These moist and fluffy mincemeat muffins are gently spiced with warming cinnamon and have a hidden layer of fruity mincemeat inside.
Perfect for using up those half-used jars of mincemeat, and best of all they can be made in under 30 minutes!

I always seem to accumulate half-used jars of mincemeat thanks to making batches of mince pies, mincemeat blondies, and mincemeat slices at Christmas.
These festive muffins are the perfect way to use up leftover mincemeat, and the great thing about these muffins is they can be enjoyed all year round!
Looking for more festive muffin recipes? Try my moist and fluffy chocolate orange muffins, or how about my fresh cranberry muffins!
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✔️ Why should you try it?
- Great for using up half-used jars of mincemeat
- Freezer friendly
- Uses my fail-safe basic muffin recipe
🥘 Ingredients
Mincemeat - I use a vegetarian mincemeat without traditional suet.
Cinnamon - Helps give the muffins a gentle warmth.
My basic muffin mix, which consists of;
- Plain Flour
- Bicarbonate of Soda
- Caster Sugar
- Natural Yogurt
- 2 Eggs
- Melted Butter
🥄 Equipment
To make this easy muffin recipe you will need a 12 hole hole muffin tin, muffin cases and a mixing bowl.

🔪 Instructions
One: Weigh out the dry ingredients (flour, bicarbonate of soda, caster sugar, cinnamon) in a bowl. Measure out the wet ingredients (yogurt, melted butter and eggs) in a jug.
Two: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Three: Gently mix until combined but be careful not to over-mix the muffin batter.
Four: Place 12 muffin cases in your muffin tin.

Five: Half fill each muffin case with the muffin batter.
Six: Place 1 teaspoon of mincemeat in each muffin case.
Seven: Top with the remaining muffin batter.
Eight: Bake for 16-18 minutes until golden.

💭 Top tips
- As with any muffin recipe, be careful not to over mix the muffin batter. Over mixing will result in tough muffins...and nobody likes a tough muffin!
- If you prefer, instead of placing teaspoons of mincemeat inside the muffins, you can stir all of the mincemeat into the muffin batter so it is distributed throughout the muffin. I prefer that fruity hit of mincemeat when you take a bite though!
- The grated zest of 1 orange added into the muffin batter gives it a lovely fruity hit.
🍴 Serving suggestions
I usually serve the mincemeat muffins as a festive treat, at bake sales, or as an easy after-school snack.
Sometimes (if I'm feeling in the mood to make a pudding), I serve them up for dessert with creamy custard or no churn honeycomb ice cream on the side.

📖 Variations
Nearly all of the muffin recipes follow the same basic recipe, so if you don't fancy mincemeat, why not try my lemon drizzle muffins (with a hidden layer of lemon curd), chocolate courgette muffins, raspberry and white muffins, or my blackberry and lemon muffins instead?
🥡 Storage
The muffins will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
🧊 Suitable for freezing?
These mincemeat muffins (as with all my muffin recipes) are suitable for freezing. Why not get ahead for Christmas and make a batch ahead of time? They can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
❓ FAQS
What is mincemeat?
Mincemeat, the traditional filling for mince pies, is a spicy preserve comprising a mixture of dried fruit, apple, suet (although I make a vegetarian mincemeat without suet), and candied fruit and spices steeped in rum, whisky or brandy. It has been part of British cookery since the middle ages.
Why do they call it mincemeat?
The reason mincemeat is called mincemeat is because that's exactly what it used to be! Most usually mutton (sheep), but also beef, rabbit, pork, and game were used. Mince pies were first served in the early middle ages, filled with a mixture of finely minced meat, chopped up dried fruit, and a preserving liquid such as rum, brandy or whisky.
😋Related recipes
- Apple and mincemeat crumble - A simple and delicious pudding that everyone will love, especially with a dollop of clotted cream on top!
- Crumble topped mince pies - Sweet fruity mincemeat is encased in a shortcrust pastry shell, and topped with a buttery crumble topping!
- Mincemeat pinwheels - Easy puff pastry mincemeat pinwheels! Much quicker to make than mince pies, and just as tasty!
- Mincemeat crumble slices - A sweet crumble traybake using mincemeat. The mincemeat crumble slices make a great alternative to traditional mince pies.
- Cheats stollen croissants - If you love Stollen and you love croissants then these Cheat's Stollen Croissants will really hit the mark.
- Festive mincemeat brownies - Festive brownies spiced up with mincemeat. Bite into a rich chocolate fudgy slice and be delighted with booze-soaked fruit and slivers of crunchy nuts.
- Puff pastry mince pies - A really easy and tasty alternative to traditional mince pies.
- Frangipane mince pie slices - Mince Pies but without all the fiddly pastry! These Frangipane Mince Pie Slices have all the flavours you’d associate with mince pies but in a tray bake instead of individual pies.
- Mincemeat loaf cakes - An easy, one bowl bake – and it’s a perfect recipe for using up that half empty jar of mincemeat.
- Mince pie twists - A perfect way to use up leftover mincemeat for that little reminder of Christmas and New Year celebrations before the festivities finally end. Less waste more taste
- Mince pie Christmas bundt cake - Filled with mince pie filling and spices it’s great Christmas bake.
- Mince pie cupcakes - Delicious spiced cupcakes filled with rich mincemeat, topped with a boozy brandy buttercream!
- Almond & mincemeat bars - Two layers of delicious crumbly biscuit sandwiched together with sweet mincemeat and topped with crunchy flaked almonds.
- Mince pie filo cigars - A lighter way to enjoy the flavours of mince pies. The mincemeat has chopped apples and pears and then it's all rolled in filo pastry and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
- Marzipan mincemeat palmiers - Take only 20 minutes to make and bake! Perfect for last minute guests.
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Recipe
Cinnamon Spiced Mincemeat Muffins
Equipment
Ingredients
- 140 g Caster Sugar
- 200 g Plain Flour
- 1 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 100 ml Natural Yogurt
- 2 Eggs
- 140 g Melted Butter
- 12 teaspoon Mincemeat
- 1 tablespoon Icing Sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190°c (170 fan/ 375F/ Gas5). Line a 12 hole muffin tin with muffin cases.
- Weigh out the dry ingredients (flour, bicarbonate of soda, caster sugar, cinnamon) in a bowl. Measure out the wet ingredients (yogurt, melted butter and eggs) in a jug.
- Gently mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, being careful not to over mix.
- Half fill each muffin case with the muffin batter.
- Place 1 teaspoon of mincemeat into each muffin case.
- Fill each case with the remaining muffin batter.
- Bake in the oven for 16-18 minutes until golden. Allow to cool and dust with icing sugar.
Video
Notes
#CookBlogShare
I'm linking this recipe up to #CookBlogShare, which this week is hosted by Apply to Face.
Cate
These look so perfect and tasty! Saving these to make over the holidays, thanks for the recipe!
Carrie Robinson
I don't think I have ever had mincemeat before. Definitely intrigued by the is muffin recipe. 🙂
Jillian
I love that these are made in 30 minutes! No one has time to spend all day in the kitchen baking! Thanks for a yummy and quick recipe.
Lisa Huff
Love the idea of putting a little mincemeat in each muffin. What a fun surprise!
Roxana
This is an interesting and new kind of recipe for me. Where can one find the vegetarian mincemeat you mentioned in the blog?
Rebecca
I LOVE a good muffin recipe! your mincemeat one looks delicious! yum
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
These sound like the perfect treat for Autumn - anything flavoured with cinnamon is always going to be a hit with me and these look incredible.
Jess
The cinnamon in these muffins make these perfect for the holiday season!
Dionne
I am sooo ready for these muffins. I have been out of muffins since last week, so it really feels like something I need to fix ASAP 🙂
Choclette
Love the sound of your basic muffin mix. I’m a big fan of using yoghurt in bakes. Even better with a dollop of mincemeat. Not sure I’ve got any leftover mincemeat, but I might need to raid the cupboards to check.
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
Perfect Christmas treats! I am always looking for leftover mincemeat recipes as I have the same problem as you and I don't like to waste it. This is a great one to add to the collection.
Jenny Walters
Squeal Christmas is coming!!! Love these and I have a jar of mincemeat in the cupboard! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare
Rebecca - Glutarama
I love the idea of little surprises in cupcakes and as I also love mincemeat this is defo going on my to-do-list (but GF) Thank you for the inspiration.