Mincemeat Puff Pastry Twists

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There is certainly more than one way to use mincemeat! If you are bored of mince pies, why not make these Mincemeat Puff Pastry Twists this year? Ready in 25 minutes, extremely easy to make and with only 3 ingredients, this is the easiest Christmas treat you will ever make!

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What is British Mincemeat?

Mincemeat is a mixture of fried fruit, spices, suet and some type of distilled spirit that is used in desserts and baking, predominantly in the British Isles. Probably the most popular use of mincemeat is Mince Pies, enjoyed over the Christmas season. However more recently, it is used in various other bakes, like cheesecakes, puff pastry tarts and even brownies.

So why is it called mincemeat, if there is no sign of any meat in it? Historically, pies were made with fermented meat and fruit filling, but as time went by, the amount of fruit and sugar in the filling increased, making the pies less savoury. Eventually, by the beginning of the 20th century, there was no meat used in the filling and the pies turned into a sweet treat. The only animal product left in the filling is the suet, which helps preserve the mincemeat and gives it a more decadent flavour.

These days, however, most shop-bought mincemeat is made with vegetable suet, making it suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

We also use mincemeat in Christmas Bakewell Tart and Christmas Pancakes!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• The easiest mincemeat recipe you will ever make! Honestly!
• Only 3 ingredients are required.
• This Mincemeat Puff Pastry recipe will only ask for 15 minutes of hands-on time.
• Get a dairy-free puff pastry, and mincemeat with vegan suet, and substitute egg with a little vegan milk and you have yourself a dairy-free, egg-free and vegan Christmas treat!
• You can add your own twist by mixing in some winter fruit with mincemeat for a less sweet puff pastry twist (see our suggestions below).
• Make it from scratch if you wish - make your own mincemeat and puff pastry (details below).

Ingredients

• 375g ready-rolled puff pastry: shop-bought pastry works brilliantly in this recipe, but feel free to make your own.
• 200g mincemeat: choose your favourite shop-bought mincemeat, or make your own. We love this mincemeat recipe here.
• 1 egg: for eggwash.

Variations

These mincemeat puff pastry twists are delicious as they are, but if you want to, you can add extra fruit to lighten up the filling and make the twists a little less sweet. You can substitute up to 30% of mincemeat with the following in this recipe:

• Small cubes of pear.
• Small cubes of tart apple.

Alternatively, enhance your shop-bought mincemeat by adding lemon, orange or grapefruit zest to it. You can also add some freshly ground black pepper or ½ teaspoon of allspice. If you have some orange blossom or rose water, it adds a lovely aroma to the filling too.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180° C Fan.

Take the puff pastry out of the fridge about 15-30 minutes before you start cooking to warm it up - it will make it easier to unroll without breaking it.

Unroll the pastry on a baking paper sheet it was wrapped in and cut it in half widthways. Spread the mincemeat on one of the halves. Place the other half on top and press down gently.

Cut the sandwiched pastry into 6 strips widthways. Twist each strip holding both ends. Place all the puff pastry twists onto a large baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Brush them with beaten egg and place the in the oven for 25-30 minutes.

Let the twists cool for at least 20 minutes before enjoying (the mincemeat filling will be very hot).

Storage

These mincemeat puff pastry twists are best on the day that they are baked. The pastry is flaky and crisp, and they are extremely satisfying to eat. However, any leftovers can be stored in airtight containers or bags for up to 2 days. The pastry will soften, but the twists will still taste delicious. If you wish, you can pop the twists in the oven for a couple of minutes to crisp up again!

Other Christmas Treats and Bakes

If you have some mincemeat left, why not try our Pear Mince Pies with Sourdough Shortcrust Pastry, Puff Pastry Mince Pies or use it in Galette Des Rois to add a British twist to it?

For other Christmas desserts and bakes visit our Christmas Recipes section. Our favourites include:

• Christmas Eclairs with Orange Crème Diplomate
• Gingerbread Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce
• White Chocolate and Cranberry Macarons

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