recommendations for mincemeat (mincepies)

[drivin_me_nuts]

I do like fill pastry mince pies and I few yesterday evening. They were however inedible as the mincemeat was so unbearabl ly sweet. Do you have any recommendations for shop bought mincemeat that is flavoursome but not sickly sweet.

Thanks,

Dmn

[TheHoof]

Afraid I can't help on shop bought. Making mincemeat is pretty easy - this is the recipe I use each year:

Ingredients (makes 2.5kg of mincemeat):
2 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and cut into large chunks
Finely grated zest and juice of 2 oranges and 2 lemons
250gms suet
275gms raisins
275gms sultanas
275gms currants
125gms candied (mixed) peel, chopped
650gms soft dark brown sugar
50gms chopped almonds
2 teaspoons mixed spice
75ml brandy
I also threw in some dried cranberries last year.

Instructions:
Place the apple chunks in a small pan with 1 teaspoon of water. Cover and cook over a low heat for 8-10 minutes until the apples are cooked. Allow to cool. Mix with all the other ingredients in a large bowl. Put into sterilised jars & leave for at least 2 weeks. Insert in pies and consume.

[calibrax]

Buy some normal shop-bought mincemeat, and cook and add in some actual beef mince. That's what the original mincemeat had in it anyway (hence the name), and it will make it less sweet.