Mincemeat often requires an overnight soak in the alcohol, often brandy, to plump up the dried fruit. Some recipes require a cooking stage, to heat the mincemeat through and help to seal the jars.
Traditional homemade mincemeat is a real treat for mince pies and it is so easy to make! No cooking, just combine the ingredients and let time work its magic. Make it once and you'll never go back ...
Oliver Cromwell banned mince pies, although they were not illegal. However, mince pies were certainly frowned upon by the Puritans, so we can add mince pies to their long list of things to be frowned ...
According to the BBC, a mincemeat recipe in Hannah Glasse's influential 1747 cookbook, "Art of Cookery," is an early instance of meat being removed as a key ingredient from the pie filling.
Fit the circles into the muffin tin or tart tins. Fill each pie with mincemeat. Roll out the remaining pie crust to the same thickness and cut out circles (or whatever shape you like) for the pie ...
Put into sterilized jars, cover and leave to mature for 2 weeks before using. This mincemeat will keep for two to three years in a cool, airy place. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.