Mincemeat and Mince Pies

Mincemeat

11 pts per jar makes 4 x 450g jars  (original points)

225 g soft dark brown sugar
220 ml apple juice
900 g cooking apples, chopped
grated zest & jucie of 1 lemon
½ tsp ground allspice
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp grated nutmeg
225 g currants
225 g raisins
55 g glace cherries, halved
100 g nibbed almonds
1 tbsp calvados or brandy



Mix all of the ingredients and pack into sterilised jars.

Mince Pies

Use shortcrust pastry recipe below & ½ jar of the mincemeat makes 12 pies 3.5pts each (original points)

Shortcrust Pastry

Makes 230g - 32 pts


230 g plain white flour
pinch of salt
8 tbsp hard margarine, chilled
8 tsp cold water


Rub the margarine into the flour and salt until it resembles breadcrumbs.  bring the pastry together with the water. Form into a ball and wrap in cling film.  Chill for at least 20 mins before using.

Mince Pies

Serves 36

Points per serving: 1

300 g filo pastry, packet, thawed if frozen
1 spray low-fat cooking spray
350 g mincemeat
4 teaspoon icing sugar

Preheat oven to Gas Mark 6/200°C/400°F.

Unfold filo pastry and use half of it to line 36 patty tins, layering 4 small squares of pastry into each patty tin, and misting each layer of pastry with a little spray cooking oil.

Place 1 teaspoonful of mincemeat into each pastry case. Top with pieces of the remaining fillo pastry, scrunched up into folds. Mist each one with spray cooking oil.

Bake for about 8 - 10 minutes until golden brown.

Serve warm, dusted with icing sugar.

Mini Mince Pies

Serves 24

Points per serving 1

5 sheets filo pastry (defrosted)

50g butter, melted

8 tbsp mincemeat

2 tsp icing sugar

Preheat oven to Gas Mark 5 / 190º Fan Oven 170ºC

Keep the sheets of filo pastry in one pile, then cut into 24 pieces about 6cm (2 ½ “) square. Lightly brush the separate squares with melted butter.

Layer 5 pieces each into 24 paper mini muffin cases

Place on baking sheets and add a teaspoon of mincemeat to each case

Bake for 6-8 mins or until pastry is golden.

Serve, sprinkled with icing sugar

This is originally from a WW book called Merry Christmas.

Mincemeat 

Core & no count recipe

Points plan 4 pts for the whole recipe

Use filo pastry to make mince pies at minimal points.

Filo pastry is 4 pts per 100g (Jusrol 2 pts per sheet)

1 teaspoon brandy essence
½ tsp mixed spice,
pinch freshly grated nutmeg
½ " fresh ginger, peeled and grated
100g fresh dates, stoned and chopped finely
1 ripe banana, peeled and mashed
1 dessert apple, grated
Artificial sweetener to taste

Add everything except bananas and mix well.
Stir well and leave to stand for 1-2 hours, stirring from time to time.
Add the banana and mix well.
Add artificial sweetener to taste if needed.