Mincemeat

Mincemeat isn’t just for the classic Christmas mince pie – although it never feels complete without one!

Delia shows us just how versatile this spiced, fruity mixture can be, transforming it into everything from indulgent Christmas crumbles to delicate tarts and even festive ravioli.

From Christmas Apple and Mincemeat Crumble, crisp on the top, bubbling and juicy underneath. Lattice Mincemeat Dessert Tart, a perfect end for any festive dinners. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try Caramelised Mincemeat Ravioli and serve warm or cold. Of course, we can’t forget Traditional Mince Pies, a true symbol of Christmas made with Delia's flaky, buttery pastry.

There’s nothing quite like making your own mincemeat from scratch. Not only does homemade mincemeat taste amazing, but it also fills your kitchen with the most wonderful festive aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and citrus. Whether you spoon it into pies, crumble toppings, tarts, or even something more adventurous, you’ll be creating dishes that sum up Christmas!

Take a look at all our Delia's Christmas Recipes here

The Delia Online Cookery School: Find out why Delia launched her online cookery school, and browse all the recipes. Just click the image to play.

Absolutely Homemade Mince Pies

I will always cherish fond memories of my mother's and my grandmother's cooling trays piled high with fresh...

I will always cherish fond memories of my mother's and my grandmother's cooling trays piled high with freshly baked mince pies on Christmas Eve, ready to be packed int...

25 minutes - 30 minutes

Alternative Mince Pies

This is both lighter than the traditional kind and so much faster to make if you’re short of time – but as ...

This is both lighter than the traditional kind and so much faster to make if you’re short of time – but as with traditional mince pies you’ll need to provide small pla...

18 minutes - 20 minutes

A picture of a white bowl containing the cooked crumble with a portion taken out by a spoon

Apple and Mincemeat Crumble

This, in all my years of cooking, is my favourite crumble topping and any leftover mincemeat mixed with app...

This, in all my years of cooking, is my favourite crumble topping and any leftover mincemeat mixed with apples is a great filling. The Delia Online Cookery School: ...

35 minutes - 40 minutes

Apple, Mincemeat and Nut Strudel

This is a Christmas party pud which will serve 8 people very generously; perfect for a buffet lunch. Fil...

This is a Christmas party pud which will serve 8 people very generously; perfect for a buffet lunch. Filo or strudel pastry is wonderful for storing in the freezer ...

40 minutes - 45 minutes

A picture of a shallow dish containing sweet filled ravioli and icing sugar sprinkled over the top

Caramelised Mincemeat Ravioli

This is a beautiful bite-sized version of mince pies, and I think not as fiddly. If you don't have a pas...

This is a beautiful bite-sized version of mince pies, and I think not as fiddly. If you don't have a pastry wheel you can forgo the frilly edge and use a sharp knif...

15 minutes

a picture of little christmas crackers made of pastry dusted with icing sugar

Christmas Cracker Puddings

This recipe is a lighter take on the Christmas pudding theme. You can make them a few hours ahead, and r...

This recipe is a lighter take on the Christmas pudding theme. You can make them a few hours ahead, and re-heat in a medium oven for about five minutes before servin...

18 minutes

Mincemeat Souffles

You're not going to believe this one. You're simply not going to believe it – that's until you taste it....

You're not going to believe this one. You're simply not going to believe it – that's until you taste it. How come something so dead easy, so simple, can be such an ...

10 minutes - 12 minutes

Apple Sponge Pudding

This is a winner for a family Sunday lunch. Because it's a light sponge, it's not as devastatingly calor...

This is a winner for a family Sunday lunch. Because it's a light sponge, it's not as devastatingly calorific as a suet pud. It also has the advantage of being bliss...

2 hours 30 minutes

Easy Mince Pies

I tried very hard on this one to short-circuit the pastry-making by using ready-rolled shortcrust. Altho...

I tried very hard on this one to short-circuit the pastry-making by using ready-rolled shortcrust. Although I have to say it's okay if you roll it thinly enough, pa...

20 minutes - 25 minutes

Christmas Mincemeat

Once again, over the years we have never found a match for this mincemeat recipe, so if I can persuade you ...

Once again, over the years we have never found a match for this mincemeat recipe, so if I can persuade you to make it, you will never want the bought stuff ever again....

3 hours

Vegetarian

Home-made Christmas Mincemeat with Cranberries

If you've never made mincemeat before, the one thing that will probably surprise you is how dead simple it ...

If you've never made mincemeat before, the one thing that will probably surprise you is how dead simple it is. Here's how to make your own, giving the traditional r...

3 hours

Vegetarian

Lattice Mincemeat Dessert Tart

Here is another festive dessert that makes good use of home-made mincemeat. Serve it fairly warm, with C...

Here is another festive dessert that makes good use of home-made mincemeat. Serve it fairly warm, with Cumberland Rum Butter to melt through the lattice. The Del...

20 minutes - 30 minutes

Light Christmas Pudding

If there are still people who claim not to like even our splendid Traditional Christmas Pudding, then this ...

If there are still people who claim not to like even our splendid Traditional Christmas Pudding, then this could be for them. It's a light sponge pudding containing...

2 hours 30 minutes

Three little white dishes on a white plate, with souffles dusted with icing sugar and a glass bowl of sabayon on the side

Little Mincemeat Souffle Puddings

These little soufflé-like puddings are what I would call very well-behaved! You can cook them in advance...

These little soufflé-like puddings are what I would call very well-behaved! You can cook them in advance and re-heat them, and they will rise up again. You can even...

25 minutes

Mincemeat and Apple Crumble Flan

If you've got leftover mincemeat this will cheer up a January Sunday lunch beautifully. A ready-ma...

If you've got leftover mincemeat this will cheer up a January Sunday lunch beautifully. A ready-made pastry flan case will also save you time, which we have d...

40 minutes

A picture of mincemeat mixture inside a puff pastry case on a baking sheet

Mincemeat and Apple Jalousie

All you need here is some mincemeat, a Bramley apple and some ready-rolled puff pastry, and from there on i...

All you need here is some mincemeat, a Bramley apple and some ready-rolled puff pastry, and from there on it's all plain sailing. The Delia Online Cookery School: A...

30 minutes - 35 minutes

two pretty individual mini christmas puddings on silver plates

Mini Christmas Puddings for 6

These are made in moments and are cooked in less than an hour, are light-textured but have all the flavours...

These are made in moments and are cooked in less than an hour, are light-textured but have all the flavours of Christmas. You don't have to make them at the last mi...

45 minutes - 50 minutes

Mini Mincemeat Muffins

As there are always lots of mince pies absolutely everywhere at Christmas, it's nice to have something a li...

As there are always lots of mince pies absolutely everywhere at Christmas, it's nice to have something a little different around as well, like these pretty little muff...

20 minutes

The 'How to Cheat' Christmas Pudding

This is a bit of a clever wheeze, if I say it myself, instead of buying all those Christmas pud ingredients...

This is a bit of a clever wheeze, if I say it myself, instead of buying all those Christmas pud ingredients, take a jar of mincemeat and short-circuit all of that. ...

2 hours 15 minutes

The Fastest Mince Pies Ever

Until you actually make these you’ll never appreciate just how easy and fast they are. You can freeze th...

Until you actually make these you’ll never appreciate just how easy and fast they are. You can freeze them and re-heat in a hot oven straight from the freezer. See ...

10 minutes - 12 minutes

A a picture of a baking tray with pastry and mince pie filling in each hole

Traditional Mince Pies

I will always cherish fond memories of my mother's and my grandmother's cooling trays piled high with fresh...

I will always cherish fond memories of my mother's and my grandmother's cooling trays piled high with freshly baked mince pies on Christmas Eve, ready to be packed int...

25 minutes - 30 minutes

Mincemeat Slices

These are a good alternative to mince pies made with pastry for those who (a) don't want to make pastry or ...

These are a good alternative to mince pies made with pastry for those who (a) don't want to make pastry or (b) are wholefood-minded. They are very speedy to make and t...

20 minutes