Best leftover mincemeat recipes

Traditionally served at Christmas mincemeat is delicious all year round. Here are the best recipes to use up that jar of leftover mincemeat in the fridge, without a mince pie in sight!

Collage of mincemeat treats: brownies, ice cream, tiffin and crumble slices.

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What is mincemeat?

Mincemeat is a sweet sticky mix of spiced dried fruit, sugar, sugar and fat. Not to be confused with minced meat. Although historically it would have been included.

The days it is sold in jars and is the traditional filling for mince pies. Every store will have their own blend, and many cooks will make their own for Christmas.

See also

Leftover turkey recipes to ensure that you don’t get bored on the way to New Year.

An open jar of mincemeat and a spoon, with mince pies behind

Beyond the obvious mince pie (with cream, custard or brandy butter), mincemeat is also commonly used in an open mincemeat tart, to stuff a baked apple, or in a strudel.

It is delicious and something to be enjoyed all year round!

Leftover mincemeat

Leftover mincemeat doesn’t keep as long as jam, but it will last many months in the fridge before it goes off, and if unopened can survive from one Christmas to the next.

Many of the recipes that follow use less than half a jar of mincemeat and are flexible – designed to use up that part jar in the fridge. Add a little more or a little less as needed to finish the jar!

Whether you’re looking for new ways with leftovers or set to open a fresh jar of wonderful spiced fruit filling, I am convinced you will love these fruity, spicy recipes.

All the best leftover mincemeat recipes

It is really easy to add a spoon or two of mincemeat to almost any sweet bake.

Mincemeat Crumble Bars

Delicious mincemeat slices with a biscuity base, plump spiced vine fruit and a buttery crumble topping. Quicker and easier than mince pies, with contrasting textures, these mincemeat crumble bars are too good to save for Christmas.

Mincemeat Brownies

Deep, dark and delicious, with a melting centre of cocoa, spice and vine fruit, these flavour-packed brownies are wonderfully intense.

The finished blondies are shown, soft in the middle and dotted with spiced fruit

Easy Mincemeat Blondies

Golden, moist blondies, with their subtle buttery, caramelly flavour, are delicious filled with the fragrant spiced fruit of mincemeat.

Mincemeat Flapjacks

Vine fruit and spice in buttery, oaty flapjacks, delicious with coffee or as a lunchbox treat. Satisfying and sustaining to keep you going through until dinner time.

Mincemeat Tiffin

A classic tiffin recipe with a twist of winter spice, this chocolaty, biscuity, fruity slice is perfect with coffee at any time of year.

Mincemeat Madeleines

These light and lovely classic French cakes are delicious with the addition of a little fruit and mincemeat spice.

A close up of the finished bake which is still warm showing a melted chunk of chocolate

Banana Mincemeat Bread

This easy to make, one bowl banana mincemeat bread – baked as a tray bake is the perfect way to use up both over ripe bananas and that leftover jar of mincemeat.

Banana Mincemeat Loaf Cake

A light and deliciously different bake that makes a lovely alternative Christmas cake or a teatime treat for any time of year.

Desserts with leftover mincemeat

Classic winter puddings using mincemeat.

A dainty bowl of mincemeat ice cream, topped with extra mincemeat.

Other ideas to use up leftover mincemeat

Add a generous spoonful to an apple crumble

In a toastie – even better full puff pastry and pop into the toastie maker – allow too cool before eating as the inside will be scaldingly hot

Mince pie rum – add mincemeat to a jar, top up with rum, leave for a week and strain to serve.

Mincemeat syllabub. Whip whipping cream with a little icing sugar, add some white wine. Stir though the mincemeat and serve in glasses for a lighter seasonal pudding.

What are your favourite ways to use mincemeat?