Mincemeat Coffee Ring Food

MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Combine cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a bowl. Reserve 1 heaped teaspoon for the mincemeat. Store the rest in a small jar for a later use.
• Inspect two 12-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until mincemeat is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Combine apple, sultanas, sugar, currants, raisins, and butter in a saucepan. Cook over low heat and stir gently until butter has melted. Stir in chopped almonds, orange zest, 1 teaspoon of mixed spice, and cinnamon. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and set mincemeat aside to cool down for 30 minutes. Stir in brandy. Spoon into sterilized jars.

MINCEMEAT COOKIES WITH COFFEE ICING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• For dough, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Beat shortening and granulated sugar in a large mixer bowl on medium-high speed 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture just until combined. Stir in mincemenat until well mixed.
• Drop dough by measured tablespoons onto prepared cookie sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake 10 - 12 minutes, until golden brown. Cool cookies on cookie sheets for 1 minute. Transer cookies to wire racks and cool completely.
• Meanwhile, for coffee frosting beat together confectioners sugar, coffee and melted butter in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until smooth.
• Frost each cookie with about a teaspoon of icing. Top each cookie with 1 pecan half.

MINCEMEAT COFFEE RING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.
• Stir in milk and oil until dough leaves side of bowl and rounds up into a ball.
• Knead lightly 10 times.
• Roll into a rectangle(13" x 9")on a floured surface.
• Spread with mincemeat and roll up tightly beginning at the 13" side.
• Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal.
• With sealed edge down, shape into ring on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Pinch ends together.
• With scissors, make cuts 2/3 of the way through ring at 1" intervals.
• Turn each section on its side.
• Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes.
• In the meantime, beat together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
• Drizzle coffee ring with lemon glaze while it is warm.

EASY MINCEMEAT

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients, except the brandy, in a large saucepan. Cook over a low heat for 10 mins, stirring occasionally, until the sugar and suet have completely dissolved.
• Remove from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature before stirring in the brandy. The mincemeat may look loose at this stage, but it will continue to thicken. You can encase it in pastry as soon as it's cooled. Alternatively, spoon the warm mincemeat into a large sterilised jar or several smaller ones (see tip, below). Will keep in a cool, dry place for up to six months.

MINCEMEAT COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then grease a 9" cake pan.
• Combine biscuit mix & sugar, then add milk, stirring to make a soft dough.
• On lightly floured board, roll out dough into 12"x10" rectangle.
• Combine marmalade & mincemeat, & spread mixture evenly over dough, to within 1/2 inch of edges.
• Roll jelly-roll-fashion, then cut into 10 pieces.
• Place pieces in prepared cake pan, more or less with 9 in a ring & 1 in the center.
• Bake until lightly browned, about 30-40 minutes.
• Remove from pan.
• Combine powdered sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons milk & orange extract, & frost the warm cake with this mixture.
• Serve warm or cold.

QUICK CARAMEL COFFEE RING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a small saucepan, melt margarine. Coat bottom and sides of ungreased 12 cup fluted tube pan with 2 tablespoons of the melted margarine.
• Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the nuts over bottom of prepared pan.
• Add remaining nuts, brown sugar and water to remaining margarine. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
• Separate dough into 20 biscuits; cut each biscuit in half and shape into a ball. Place 20 balls on bottom of prepared pan.
• Drizzle half of the caramel sauce over balls. Repeat layers.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Invert on wax paper immediately and remove from pan.