Sandham family mincemeat
See this recipe step by step

Sandham family mincemeat

A real treat. Associate food editor, Barney Desmazery, has had this recipe in his family for 100 years

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes about 1.8kg (4 x 500ml jars)

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 30 mins

No cook

Method

  1. Peel and grate the apple and set aside. Mix all the ingredients except the apple, whisky and bay leaves in the order they are listed.
  2. Stir through the apple, then add the whisky once all the other ingredients are completely combined.
  3. Pack the mincemeat into sterilised jars.
  4. Tuck a bay leaf into each jar to scent the mincemeat, then seal. Leave for 2 weeks before using. Will keep for 6 months.
Try

Sterilising jars

As you can make the mincemeat so far in advance, it's important to sterilise the jars. The easiest way to do this is to run them through the hot cycle of your dishwasher. Alternatively, wash the jars in hot, soapy water, rinse well and put in a low oven to dry. Make sure you leave the jars to cool completely before filling with mincemeat or the suet will melt.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2007.

Try 3 issues of Good Food magazine for £3 - subscribe now!

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 14 November 2007

    Margaret commented on this recipe

    I would like to make this recipe with a primary school cookery club on Tuesday 20th November 2007. I wonder what could replace the whisky or whether it is a preservative? Would apple juice be any good? I think this recipe reads beautifully and will teach the children about forward planning with food.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 14 November 2007

    josie70 commented on this recipe

    As l live in ltaly and its a novelty over here l would like to try this as it really sounds tasty&yummy Merry Christmas

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 25 November 2007

    Carol commented on this recipe

    This was dead easy to make, and tastes delicious. I used it with the eccles receipe and they were delicious, there will be plenty of people trying them this xmas thats for sure. Thanks

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Jo

    12 December 2007

    Jo rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    This was so easy to make and my mince pies were lovely. I gave some jars away and the recipients were very impressed.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 21 December 2007

    HayleyGrice rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This was the first time I'd made mincemeat and found the recipe really easy to follow. The jars have been maturing for 6 weeks now, and just used one for the Mini Eccles Mince Pie recipe. The mincemeat was lovely, with a definite whiskey taste (when eaten straight from the jar!!) that mellowed out when baked. It was really moist. Only comment I'd add is that I only got 3 x 500ml jars out of it, so plan ahead if you need more. That said, you only need one jar for 18 mince pies!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 22 December 2007

    stonyhurst1 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Have just used the last of it and I'm so sad. It has made the BEST mincepies I have ever had. So next year will make double and in july. Loved it

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 28 December 2007

    Emma rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is the first time I've ever made mincemeat and it was delicious. I used it to make the mini eccles mince pies and they went down very well (and very quickly) over Christmas - will definitely make again next year.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 26 March 2008

    Marie rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    dying to try it

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 18 September 2008

    Bubbles commented on this recipe

    Used to make my own mincemeat years ago but lost the recipe. I tried a different spirit each year but Whisky was always the best so I'm delighted to find this recipe to use again this year. Try it, your mincepies really will be homemade

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 19 October 2008

    Janeabella rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Tried this last year and it tasted good, this year I am adding a little more alcohol and leaving just that bit long before using it.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 23 October 2008

    Lynne Pearon commented on this recipe

    I used this recipe last year, it was so easy and tasted delicious, I'm just about to make this years batch. Will probably add more whisky!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 08 November 2008

    janice rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I used this recipe last year , and have used it again this year I added a few extra ingredients , dried apricots, dates, and figs,and used brandy instead of whiskey, made also with the brownies with apple juice.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 08 December 2008

    Gingernutt rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This was the first mincemeat I've made and although I only made it yesterday, it already tastes better than any shop bought. Have lots of mince pies to make this year as gifts so I added 300g of sultanas, half a pot of glace cherries, and extra 50g of sugar to the recipe. I also used brandy instead of whiskey.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 18 December 2008

    lindad commented on this recipe

    Sounds fab but i live in Portugal and cannot get suet over here any suggestions linda.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 04 February 2009

    katrinamoss rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    I decided to make my own mincemeat and mince pies for the first time this Christmas and used this recipe for the mincemeat. I didn't have the whiskey that it asked for, but added a mix of dark rum and ginger wine up to the amount suggested and it tasted wonderful! On the whole, it turned out unexpectedly good and everyone really liked it! I think the ginger wine actually gave the flavour a special dimension and I would use it again. I personally like a spicier mincemeat and might add more spice next time, but I think my family preferred it as it was. This was quick (although steeped for a week) and easy to make and tasted great. I was tempted to use it before the week was up, but the texture and juiciness (from the apple) improved with time, so it was worth the wait. I would have no problem using this recipe again or recommending it.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 16 July 2009

    hbaraka commented on this recipe

    Does anyone know how long this recipe keeps for?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 06 October 2009

    movillachick commented on this recipe

    i have used orange juice as a substitute for the alcohol and it was yummy

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 14 October 2009

    Marola commented on this recipe

    Only made this three weeks ago, so no rating from me until it has been tasted. I just wanted to say that I'm a little disappointed that the whisky is sitting at the bottom of the jars. Has this happened to others? Should I have soaked the fruit overnight?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 20 October 2009

    samilizi commented on this recipe

    I would really like to try this recipe, however half the family are diabetic and I don't want to leave them out- does anyone know if replacing the muscovado sugar with Canderel/ artifical sweetner would harm the outcome in anyway? Thanks in advance...

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 21 October 2009

    Geraldine commented on this recipe

    Added cherries 200g and changed spirit to brandy. can't wait to try.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes about 1.8kg (4 x 500ml jars)

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 30 mins

No cook

Makes a great homemade gift

Ingredients

  • 1 Bramley apple
  • 300g raisins
  • 300g currants
  • 300g shredded suet (use vegetarian if you prefer)
  • 250g dark muscovado sugar
  • 85g mixed chopped peel
  • grating nutmeg
  • pinch mixed spice
  • grated zest and juice 1 lemon
  • 100ml whisky
  • 4 fresh bay leaves
Print this recipe
Add to your binder

Advertisement

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons why to sign up:

  • You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.

Follow Good Food

Advertisement

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy 100+ triple-tested recipes delivered to your door, every month.

Order today, and receive your first 3 issues for just £3

On TV

Foodie TV

See your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 247, Virgin TV 260 and find their recipes at goodfoodchannel.co.uk.

Good Food Apps

Good Food Apps

For Good Food on the go, download our apps to your phone or portable device.
Find out more here

Buy ingredients

With just one click, the full list of recipe ingredients will be put into a basket at your choice of provider. Choose from:

mySupermarket Compare prices and choose a retailer you wish to buy them from.

Ocado Let Ocado deliver all you need for this recipe, right to your door

Tesco Buy all the ingredients from our recipes through your Tesco online shop.

new

Asda Shop with Asda? You can now buy ingredients for our recipes via your Asda online shop.

In association with the above providers. Terms and conditions apply.

Close