Mincemeat Streusel Slice

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Mincemeat Streusel Slice – Christmas Mince Pies without the fuss! A delicious buttery shortbread traybake with a mincemeat filling & an almond crumble topping.

Mincemeat Traybake – Alternative Mince Pie

This Mincemeat Streusel Slice is a great alternative to traditional mince pies over the festive season. Easy to make and, dare I say it, even more delicious than a mince pie.

Mince pie slices on a slate ready to eat.

Although I love Christmas baking in the run up to the festive season, some times things can become too hectic. One year, when I’d booked to sell my home bakes at local Christmas markets, I knew I’d be extra busy.

And I knew there’d be a high demand for mince pies. Maybe I was simply tired but the prospect of rolling out and cutting all that pastry really sapped my enthusiasm. Plus, I didn’t have access to enough pie tins to streamline making pies in bulk. Looking for an easier alternative to traditional mince pies, I settled on a traybake as the perfect answer for markets, fayres, fetes and families.

I opted for a shortbread base as it’s easier to make and handle than pastry. Plus, there’s no need to roll it out if you don’t want to – you can simply press it into place.
Then simply spread the shortbread with mincemeat (preferably homemade), top with my favourite almond crumble topping and bake.

Slices of mincemeat shortbread on a board.

Cut into slices or squares and there you have Mincemeat Streusel Slice – my tasty twist on a traditional mince pie.

Our twist on a mince pie has become a real family favourite at the Kitchen Shed. So much so that I now make more mincemeat slice than mince pies. We love a warm slice served with cream, custard or brandy butter.

What is mincemeat ?

Back in the 16th century mincemeat contained meat. Personally, I’m pleased to say we lost the meat sometime in the late 19th century.

Today it contains a selection of dried fruits – usually currants, raisins and sultanas – with candied peel.

It’s slowly cooked with apple, sugar, spices and beef or vegetable suet.

I love the smell of mincemeat when it’s cooking because it seems to fill the whole kitchen with the scent of Christmas.

What equipment do I need ?

Optional – using a stand mixer or hand mixer means the shortbread is even easier to make. I used my Kitchen Aid.
Equally, a wooden spoon and a mixing bowl will do the job nicely.
A lined shallow baking tin 30 cm x 23 cm / 12 ins by 9 ins.

What ingredients do I need ?

You only need 6 ingredients to make a Mincemeat Traybake

Ground almonds, jar of mincemeat, plain flour, butter, sugar and cornflour on a worktop.

Salted butter – at room temperature, this makes the creaming with the sugar so much easier. Don’t be tempted to use margarine, you will lose the buttery taste.
Caster/superfine sugar – a finer sugar helps prevent graininess but still delivers a crumbly soft, light and buttery shortbread.
Plain flour/all purpose flour.
Cornflour/cornstarch – gives extra shortness. Results in a lighter and more tender shortbread which melts in your mouth.
Ground almonds – makes the crumble topping crunchier and adds a lovely festive flavour.

How to make Mincemeat Streusel Slice

Make your Shortbread:

I use a stand mixer to make shortbread, it keeps mixing to a minimum and ensures a tender crunchy shortbread. Alternatively you can cream the butter and sugar together with a hand held mixer or a wooden spoon in a large bowl.

Shortbread dough being mixed in a KitchenAid.

Add butter and sugar to the bowl of your KitchenAid fitted with a beater attachment and cream together on a medium speed for about two minutes.
Add the flour and cornflour in 3 or 4 batches and mix until the dough comes together.

Dough rolled out, being lifted into lined tin, pricked with a fork and put into the oven.

Roll out the dough and place in your tin. Alternatively, press the shortbread dough with your fingers and ease into the rectangle shape of your tin. Prick the dough all over with a fork.
Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Leave to cool for 15 minutes.

Make your Almond Crumble Streusel Topping:

Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the ground almonds.
Cut the butter into small cubes and rub into the flour and almond mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar.

Four step process showing butter and flour in a bowl, butter rubbed in. Sugar stirred in and finished crumble mix.

Assemble and bake:

4 step process to show traybake assembly. Par baked dough, covered with mincemeat and topped with crumble mix.

Spread the shortbread with the mincemeat and sprinkle the streusel mixture evenly over the top.
Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes until golden.

Baked Mincemeat Streusel Traybake on a cooling rack.

Cool and cut into slices.
Serve warm with cream, custard or brandy butter.

Shortbread traybake on a board being cut into slices with a knife.

Top tips for Mincemeat Crumble Slice

The shortbread is par baked before the filling and topping is added. This ensures the shortbread is completely cooked through. Don’t skip this step.
If you want to get ahead with making your Mincemeat Crumble Slice the shortbread dough and streusel can be frozen. Just defrost for a few hours at room temperature before assembling with the mincemeat and then popping into the oven.
If you do a lot of baking, you might find you have leftover dried fruits from other recipes. If so, you can add these to your mincemeat filling.
If you have some flaked almonds, try adding them to the almond crumble streusel topping for an extra crunch.

Slices of mincemeat shortbread on a board with a knife.

Recipe FAQs

How many slices or squares does this recipe make ?

It’s entirely up to you!
I’ve cut them into 24 mincemeat shortbread bars for a generous portion. Alternatively, you could cut into 36 Mincemeat squares for a bite size portion.

How long do they keep ?

These Mince Pie Slices will keep for three or four days in an airtight container.

Can they be frozen ?

Mincemeat streusel slice freezes well.
Why not freeze a batch or two so you can really get ahead for Christmas ? Just make sure the slices are cool before stacking in a container with baking parchment between layers. This prevents the slices sticking to each other.
Mincemeat streusel slice will keep in the freezer for up to three months.
To serve, simply defrost at room temperature for a couple of hours.

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