Mincemeat Crumble Traybake
A festive alternative to traditional mince pies.
I made this Mincemeat Crumble Traybake after the last festive season. It is also great for using leftover Christmas Mincemeat. It has a streusel-style crumble topping with chopped nuts and the festive taste of mixed spice and a rich, sweet Mincemeat filling. Dust with icing sugar and serve with yoghurt, fresh whipped cream or better still, Homemade thick custard.
I regularly make a large batch of homemade crumble topping mixture and keep it handy in the freezer. It saves a lot of time, and is so easy to use when making a quick crumble or individual fruit desserts.
Ingredients and Possible Substitutions
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used to make this recipe, along with possible alternatives and why I may have used them. A complete list of ingredients and full instructions can be found in the Recipe Card below.
Plain Flour - The original recipe called for Self Raising Flour, but I used plain flour, which is fine. Try using a gluten-free alternative if preferred.
Butter fridge cold - This is essential to ensure you have a nice breadcrumb consistency when blended with the flour.
Soft light brown sugar - Castor sugar is fine, but brown sugar adds a light toffee flavour to the crumble base and topping.
Ground mixed spice -Spices add a festive taste and complement the Mincemeat. You can use alternative spices such as Cinnamon or omit if you wish.
Mincemeat - Use the best quality you can; some jars contain rum or brandy. If you make your own Mincemeat, use that too. Vegetarian and Vegan Mincemeat are available.
Chopped mixed nuts - This is optional and gives a streusel-style topping, similar to my Streusel Mince Pies. Omit if there is anyone with a nut allergy.
Icing sugar - for dusting.
How to Make Mincemeat Crumble Traybake Step by Step
Preheat the oven to fan 160C, conventional 180C, gas 4.
Grease and line the base of a rectangular cake or brownie tin, 10 inch x 8 inch or similar, with baking parchment.
Using your finger tips, rub together the flour and butter until you have a fine breadcrumb consistency. A food processor will speed things up. Add the sugar and ground mixed spice. Mix until well combined.
Place half of the mixture into the prepared baking tin, press down evenly and firmly to form a smooth base.
Spread the mincemeat evenly over the top of the firm crumble base.
Add the chopped mixed nuts to the remaining crumble mixture and mix well.
Cover the mincemeat loosely with the crumble/streusel mixture, and bake in the oven for 35 - 40 Minutes or until baked. The crumble topping should have a light golden colour.
Remove the baked Mincemeat Crumble from the oven and leave to cool completely.
Dust with icing sugar before cutting into slices.
Tip: For a firmer set, place in the fridge for 10 - 15 minutes before cutting into slices.
Equipment
Baking Tin - For this crumble Traybake recipe, I used a Brownie baking tin measuring 10 inches x 8 inches x 1 inch deep. But you can use a similar-sized tin or dish.
Lining - Baking parchment or similar is fine. Mincemeat tends to stick to any baking tin, so line all sides with parchment.
Storage
Room Temperature - These Mincemeat Traybake crumble slices will keep for a few days in an airtight container. They may seem very crumbly at first, but will set firmer once they have cooled down.
Freeze - Once cooled completely, you could try freezing in individual portions. Bring back to room temperature or warm in a moderate oven for a few minutes before serving.
FAQ
Can I make a vegan or gluten-free mincemeat traybake?
You can make a vegan or gluten-free mincemeat traybake by substituting the flour with gluten-free flour and mincemeat that contains vegan or vegetarian suet.
How long does a mincemeat traybake last?
When stored in an airtight container, Mincemeat traybake will last for a few days.
Can You Freeze Mincemeat Crumble Traybake?
After baking and once it has cooled completely, you could try freezing it in individual portions. Bring back to room temperature before serving or warm in a moderate oven for a few minutes.