the refrigerator and use within 3=4 months.

How to improve mincemeat? ›

Simply take your mincemeat and place it in a clean, sterilised jar. Pour in some rum, and let it sit for a week. During this time, the flavours will meld and create a delightful concoction that's perfect for the season.

Why should you stir mincemeat clockwise when making mince pies? ›

Traditions, folklore and superstitions

Stirring the mincemeat was quite an event, and English tradition dictates that it should only be stirred clockwise. Stirring the mincemeat anti-clockwise would lead to bad luck and poor fortune in the coming 12 months.

What makes mince taste better? ›

It can also be seasoned with a variety of spices and herbs to add flavour. Some recipes also call for the addition of breadcrumbs or eggs to bind the meat and help it retain its shape during cooking. Another reason that makes minced meat so popular is that it's easy to store in the fridge after you've cooked it.

Why does my mincemeat taste bitter? ›

Mincemeat over time does deepen in colour but the bitter taste may be that you pressed too hard when the citrus zests were grated!

Can you freeze home made mincemeat? ›

Top the mincemeat with the pastry lids, push around the edges to seal, then poke 1-2 small holes into each to allow steam to escape. Wrap the whole tray well in cling film. Will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To cook, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6.

Is it OK to eat out of date mincemeat? ›

Store mince correctly

The minced meat remains safe to eat as long as it has been correctly refrigerated and consumed by the use-by date on the package. However, because of the large surface area of mince, it tends to have a shorter shelf life than other meat.

What can you substitute for suet in mincemeat? ›

If you can't find suet then we have found that grated vegetable shortening (such as Trex, Crisco or Copha) is a good substitute.

Why is mincemeat so expensive? ›

Mincemeat isn't difficult to make, but it has a lot of ingredients, which can make it expensive to produce in small batches, and it requires at least a day's advance planning to let the ingredients sit.

Which way do you stir mincemeat for good luck? ›

English tradition demands that the mince meat mixture should only be stirred in a clockwise direction. To stir it anticlockwise is to bring bad luck for the coming year. Another English custom is for all the family to take a turn in stirring the mincemeat mixture whilst making a wish.

Which way should you stir your mincemeat for good luck? ›

When making the mincemeat mixture for the pies, for good luck it should be stirred in a clockwise direction. You should always make a wish when eating the first mince pie of the season and you should never cut one with a knife.

Why can't you eat mince pies on Christmas Day? ›

It has been claimed that eating the snack is illegal in England if done so on Christmas Day. The tradition comes from the time of Oliver Cromwell in the 1650s, when mince pies were banned at Christmas, along with other tasty treats. Cromwell wanted to tackle gluttony in England.

Do you cook mince on high or low? ›

Get your pan and oil nice and hot over medium-high heat before adding the mince meat in batches, otherwise it will stew. While in some recipes it's important to break up the mince as it cooks, stirring it constantly won't allow it to brown.

How do you thicken mincemeat pie filling? ›

When thickening a fruit pie filling, there are several options to consider. Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

What can I add to store-bought mincemeat? ›

Vine fruits and apple provide much of the body. Candied fruit is important too—usually lemon and orange peel, but sometimes cherries. Ginger and prunes are welcome additions, too. The essential trinity of spices is cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, but the ingredient list may just say "spices," which isn't very helpful.

How do you jazz up shop bought mincemeat? ›

A bit of orange zest is a good addition, too. Yes mrscakes or grand marnier might be nice. I chuck some rum in mine.

What to add to shop bought mincemeat for mince pies? ›

If I were in a mince pie emergency situation and had to use shop-bought mincemeat then I am sure it could be very nicely pepped up by adding in a few chopped apples, some spices or a slug of plum brandy.

What can I add to mince to make it go further? ›

5 tips to make mince go further
  1. Add parsnip. Parsnip works really well mixed in with mince dishes as well. ...
  2. Add onions and tinned tomatoes. If you want to make your meals go further then every time you make a mince dish you should add twice the amount of onions and two cans of tomatoes.
  3. Add pulses.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Tuan Roob DDS

Last Updated:

Views: 5583

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tuan Roob DDS

Birthday: 1999-11-20

Address: Suite 592 642 Pfannerstill Island, South Keila, LA 74970-3076

Phone: +9617721773649

Job: Marketing Producer

Hobby: Skydiving, Flag Football, Knitting, Running, Lego building, Hunting, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Tuan Roob DDS, I am a friendly, good, energetic, faithful, fantastic, gentle, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.