Brandy & Butter Fruit Mincemeat
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:07 am
Thought I would share my masterpiece. I wanted to make my own, hate the ingredients in store bought jars, but couldn't imagine a Christmas holiday season without fruit mincemeat tarts.
So I looked at a few recipes online. Suet. No thank you! Currents. Meh. Loads of sugar. No. Coconut oil. Nope. Guess I'll wing it and make my own. When making your own you get to name your own recipe. Almost my favourite part!
2 1/2 cups of raisins
375g of dates, diced
2 pears, diced (skin in)
3 apples, diced (skin on)
Rind of 1 lemon, and half of the lemon juiced.
Rind of 2 oranges
1 3/4 cup of orange juice
1 1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 tsp of molasses
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/2 tsp of clove
1 tbsp of cinnamon
2 tsp of corn starch
2 tbsp of brandy (give or take, personal preference)
1/3 cup of butter
Put all ingredients in pot except butter, brandy, corn starch and molasses. Let sit for an hour to get to know one another. Stir a few times.
After the hour or so add molasses, cook on medium, lid on, until you get a slight bubble, then reduce to low. Keep lid on. Cook for approx 30 mins. Fruit should be soft after 30 mins. Remember it will continue to cook as it cools. When your satisfied with the texture of the apple and pear stir in the butter and corn starch and allow to thicken a bit more on low.
Turn off heat, add your brandy and mix well. Transfer to hot mason jars, seal (pop), cool and allow to 'rest' in fridge. I'm sure it gets better with age, but could be used the next day.
Tip: when adding cornstarch I take some of the hot liquid which should be fairly thick already and put into a bowl, mix the corn starch mix well then add back to the pot. This avoids any white clumps and allows for easier mixing.
And your house will smell amazing!!
So I looked at a few recipes online. Suet. No thank you! Currents. Meh. Loads of sugar. No. Coconut oil. Nope. Guess I'll wing it and make my own. When making your own you get to name your own recipe. Almost my favourite part!
2 1/2 cups of raisins
375g of dates, diced
2 pears, diced (skin in)
3 apples, diced (skin on)
Rind of 1 lemon, and half of the lemon juiced.
Rind of 2 oranges
1 3/4 cup of orange juice
1 1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 tsp of molasses
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/2 tsp of clove
1 tbsp of cinnamon
2 tsp of corn starch
2 tbsp of brandy (give or take, personal preference)
1/3 cup of butter
Put all ingredients in pot except butter, brandy, corn starch and molasses. Let sit for an hour to get to know one another. Stir a few times.
After the hour or so add molasses, cook on medium, lid on, until you get a slight bubble, then reduce to low. Keep lid on. Cook for approx 30 mins. Fruit should be soft after 30 mins. Remember it will continue to cook as it cools. When your satisfied with the texture of the apple and pear stir in the butter and corn starch and allow to thicken a bit more on low.
Turn off heat, add your brandy and mix well. Transfer to hot mason jars, seal (pop), cool and allow to 'rest' in fridge. I'm sure it gets better with age, but could be used the next day.
Tip: when adding cornstarch I take some of the hot liquid which should be fairly thick already and put into a bowl, mix the corn starch mix well then add back to the pot. This avoids any white clumps and allows for easier mixing.
And your house will smell amazing!!