November 21, 2022
Mince Pie Crumble Bars
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Delightfully delicious mince pie crumble bars with an oat crumble base and topping, and homemade mincemeat filling!
As we really are truly into the festive season now, I wanted to post a recipe that SO MANY OF YOU have asked for!
Honestly, these beauties are just so delicious and festive, and I’m sure you will all adore them as well!
Mince Pies
Last year I posted my mince pie recipe and it went down an absolute storm. Mince pies are such an iconic classic in the festive season, that I am not surprised.
I also have a gingerbread mince pie recipe in my second book, which yet again has proved so popular. There is something about the delicious crunch of a pastry and the sweet but so fully of flavour filling.
Even if you aren’t a fan of mince pies, you have probably tried them. They are much easier to make than you think – and I think far better than the shop bought versions.
Mincemeat
So when it comes to the mincemeat part of a mince pie or these crumble bars, no there is no actual meat involved. I know so many of you will know that, but some people really don’t.
The recipe does involve quite a lot of bits and bobs, but it really does create a wonderfully cosy and delicious mincemeat filling.
- I use a mixture of raisins, currants, sultanas, and dried cranberries as my main fruit, and then add in mixed peel and chopped up cooking apple.
- A hint of flavour from ground cinnamon, mixed spice and lemon brings it up a notch, with a little sweetness from the light brown sugar.
- Yes, this recipe does have brandy in it because it should! It’s a classic mincemeat, so there is booze. You can however swap the brandy for orange juice or apple juice for a tame version.
Crumble
As with my raspberry crumble bars, I stuck to the same recipe. This is partly because nearly all of the requests after seeing the raspberry version asked for the mincemeat one – so here you go.
- Oats – I used rolled oats, as I do in all my baking. Jumbo ones work as well as regular size.
- Flour – Plain flour as always!
- Sugar – I decided to use light brown soft sugar, but this would work well with other sugars such as caster sugar, or even dark brown soft sugar.
- Raising agents – A little bit goes a long way – the baking powder provides a nice little lift.
- Butter – I use unsalted butter as always, and avoid baking spreads of margarines as they are too soft for the crumble mixture.
Baking & Assembly
When it comes to these, they are pretty simple to make. You obviously have to prep ahead and make the mincemeat first. Don’t worry, it doesn’t take too long – I’d say you need to allow at least an hour so that the mincemeat has a chance to cool.
You can also make the mincemeat ahead, and store it in sterilised jars until you are ready to bake – it works well! Or, of course, you can use shop bought mincemeat. There is absolutely no judgement here if you wanted to!
For the baking, I used a 9″ square tin as always because it creates the perfect depth and size of bake. You split off 500g of the crumble mix into the base of the lined tin, press down firmly. Top with the cooled and ready mincemeat, and then gently tap on the rest of the crumble mix!
As always, bake into a preheated oven. These take on the dot of 30 minutes in a preheated fan oven at 180ºc – you want the oats to look golden on top, and the mixture not be wobbling about the place. Make sure to cool fully before portioning.
Tips & Tricks
As mentioned above, you can make homemade mincemeat like in this recipe, or you can use shop bought – either works well. You just want the same total amount to make it work!
The crumble recipe is best made by rubbing the ingredients together with your finger tips – if you use a food processor you will blitz the oats into a fine powder which you don’t want!
These beauties last 4-5+ days at room temp, but do also freeze well for 3+ months.
Mince Pie Crumble Bars!
Ingredients
Mincemeat
- 75 g raisins
- 75 g currants
- 75 g sultanas
- 75 g dried cranberries
- 50 g mixed peel
- 150 g cooking apple (finely chopped)
- 75 g unsalted butter
- 125 g light brown soft sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 150 ml brandy (or apple juice for alcohol free)
Crumble
- 175 g rolled oats
- 200 g plain flour (plus extra for dusting)
- 150 g light brown soft sugar
- 175 g unsalted butter (cold & cubed)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
Instructions
Mincemeat
- Add the raisins, currants, sultanas, dried cranberries, mixed peel, chopped cooking apple, unsalted butter, light brown soft sugar, ground cinnamon, mixed spice and lemon zest to a large pan.
- Heat the mixture together on a low heat until the unsalted butter has melted and the mixture has mixed together.
- Turn up the heat to a medium heat and simmer the mixture for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool.
- Once cooled, stir through the brandy.
Crumble
- Preheat the oven to 200ºc/180ºfan and line a 9x9" square tin with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, add the rolled oats, plain flour, light brown soft sugar, baking powder and unsalted butter.
- Rub the ingredients together with your fingers until the mixture resembles bread crumbs and there are no large lumps of butter left.
- Pour 500g of the oaty crumble mix into the lined tin and press down firmly.
- Pour the mincemeat onto the base crumble and spread
- Sprinkle over the rest of the crumble mix
- Bake the bars in the oven for 30+ minutes, or until golden and beautiful.
- Leave the bars to cool fully before portioning. Refrigerating them can sometimes make this easier.
Notes
- The mincemeat will last in sealed and sterilised jars for up to six months.
- You can also use shopbought mincemeat instead! You'll need the same total amount - 600-800g works well.
- For alcohol free, use something such as apple juice.
- I use a 9" square tin
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J x
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Made these for Christmas Day, easy to make, delicious to eat, will definitely make again
Can I use a mixture of cooked apple and a jar of mincemeat? Has anyone tried this?
Yes I did and they are delicious!
Hi, I have just made the mincemeat according to the recipe but it’s really wet and soupy. I feel like I should strain some of the liquid off before using it but that will waste the brandy. Should it be so wet? Thanks!
You can let it cool more to soak up more liquid, but I just pour it on as it is! x
Fabulous recipe – I didn’t have dried cranberries or currants so substituted with glace cherries. Froze well and tasted lovely. Only mistake was to cut bars too large – they hold their shape well and could have been smaller as they are quite filling.
Can you make these up in advance and freeze, then bake from frozen when needed? Concerned freezing after cooking may take away any crunch?
Thanks
Completely forgotten to add baking powder will they be awful now?
So easy to make! These are lush warmed up with custard. Give it a try. Yummy
Can you leave the cooking apple out of the mincemeat crumble bars? I forgot the apples in my shopping🫤
I love these! I did cheat and used a couple of jars of mince meat but I’ll try the full recipe when I have more time.
Someone above mentioned putting rum in it, that sounds amazing!
Do you know if its possible to replace the mincemeat with just dates?
Hiya! I have never tried this personally, though its definitely worth a go! x
Absolutely amazing! I don’t like traditional mince pies but my hubbys loves mincemeat so i saw this recipe and thought i would give them ago!
I baked them for around 37 mins and they came out perfect! Already had one while warm and i don’t think they are going to last long over Christmas. Apprently the hubby wants them every year from now lol
Can this recipe be doubled to fit a 9″ x 13″ baking tin?
Could these be made with the an apple pie filling?
What would the recipe for that filling be ?
My kitchen is currently smelling AMAZING! Made them with my 3 year old…… the struggle is waiting for them to cool!
Used shop bought mincemeat & wished I’d got a bigger jar but fingers crossed they will turn out ok.
Do you freeze them after cooking or before ?
Hiya! I would freeze after baking. Hope this helps! x
Could I use a bicuit base like a cheesecake and apple crumble topping as I can’t eat rolled oats and really want to try and make these with an alternative base and topping
Hiya! I personally have not tried this, but its definitely worth a go! Let me know the outcome! x
Hi Jane I asked about using a biscuit base for these and following your reply I tried it and it was a big success I sprinkled shop bought crumble on the top and glazed it with a burner gently and everyone enjoyed it. It was like the movie gone in 60 seconds !!! Thank you for all your recipes I always use them and they never fail 😁
When adding the top layer of crumble, do you pat that down too? Scared it might just all fall off. Can’t wait to try them, just bought all my ingredients, many thanks
Hiya! Yes you can just to stick it together more! Hope this helps! x
Heather,
Made this mince pie crumble and it’s absolutely amazing, I put some rum in and it made them extra special, my family loved them, will be making some more for Christmas…. Thanks Jane… X
Made the Mince Pie Crumble Bars today to take to a Church coffee morning tomorrow. Had to try them out myself, of course! They are delicious!! It occurred to me too that you could make
a different mince pie by using the crumble mixture on top instead of a pastry lid. Any kind of mince pie is heaven to me! Merry Christmas Jane. x
Fab recipe. Made them today – I will admit i forgot the baking powder but they still turned out lovely
I made these today after seeing you make them on Instagram. I used ready made mincemeat as didn’t have the time to make my own. They are so easy to make, only hard part was waiting for them to cool!
Made these today, absolutely delicious 😋
Will these freeze please? If so pre or post bake. tia
Hiya! These are best frozen post baking. Hope this helps! x
Hi Jane,
If freezing would these be best frozen before baking or after?
Many thanks!
Hiya! I would freeze after baking. Hope this helps! x
These look fab. I’m going to give them a go. Can they be frozen ?
Yes absolutely, for up to 3 months! Hope this helps! x
How long would these keep once made?
Hiya! These will keep for 4-5+ days at room temp, or you can freeze for up to 3 months! Hope this helps! x
Please ignore my last comment as ive just read you can freeze them , when I make normal mince pies I always add ground almonds to the pasty, can I add them to the crumble mixture?
Hiya! I personally have not tried this, though its definitely worth a go! Hope this helps! x
Can you freeze freeze these?
Yes absolutely, for up to 3 months! Hope this helps! x
Hi Jane, would lemon curd work well instead of mincemeat
Hello I made these with lemon curd last year and they were delicious. I can recommend.
These look amazing jane! Mincemeat and crumble… you are a genius!! Just a quick question, if I was to use store bought mincemeat (if I don’t have time to make it from scratch) how much mincemeat in total will I require? X
Hiya! Add up the weight of ingredients for the home made, and use the same for shop bought! Hope this helps! x