Instant Chocolate Mincemeat is quick and easy to make. it’s ideal if you want to make your own mincemeat but didn’t quite get around to making soon enough for it to mature properly
What is Mincemeat?
Mincemeat is a rich mixture of dried fruits, spices, apples, citrus zest and juice, alcohol and suet or butter. It is mainly used to fill sweet shortcrust pastry tarts which are served as individual Mince Pies.
Mince Pies are the classic way to use Christmas Mincemeat. Sweet shortcrust pastry is filled with mincemeat with a pastry lid on top. I like to make Mini Mince Pies because they are the perfect little mouthful for tea time or parties.
Is there meat in Mincemeat?
Originally, there was meat in mincemeat as well as the dried fruit and spices. This is how it got its name. The meat element was gradually replaced with beef suet.
I use vegetable suet but you can also use butter. This means the mincemeat is also suitable for vegetarians.
How to make Instant Chocolate Mincemeat
Start the mincemeat by zesting a lemon. Grate the zest (the yellow part of the lemon) use a special lemon zester or peel off a fine layer and cut it up with a knife.
Then squeeze the juice of half the lemon. Put the juice and zest in a medium-sized bowl.
Add the dried fruits, sugar, chocolate, vegetable suet, brandy and nuts to the apple and lemon and mix thoroughly with a spoon
You can use any combination of dried fruits and nuts. Use what you like and what you have in your store cupboard.
When can I use the chocolate mincemeat?
You can use this mincemeat straight away or put it in a clean container and store in the fridge for a week.
More Mincemeat Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Easy Slow Cooker Mincemeat with Ginger
Dark Chocolate Mincemeat is a cooked mincemeat recipe that needs to be made ahead of time.
More Mincemeat Recipes
Chocolate Cherry Mincemeat from Something Sweet, Something Svoury
Lemon and Ginger Mincemeat from Tin & Thyme
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Instant Chocolate Mincemeat
Equipment
- weighing scales
- bowl
- spoon
- grater
- Lemon squeezer
- knife
Ingredients
- 1 (1) lemon zest
- 1/2 (1/2) lemon juice
- 1 (1) Apple dessert
- 50 grams (1/4 cups) sultanas
- 50 grams (1/4 cups) dried cranberries
- 50 grams (1/4 cups) prunes chopped
- 50 grams (1/4 cups) raisins
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) brandy
- 100 grams (1/2 cups) dark brown sugar
- 60 grams (1/4 cups) vegetable suet
- 50 grams (1/4 cups) dark chocolate chopped
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) pistaschio nuts chopped
Instructions
- Put the zest and lemon juice in a bowl, grate the apple including the skin, into the juice.
- Add all the other ingredients and stir.
- Store in a lidded jar in the fridge until ready to use.
Not Your Ordinary Agent says
These look beautiful and delicious!! Love that pan!
Barb @ Frugal Local Kitchen says
Very festive looking! I need to try making mini desserts for parties.
kat levitt says
Wow, these look amazing!
http://www.agirlandherfood.com
sjf bilton, comfortablyhungry.com says
I've never thought of putting chocolate in mincemeat but it sounds like a delicious idea. I'm making some medlar mincemeat this weekend.
Karen S Booth says
Lovely recipes Janice and I just got my mince pie tin, it is so nifty and looks very shiny! I am trying it out next week, but am glad that you rate it so highly, as I hate pricing mince pies out of tins! Your pies and mincemeat look so wonderful! Karen
Not Your Ordinary Agent says
Thank you for coming and linking up!! I'm pinning!
Chele says
I've made chocolate mince meat a few times now. What was your verdict of their flavour?
Janice says
I like the choc flavour, have made Dan Lepard version before. Would put some spice in this instant one next time.
Choclette says
Adding prunes is a great idea, must try it. I made chocolate mincemeat for the first time last year and it was delicious. I'm really behind with everything this year, so it's good to know I can make instant mincemeat. Your pies look very tempting as does the tin.
Jacqueline says
Those look so, so good Janice. I love your mincemeat recipe too. I am going to try that.
May says
Nice, love mince pies and have never been bothered to make my own mince meat. Will buy some and try this instead.