Christmas Mincemeat Squares Food

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT - WITHOUT THE MEAT!

Steps:

• Mince of chop finely the peel, raisins and ginger.
• Peel, core and grate the apples.
• Combine all the ingredients thoroughly in a large basin.
• Leave, covered for 2 days in a cool place, stirring occasionally.
• This prevents fermentation later.
• Pot, cover and label.
• Store in a cool dry place.

MINCEMEAT SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160C/325F and spray an 8x8 inch square pan with cooking spray. Cut two strips of grease proof paper, long enough to go across the pan and have hangover on the edge to lift out the bars. Place one strip across the pan, side to side, and the other across the other way, top to bottom.
• Place the butter and sugars into a large bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer and beat until light and fluffy. Around 2 minutes on medium-high speed.
• Scrape down the sides as necessary and add the allspice, salt, cornflour and flour. Mix on low speed until the mixture starts to come together, then turn the speed up to medium and mix until one lump of dough forms and comes away from the sides.
• Place 3/4 of the shortbread mixture into your prepared pan and press into an even layer. I use the bottom of a measuring cup sprayed with cooking spray. Once spread, place in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until it's puffed up and is just set around the edges.
• Gently spread the mincemeat over the shortbread, if your mincemeat is stiff, place in a small bowl and then microwave for 30 seconds to soften.
• Once you've spread the mincemeat, take the remaining shortbread dough and crumble it over the mincemeat. It's totally fine if the mincemeat isn't completely covered. In fact, it makes them look better to have bits of mincemeat peeking through.
• Place in the oven for 27-32 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the mincemeat is bubbling.
• Leave the bars to cool completely in the pan and then gently lift and transfer to a cutting board. Slice into 9-12 bars and dig in.
• Mincemeat Shortbread Bars will keep in an airtight container, at room temperature, for 4 days.

MINCEMEAT & SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line the base and sides of a 20cm square tin with baking parchment. Beat the butter, sugar, vanilla, 1 tsp of the cinnamon and the cloves together with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Stir in the flour and ground rice first with a spoon, then get your hands in and knead to a smooth dough.
• Halve the dough and press one half evenly into the base of the tin. Spread the mincemeat over the top, leaving a 1cm border around the edge. Roll out the remaining dough between 2 sheets of baking parchment to a 20cm square, then slide onto the mincemeat. Seal around the edge with your fingers gently press all over until dimpled, then prick all over the top with a fork.
• Bake for 25-30 mins until lightly golden. Mix the granulated sugar with the remaining 1/4 tsp cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Cool in the tin before cutting into squares. Will keep for 3 days in an airtight container.

MINCEMEAT COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Line an 8-in. square baking pan with foil; grease foil with butter. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in oil and milk. Reserve 1 cup for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom of prepared pan. Spread with mincemeat. Stir pecans into reserved crumb mixture; sprinkle over top. Bake 30-35 minutes or until topping is golden brown., Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

MINCEMEAT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease two 9x13 inch baking pans.
• In a large bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar, molasses and 1 teaspoon vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves; stir into the molasses mixture. Stir in hot water, almonds, raisins and mincemeat. Spread the dough evenly into the bottoms of both pans. It will be thin but the mixture will puff up when baking.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm. Cool in pans on wire racks. In a small bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar, hot milk, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon almond extracts until smooth. Spread over warm bars. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT AND OAT SQUARES/SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C or 400°F.
• Grease a shallow baking tin, 11 x 7 inches.
• Melt the butter or margarine gently in a large saucepan. Add the sugar and mix well.
• While the butter and sugar are being heated up, mix the porridge oats & flour together in a bowl.
• When the butter & sugar mixture have turned to liquid, take the pan off the heat and add the flour & oat mixture gradually, stirring all the time.
• When it is all thoroughly mixed and blended, spoon HALF the mixture into a well greased shallow baking tin.
• With the flat of your hand, press the mixture down firmly all over - making sure it gets into all the corners!
• The firmer you press, the less crumbly it will be when it has been cooked & therefore easier to pick up and eat!
• Next, using a tablespoon, spread ALL the mincemeat over the top - making sure it is evenly spread and goes into all those corners again! Press it down with the back of the spoon.
• Then spread the remaining oat & flour mixture over the top - again pressing down firmly and making sure it is evenly spread.
• Bake the mincemeat slices in the centre of the oven for about 20 minutes OR until the top is tinged brown - NOT too dark and brown.
• Remove from the oven & with a sharp knife, cut into 12 squares - BUT make sure to leave them in the tin until they are cold. It is easier to remove them this way.
• Sprinkle with icing sugar if you want and store in an airtight tin, that's if they are not gobbled up straight away!
• These can be re-heated in a warm oven OR microwave - then serve with cream or brandy butter as a nice, festive dessert.
• Be careful NOT to overheat in the microwave as mincemeat can really burn your mouth if it gets too hot!

MINCEMEAT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In large bowl, mix dry ingredients.
• Add the oil and milk, stirring until mixture is well moistened and crumbly.
• Reserving 1 cup of the mixture, press the remainder into 9"x13" baking dish; spread with mince meat.
• Sprinkle evenly with remaining mixture and nuts.
• Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cut into bars.
• Store, loosely covered, at room temperature.

MINCEMEAT SQUARES

Steps:

• PASTRY:.
• Sift flour, sugar and salt into a large bowl.
• Cut in lard with a pastry blender until it resembles coarse meal.
• Put egg yolk in measuring cup, add milk to make 1/2 cup.
• Add egg mixture to bowl; stir until dough clings together and forms a ball.
• Roll out half the dough on a floured surface to a 15" x 11" rectangle; transfer to a cookie sheet.
• Note: You can make a parchment paper or wax paper pattern measuring 15" x 11". Roll out pastry directly onto the paper for easy transfer to baking sheet.
• FILLING:.
• Spread mincemeat filling evenly over dough to within 3/4 inch of edges.
• Dot the top of the mincemeat with the bits of butter.
• FINAL ASSEMBLY:.
• Roll out remaining half of dough; cut vents.
• Moisten edges of bottom pastry with cool water using a pastry brush or your fingers. Cover filling with the top pastry, sealing edges.
• Pinch edges together and crimp.
• TOPPING:.
• Beat egg white until stiff; spread on top crust.
• Bake in preheated 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack.
• GLAZE (optional):.
• Combine icing sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl.
• Drizzle over warm pastry.
• Cool slightly before cutting into squares to serve.

CHRISTMAS MINCEMEAT SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F; grease a 13x9 pan and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar and baking soda.
• Stir in melted butter and mix together until mixture appears crumbly.
• Firmly pat half the crumb mixture into prepared pan, then cover evenly with mincemeat.
• Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over mincemeat and pat lightly.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until squares appear golden brown.
• Cool before cutting into squares.