Marzipan Mincemeat Apples Recipes

MINCEMEAT, MARZIPAN & APPLE TARTE FINE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with baking parchment, and unroll the pastry on top. Prick all over with a fork, then spread the mincemeat over the pastry so it's covered in a thin layer, leaving a 1cm border around the edges. Chill for 20 mins.
• Roll the marzipan out on a work surface dusted with icing sugar to a roughly 30 x 21cm rectangle that's about 2mm thick. Drape it over the rolling pin and lay over the pastry, on top of the mincemeat layer. It should fit neatly in the middle of the pastry, within the border. Chill for another 20 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 with a baking sheet inside. Peel and core the apples, but keep them whole. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, thinly slice the apples crosswise, so you end up with thin apple rings. Arrange the apple rings over the marzipan in an overlapping tight spiral shape that goes from the outside into the centre, or in neat overlapping lines. Dot over the butter and sprinkle with the sugar.
• Bake for 35-40 mins until the apples are golden and caramelised, and the pastry is cooked through. Serve in small slices with crème fraîche. Will keep, covered in the fridge, for up to three days.

MINCEMEAT, APPLE & MARZIPAN WREATH

Steps:

• Unravel the pastry, cut off a 4cm strip along the width and chill this piece until later. Cut the remaining pastry in half lengthways. Place the pastry pieces end to end, so you have one long rectangle, squashing the cut ends together to seal. Scatter over the marzipan and orange zest, leaving a border of about 1cm free along one side. Spoon the mincemeat along the centre, like you're making sausage rolls, then top with the apple.
• Brush a little beaten egg over the exposed pastry edge. Starting from the other side, roll into a long sausage, sealing with the eggwashed edge. Use a sharp knife or a pair of scissors to snip almost all the way into the pastry at a slight angle at 5cm intervals, keeping all the pieces attached along one edge. Coil into a ring, with the cut pieces on the outside to help it bend, and tuck one end into the other to give a neat finish. Brush the wreath with egg, then use the trimmings from earlier to make decorations, such as stars or holly leaves, and brush these with egg too. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with baking parchment and chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the wreath for 20 mins or until golden brown. Dust with icing sugar and serve warm for dessert, or cold as an alternative to mince pies.

MARZIPAN & MINCEMEAT APPLES

Steps:

• Cut the apples in half widthways. Remove and discard cores, then stand the apples in a microwave-safe dish. Break the marzipan into small chunks and mix with the mincemeat and lemon zest. Spoon into the centre of the apples and pour over the lemon juice.
• Cover the dish with cling film, pierce several times and microwave on High for 4½ minutes. If you don't have a turntable and the apples are not cooking evenly, turn the dish halfway through.
• Remove the cling film and leave to stand for 5 minutes before serving.

CRANBERRY & MARZIPAN BAKED APPLES

Steps:

• Chop marzipan into small chunks and mix with the cranberries, flaked almonds and honey.
• Core apples and mark a line around the circumference of each using a sharp knife. Set the apples in a shallow ovenproof dish that fits them snugly and stuff the cavities with the cranberry mix.
• Pour the water into the dish. Bake at fan 170C/conventional 190C/gas 5 for 30-40 minutes until the apples are tender. Cool for 10 minutes before serving with custard or clotted cream.