Mincemeat pies- These easy to make mini mincemeat pies have become a family tradition during the holiday season and they don't contain actual meat! Our recipe is not entirely like the traditional recipes. However, these Christmas pies are filled with all the flavors of warm spices, orange peel, and dried fruits found in more traditional mincemeat pie filling. We added butter to our mincemeat pie recipe, and a more traditional American ingredient, bourbon!
Homemade mince pies make wonderful gifts during the Christmas season. I love boxing them up with some dried orange slices. We use our tender flaky pie dough recipe for the pie crust. You can use a store-bought pie crust or your own favorite recipe.
For more recipe ideas using pie crust for the Christmas season check out our Caramel Apple Empanadas and Cherry Mascarpone Cheese Crostata.
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What You're Going to Need!
- Green apples - the perfect tartness for this recipe.
- Orange - zest is a wonderful way to add a pop of citrus flavor.
- Raisins - using both standard and golden raisins are essential for the mincemeat.
- Golden raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Ginger - fresh is our preferred always.
- Cinnamon - ground.
- Clove - ground.
- Allspice - ground.
- Nutmeg - fresh ground.
- Sugar- granulated sugar works best for this recipe.
- Bourbon - we love bourbon in our house! However, a more traditional liquor to use would be brandy.
- Butter - unsalted.
- Flaky pie crust - either our recipe, store bought, or your favorite pie dough recipe.
See recipe card for quantities.
Recipe
Mincemeat Pies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Peel, core, and dice the apple into small pieces about the same size as the dried cranberries.
- Measure and weigh all of the ingredients.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the butter, when the butter is melted add the diced apples and dried fruit. Stir to combine, cook for about 4-5 minutes or until the apples have softened.
- Add the sugar and stir to combine and coat the fruit with the sugar. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until the sugar is no longer grainy.
- Add the spices and the orange zest and stir to combine and coat evenly.
- Add the bourbon and carefully tip the pan to the burner lighting the bourbon on fire. Let it burn until the alcohol is gone.
- Place the mincemeat into a large bowl and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350℉
- If using premade pie dough press all of the pieces together and then proceed to cut the pieces as directed below.
- Cut the tender pie dough recipe batch in half, cut 1 half into 12 small pieces.
- Using about 2 tbsps. of softened butter and a paper towel, evenly grease the slots on the cupcake pan.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the small pieces of pie dough to about ⅛ of an inch thick. Then using the 3-inch round biscuit cutter, cut the rolled-out pieces of dough.
- Place the cut rounds into the prepared cupcake pan, pressing them into the slots creating the bottom crust for the mini pies.
- On a lightly floured surface roll the second piece of pie dough to about ⅛ of an inch thick. Then using a cookie cutter of your choice or a simple round cutter, cut 12 pieces of dough creating the top crust.
- Spoon some of the mincemeat filling into the bottom crust and top with the cut pieces.
- Bake at 350℉ for 30-35 minutes, or until the pie crust is golden brown.
- Remove the pies from the cupcake pan carefully before they cool completely, so they don't stick to the pan. Place the pie on a wire rack to continue cooling.
- Sprinkle the pies with powdered sugar, and serve them warm or at room temperature, plain or with vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!How to Make Mincemeat Pies
- Add the butter to a skillet over medium heat.
2. Once the butter melts, add the diced apples and dried fruit to the pan.
3. Add the sugar to the pan and stir to combine.
4. Reduce the heat and add the spices and the citrus peels.
5. Add the bourbon to the mincemeat filling.
6. Carefully tip the pan into the flame and set it on fire! Place the completed mincemeat filling into a large bowl and set it aside at room temperature.
7. Preheat the oven to350 degrees F. Then cut the pie dough into 12 small pieces.
8. Using room temperature butter and a paper towel, lightly grease a cupcake pan.
9. Using room temperature butter and a paper towel, lightly grease a cupcake pan.
10. On a lightly floured surface roll the dough pieces to about an ⅛ of an inch thick. And using a round biscuit cutter about three inches in diameter, cut out rounds.
11. Using the end of a rolling pin or your fingers, gently press the dough rounds into the cupcake pan. Even out the edges of the pie dough.
12. Roll out the remaining pie crust to about ⅛ of an inch thick. Then using a cookie cutter of your choice, cut shapes to create the top crust.
13. Fill the bottom crust with the mincemeat filling and place a top crust on each of the small pies. Bake at 350 degrees F on the middle rack for 30 minutes.
14. Remove the small pies from the pan and place on a wire rack.
Chef Tip
Make certain to not overcook the filling the sugar will create a thick sticky caramel that will be difficult to portion into the bottom pie crust.
Substitutions & Variations
- Gluten free - use your favorite gluten free pie crust to make this recipe gluten free.
- Dairy free - use your favorite plant-based butter to make the filling and even our tender flaky pie crust
- Alcohol free - you can simply omit the bourbon or replace it with a tablespoon of alcohol-free vanilla extract.
- Dried fruits - raisins are traditionally used however, any favorite dried fruit can be used. As long as they are cut to be around the same size.
- Bourbon - can be substituted with dark rum or brandy.
- Green apples - can be substituted with any favorite tart apple or even pears. Get creative and create your own mincemeat!
Storage & Helpful Hints
Make these delicious pies ahead of time, freeze them before baking them. Then defrost a few at a time to bake them as gifts for your friends and family. These fresh warm special treats are sure to please everyone!
These delicious mini mincemeat pies are definitely their best served warm or at room temperature. You can wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and place them in a airtight container for 2-3 days. You can make the make the pies and freeze them before baking them. Just make sure to defrost them in the refrigerator overnight before baking them.
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FAQ
You sure can, come up with your own blend of spices! Create your own family tradition.
Douglas says
How much sugar? None listed.
Chris says
We are so sorry we missed that on the recipe card. We used 1 cup of granulated sugar for this recipe, I have corrected the post thank you for bringing it to our attention. Hope you enjoy the mince pies!
Douglas says
Thank you. I’m so looking forward to making it, since finding jarred Mincemeat is next to impossible!
I’ve loved Mincemeat pies for 70 years! Of course there were too many years when I could never find any!
Thanks again!
Douglas
Chris says
You're welcome. That's awesome! I hope you love it as much as we do! I'm looking forward to making them soon. Mince pies are definitely a favorite in our house. Let us know how they come out or if you have any questions. Thank you for pointing out the error in the recipe card.
Jason Miller says
Great underappreciated recipe.