Mincemeat cookies – Caroline’s Cooking

Modified: Jan 2, 2025 · Published: Dec 24, 2024 by Caroline

These mincemeat cookies are straightforward to make and with a scrumptious mixture of cakey cookies texture with fruit and spice flavors. They’re an effective way to make use of up leftover mincemeat, or discover any excuse to take pleasure in.

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In the UK and Australia, mince pies are synonymous with the festive season. True, it may be all too straightforward to only purchase some prepared made ones, however they seem to be a pretty deal with recent from the oven, too.

And if you wish to go just a little step additional, making your individual mincemeat is straightforward too (and my sugar free mincemeat is that bit more healthy with no added sugar, simply the fruits’ pure sweetness).

But no matter mincemeat you employ, it’s possible you’ll find yourself with just a little leftover and marvel what to do with it. Or possibly you’ve gotten some within the household much less in to mince pies. But do not fret, there is a answer for each – these tasty cookies!

I’ve seen some ideas that these are an quaint type of cookie, however I am unable to discover any specific supply to provide extra particulars. But since utilizing up leftovers is as outdated as time, and mincemeat itself is dates again to the Middle Ages, it appears extremely potential somebody had this concept some time again. And whereas they’re quite simple, the result’s so tasty.

Ingredients in mincemeat cookies

As I say, these use solely a handful of substances, basically normal cookie substances plus mincemeat:

• Mincemeat – additionally known as fruit mince, this can be a spiced fruit combination that is mostly used because the filling for mince pies. You should buy it in nearly any meals store within the UK in the course of the festive season and whereas it is much less straightforward to search out within the US, you may get it on-line. You can even make your individual (you would attempt my sugar free mincemeat recipe that is much less candy than business manufacturers however filled with plenty of scrumptious items of fruit and properly spiced)
• Flour – a key to creating the mincemeat right into a baked good, simply common plain/all function flour is sweet right here.
• Sugar – I’ve used a combination of each white and brown sugar right here, however you would use only one or the opposite, as you’ve gotten and like. Brown sugar typically makes cookies chewier, whereas white makes them much less dense. Brown has extra taste whereas white is sweeter, so preserve these in thoughts in the event you adapt.
• Butter – that is the fats that provides taste and texture. I like to recommend unsalted because the salt stage can differ in salted butter, and as a substitute add a splash of salt individually.
• Egg – this helps to bind the combination and provides to the feel as effectively. The white specifically is a part of what provides a gentle cakey texture.
• Baking soda – additionally known as bicarbonate of soda, this lightens the combination as it is a leavening agent.
• Vanilla extract – this provides taste and helps convey out the opposite flavors, too.

They comply with a reasonably normal technique as effectively – cream collectively the butter and sugars, combine within the different moist substances (egg and vanilla) then add the dry substances (flour, baking soda) in addition to the mincemeat. Mix all of it collectively so effectively mixed.

Tips for making these

As I say, these are fairly straightforward, however a pair factors to assist them prove effectively.

Firstly, I like to recommend utilizing a mixer firstly – handheld is ok since it is a small quantity (or I have a tendency to make use of a stick/immersion blender). You can beat by hand nevertheless it’s tougher to get the butter and sugar to be a lightweight texture.

However, I like to recommend you combine within the flour and mincemeat by hand. This avoids breaking apart the items of fruit within the mincemeat. True, the flavour will not be a lot totally different, however I believe it appears to be like lots nicer to have chunks of raisin and so on than brown smudges all through.

Line a baking sheet/tray to assist keep away from the cookies sticking – I like utilizing a silicone baking mat so you may reuse it. Use a cookie scoop or a spoon and a spatula to scoop the combination into cookies. The form could be a little rustic, and they’re going to soften just a little, however attempt to spherical them no less than just a little.

Leave area between the cookies as they’ll unfold just a little as they bake. Check on them in direction of the tip to examine they’re gently browned with out being too darkish. They will nonetheless be a bit gentle.

Optional additions

While I’ve left these as merely a plain cookie, you would add in just a few additions to the combination like mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts.

You may additionally embellish them in the event you like. You can mud them with powdered sugar (icing sugar) – you most likely must brush with butter to assist it stick. Alternatively, add a lightweight glaze to them. An orange glaze can be very becoming flavor-wise (merely powdered/icing sugar blended with just a little orange juice and ideally zest).

If you glaze them, you would additionally add some ornament, much like cucidati. However they’re tasty simply as they’re, too, so do not feel the necessity to make them extra difficult in the event you do not need to!

These mincemeat cookies are flavorful, festive and really easy to make. Whether you are making them to make use of up leftovers or not, they’re effectively value a couple of minutes effort. They have been an immediate hit in our home so I hope they’re going to be widespread in yours.

Try these different festive cookies:

• Pepparkakor (Swedish ginger thins, crisp with gingerbread-like flavors)
• Zimtsterne (cinnamon star-shaped cookies, with a meringue-like glaze)
• Brunkager (Danish spiced Christmas cookies with nuts within the dough too)
• Plus get extra Christmas recipes within the archives.

I’d suggest utilizing a Silicone Baking Mat on high of a Half Baking Sheet to make these. (affiliate hyperlinks)

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