Christmas Mincemeat Squares Recipes

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!

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.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Beat in mincemeat. Stir in chocolate chips., Spread into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until dark golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Freeze option: Freeze cooled bars in freezer containers, separating layers with waxed paper. To use, thaw before serving.

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.

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients for the mincemeat in a bowl and add brandy or rum to cover the fruit. Stir well, then let it rest overnight. The next day, stir again and then divide among sterilized preserving jars.
• To make the pastry, mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Rub the butter into the mixture until it is the consistency of fine breadcrumbs. Add the water and egg yolk and knead until the mixture comes together into a smooth dough. Alternatively, use a food processor to make the pastry. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Preheat your oven to 350° F. Grease the tart molds with butter and cover the base of each with a small circle of parchment paper. Dust with flour.
• Briefly knead the pastry until smooth, then pat it into a rectangle and roll it out to a thickness of ⅛ inch. Use a round cutter with a diameter of 2¾ - 3¼ inches to cut out pastry circles. Gently push the pastry rounds into the tart molds. Prick the base or each tart shell three times with a fork.
• Knead the remaining dough back together and roll it out to cut out the lids-you can choose whichever shape you like, but stars are the most traditional.
• Divide the 8 ounces of filling among the tarts and press down gently. Place the lids on top and brush with the egg wash.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or cold.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
• Stir Bisquick, granulated sugar, milk, butter and egg in medium bowl until dough forms.
• Pat half of the dough in pan, using floured fingers, to within 1/2 inch of edges. Spread mincemeat over dough. Pat out remaining dough to same size on waxed paper. Place paper side up over mincemeat; peel off waxed paper.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly.
• Stir remaining ingredients until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over top. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows.