Cranberry Jewelled Mincemeat Recipes

CRANBERRY MINCEMEAT TARTS

Steps:

• In saucepan, combine mincemeat and cranberry sauce, stir constantly till almost boiling on medium heat.
• Remove from heat.
• Grate orange peel and chop orange segments.
• Add orange peel, (I only used the zest and took the peel off the orange) chopped orange and liqueur.
• Spoon into tart shell and place on baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated 400*F oven for about 20 minutes or until pastry is golden.

JEWELLED MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Peel, core and chop the apples, then put them in a large pan with the spices, sugar, citrus zests and juices. Bring to the boil then cover and simmer for about 10 mins until the apples start to soften. Add the cranberries, raisins and alcohol. Bringto the boil, stirring well, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 mins, uncovered, until thickened. Stir in the apricots, nuts and tropical fruits. Remove from the heat, leave to cool, then pack into sterilised jars. Seal, label and keep for up to one month in the fridge, or six months in the freezer.

CRANBERRY-MINCEMEAT PIE

Steps:

• Roll out 1/2 the pie crust and ease it into a 9-inch pie pan. Refrigerate.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. In a bowl, combine the mincemeat, cranberry sauce and apple. Spread into the pie crust. Roll out the remaining dough and use it to cover the pie, sealing the edges with your fingers, and use a knife to cut a number of small vents in the top; alternatively, cut strips of dough and make a lattice top for the pie.
• Bake the pie for 10 minutes at 450 degrees. Lower the oven temperature to 350 and continue to bake for an additional 35 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned and the filling is bubbly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CRANBERRY MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Whizz together the flour, icing sugar and butter until they form fine crumbs. With the blades running, add the zest, then the egg and process for a few secs until the mixture forms clumps. If you need to, work in a few trickles of ice cold water, but try and avoid it if you can for the shortest pastry.
• Tip onto a very lightly floured surface, knead briefly until smooth, then chill in the fridge for 30 mins or until firm. Can be made up to 3 days ahead or frozen for up to a month.
• Lightly dust the work surface with flour, then roll pastry out to approx £1 thickness. Cut out 12 x 8cm rounds with a fluted cutter and press into a 12-hole non-stick bun tin. Re-roll the trimmings to the same thickness and stamp out 12 x 5cm rounds for the tops. If you like, use a star cutter to cut out star shapes in the top of the pies, or simply cut crosses in the middle.
• Spoon about 1 dessertspoon mincemeat into each base, sprinkle with cranberries, then press on the tops. Chill for 20 mins while you heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Can be frozen for up to 1 month at this point.
• Brush the tops with the egg, then bake for 15-20 mins until golden and crisp. Cool for a few mins, then lever out of the tins with a table knife and cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Warm gently to serve, dusted with sifted icing sugar.

JEWELLED MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Put flour, almonds, butter, orange zest and sugar in a food processor and whizz into crumbs. Add the egg yolk and a teaspoon of cold water and pulse to form a dough. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to fan 180C/ conventional 200C/gas 6.Roll out the dough thinly and, with an 8-9cm plain cutter, stamp out 18 rounds - they need to be larger than the bun tin holes. Use to line one and a half 12-hole bun tins, pinching and fluting the dough edges above the level of the tins with your fingers.
• Put a heaped teaspoon of mincemeat in each case. Quickly knead the trimmings and roll out. Use a star cutter to make 18 stars.
• Put a star on top of each pie. Brush stars and pastry edges with egg white and dust lightly with caster sugar. (The pies can be frozen at this stage in the tins, then removed, packed into freezer bags and frozen for up to 3 months.) Bake the pies for 12-15 minutes (18-20 minutes from frozen) until the pastry is crisp and golden. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

CRANBERRY JEWELLED MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Tip the dried fruits and mixed peel into a large bowl. Pour over the brandy, zests and juices. Stir, then cover and leave to soak for 24 hrs.
• Tip the mixture into a large saucepan with the remaining ingredients and stir well. Set over a medium heat and, once the suet has melted, turn up the heat and bubble for a few mins. Pack while hot into sterilised jars (see tip, below). Leave in a cool, dark cupboard for at least a fortnight, or for up to 6 months.