Home-Made Mincemeat

[chokkie]

I've been asked to make some mincemeat for my aunt and uncle and have got a great recipe for this, but my uncle is teetotal. Can I substitute the alcohol content for fruit juice - or would it be better just heating the booze for a few minutes until the alcohol has burnt off? Any thoughts?

[waterboatman]

Your second option is the best one. Using fruit juice will not work at all well. He may not notice the alcohol with all the fruit in it, which can produce it's own!

[chokkie]

Thanks waterboatman .... yes, I think the option of heating the brandy (or whatever) would be best - my unc would definitely taste the booze in the mix, so at least I could tell him, truthfully, that the taste is all there is .... Cheers for the advice. Chox.

[waterboatman]

You're welcome. :o}

[woofgang]

if you just want the taste then you can buy alcohol flavourings. It depends on why he is teetotal....or try another recipe entirely. Here's one but if you google alcohol free mincemeat, there are loads. I am always a bit dubious about changing good recipes as so often it doesn't work. https://pearnuallak.com/food/2012/12/22/nigella-lawsons-cranberry-mincemeat-no-alcohol-further-thoughts/

[zebo]

The recipe I use, St Deliah's, adds the brandy at the end, once the mincemeat is cold so it won't cook off as it would in a cake or a pudding.

[DTCwordfan]

hic, I was only eating chokkie's mincepies, offislur......'onestly....

use some clotted cream from here to mask the cognac.

[Ratty2E]

I think it depends on why your uncle is teatotal. If it’s for religious, medical or addiction reasons then I’d steer clear it can take over 2 hours to cook out some alcohol and you can never be sure exactly how much you are left with. If it’s just that he doesn’t like the taste then he’s still not going to like it no matter how long you’ve cooked it out.

https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/cooking-cookware/does-alcohol-really-cook-out-of-food/