Easy mincemeat flapjacks are a simple sweet treat for Christmas (and beyond), that the whole family will love!
These spiced oaty mince pie flapjacks are a great way of using up leftover mincemeat in your cupboard and best of all, they are much easier to make than mince pies! You might also like my basic flapjack recipe!
I've given my delicious sticky date flapjacks a makeover in this easy Christmas bake!
Fruity, sweet mincemeat replaces the dates and is added and stirred into the glorious syrupy oats, then baked in the oven until soft and squidgy!
👩🍳 Love flapjacks? Try my easy biscoff flapjacks and chocolate orange flapjacks too!
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✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
- A festive sweet treat for Christmas.
- A great way of using up leftover mincemeat.
- Only a handful of ingredients, most of which you will already have!
- Easier to make than mince pies (although my crumble topped mince pies are so tasty!).
- Perfect for Christmas buffets and parties.
- Freezer-friendly.
🛒 Ingredient notes
Golden Syrup - If you can't get hold of golden syrup substitute it for runny honey.
Butter - Unsalted butter is best.
Sugar - I find a combination of light brown sugar and demerara sugar produces the best fudgy texture.
Oats - plain porridge oats or rolled oats. Don't use quick cook or jumbo oats as they don't absorb the melted butter very well.
Mincemeat - use a good quality shop-bought mincemeat or make your own homemade mincemeat.
Mixed Spice - for all those warming festive flavours! Swap for cinnamon if you don't have mixed spice.
What is mincemeat?
During Medieval times, mincemeat originally contained minced meat along with fruit and spices. The modern version is a mixture of chopped dried fruit, spirits (brandy, rum, or whisky), and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Why not try adding it to an apple crumble?
🔪 How to make mincemeat flapjacks
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: In a large saucepan melt the butter, syrup, and sugars over a low to medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon.
Two: Stir in the oats.
Three: Fold through the mincemeat and mixed spice.
Four: Press into a lined 20cm (8 inch) square baking tin and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden brown. Score the top into bars with a sharp knife and then leave to cool completely before cutting the bars fully.
💭 Expert tips
- The flapjacks will still look and feel soft when you take them out of the oven. They will firm up on cooling, so don't be tempted to put them back in the oven.
- Make sure you firmly pack down the flapjack mixture into the tin to ensure they stick together and don't crumble when cut. Use a heavy metal spoon for this.
- Allow the flapjacks to cool completely (I often leave them overnight) before cutting them into bars.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve the festive mincemeat flapjacks at Christmas bake sales, parties, and buffets, or, why not leave one out for Santa on Christmas Eve?
They are also delicious for a festive afternoon tea with a mug of hot chocolate.
If I'm serving this at a festive buffet, I'll make my chocolate orange tiffin, cranberry white chocolate blondies, and puff pastry sausage rolls too!
📖 Variations
- Add clementine zest or orange zest to the flapjacks.
- Stir in chopped walnuts or pecan nuts for added crunch.
- Add a handful of chewy dried cranberries for extra sweetness.
- Stir in chocolate chips before baking. White, milk or dark chocolate would all work.
- Drizzle with melted white chocolate once the flapjacks are cool.
🥡 Storage
Store - The mincemeat flapjack can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze - They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Once cool, place the bars into a freezer-safe container or freezer bags.
❓ Frequently asked questions
If you are unable to get hold of golden syrup then you can substitute it with runny honey, corn syrup, or maple syrup. The taste won't quite be the same though!
They should be soft when you take them out of the oven but will harden up as they cool. Score the flapjacks into squares whilst they are still warm and that will make cutting them much easier when they are cool.
This recipe makes 16 bitesize flapjacks. You can cut them into larger bars if you wish.
Yes! Replace the butter with a dairy-free spread and make sure the mincemeat you are using does not contain suet.
😋 More festive sweet treats
- Chocolate Orange Brownies
- Christmas Star Biscuits
- Mincemeat Pinwheels
- Mincemeat Muffins
- Mince Pie Blondies
- Chocolate Orange Cookie Bars
- Mincemeat Crumble Slices
- Christmas Cake Muffins
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Recipe
Easy Mincemeat Flapjacks
Equipment
- Kitchen Scales
- Measuring Spoons
- Saucepan
- Wooden Spoon
- 20 cm (8'') Square Baking Tin
Ingredients
- 100 g Light Brown Sugar
- 100 g Demerara Sugar
- 225 g Butter
- 5 tablespoon Golden Syrup
- 350 g Porridge Oats not quick cook or jumbo oats.
- 1 teaspoon Mixed Spice
- 150 g Mincemeat
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C (160 °fan/ gas 4/ 350 °F) and line and grease a 20cm (8 inch) baking tin with non stick baking paper.
- In a large saucepan melt the butter, syrup, and sugars over a low to medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon.100 g Light Brown Sugar, 100 g Demerara Sugar, 225 g Butter, 5 tablespoon Golden Syrup
- Stir in the oats.350 g Porridge Oats
- Fold through the mincemeat and mixed spice.150 g Mincemeat, 1 teaspoon Mixed Spice
- Press into a lined 20cm (8 inch) square baking tin and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden brown. Score the top into bars (whilst still warm) with a sharp knife and then leave to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
- The flapjacks will still look and feel soft when you take them out of the oven. They will firm up on cooling, so don't be tempted to put them back in the oven.
- Make sure you firmly pack down the flapjack mixture into the tin, to ensure they stick together and don't crumble when cut. Use a heavy metal spoon for this.
- Allow the flapjacks to cool completely (I often leave them overnight) before cutting them into bars.
- Add clementine zest or orange zest to the flapjacks.
- Stir in chopped walnuts or pecan nuts for added crunch.
- Add a handful of chewy dried cranberries for extra sweetness.
- Stir in chocolate chips before baking. White, milk or dark chocolate would all work.
- Drizzle with melted white chocolate once the flapjacks are cool.
Jovita
The taste of these mincemeat flapjacks is amazing! The family loved it, thank you for the recipe!
Tara
Such a great recipe for leftovers! Those flavors sound fantastic. Definitely a perfect option for the holidays.
Katherine
This is the perfect way to use up a jar of mincemeat!
Michelle
I love the spice and oat flavors together! So easy and festive for the holiday season!
Den
Delicious thanks!