Hey there, holiday lovers!
Are you excited for Christmas treats? I know I am!
Today, I’m sharing a festive recipe that’s a total crowd-pleaser: vegan Christmas mince pies.
These little pies are packed with warm spices and sweet filling, perfect for the season.
Plus, they’re super easy to whip up and taste amazing.
Let’s make some holiday magic in the kitchen!
Suggestions for Ingredient Substitution
Raisins can be replaced with dried cranberries or chopped dried figs for a different flavor profile while maintaining the sweetness and texture. Use the same quantity as called for in the recipe. For those looking to reduce sugar intake, unsweetened dried berries can be used, though the overall sweetness of the filling may be affected.
Coconut oil can be substituted with applesauce or mashed banana in the filling for a lower-fat option. Use an equal amount of applesauce or mashed banana as coconut oil. This substitution may slightly alter the texture but will maintain moisture and add natural sweetness. In the crust, vegan butter or olive oil can replace coconut oil, using the same quantity.
Oats can be swapped with almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend for those avoiding grains. When using almond flour, reduce the amount by about 25% as it’s more dense than oats. For a nut-free option, try buckwheat flour or quinoa flakes, adjusting liquid content as needed to achieve the right dough consistency.
| Preparation Time | 30-45 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 20-25 minutes |
| Total Time | 50-70 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2500-2700
- Protein: 50-70 g
- Fat: 120-140 g
- Carbohydrates: 350-400 g
Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup currants or sultanas
- 3 small apples, cored and cut into 1cm cubes
- 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped into 1cm pieces
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves powder
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 cup whole almonds
- 2 cups oats (use gluten-free if needed)
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch
- 1/4 cup coconut oil or plant-based butter at room temperature
- 13 small pitted dates
- 4 tablespoons cold water
- Flour of your choice for rolling out dough
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Muffin Tins
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F).
Lightly grease two 6-cup muffin tins with coconut oil to ensure easy removal of the pies after baking.
Set the tins aside while you prepare the filling and pastry.
Step 2: Cook the ‘Mincemeat’ Filling
Place all the ‘mincemeat’ filling ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat.
Stir the mixture frequently, allowing it to bubble gently for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until the apple has broken down.
Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer.
Once done, remove the saucepan from the heat and set the filling aside to cool slightly.
Step 3: Prepare the Pastry Dough
To make the pastry, add almonds to a blender and blend them until they reach a fine flour consistency, then pour this into a large mixing bowl.
Repeat the process with oats and add the resulting oat flour to the same bowl.
Combine with arrowroot powder, then rub in coconut oil using your hands until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Step 4: Form the Dough
Blend dates in the blender until smooth and add them to the mixing bowl.
Incorporate cold water into the mix and blend everything together until a dough forms.
If the dough appears crumbly, add a little more water to help bind the ingredients.
Step 5: Roll Out and Shape the Pastry
Dust your rolling surface with flour of your choice and roll the pastry dough out with a rolling pin until it is about ½ cm thick.
Use a 9 cm round cookie cutter to create 12 pastry circles for the pie bases.
Utilize a small star cutter to cut out an equal number of pastry stars from the remaining dough, which will serve as the pie tops.
Step 6: Assemble and Bake the Mince Pies
Carefully press the circular pastry bases into the prepared muffin tins, ensuring they fit snugly.
Fill each pastry base with 2 tablespoons of the mincemeat filling, then top each pie with a pastry star.
Bake the mince pies in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry tops are golden brown and cooked through.
Step 7: Cool and Serve
Once baked, remove the muffin tins from the oven and allow the pies to rest in their tins for about 10 minutes.
Then, transfer them to a wire cooling rack and let them cool completely.
Enjoy your delicious homemade mince pies!
