What is Mincemeat, Exactly?

"He was devouring mincemeat, meat bones, bread, cheese, and pork pie, all at the same time." Perhaps this passage from *Great Expectations* by Charles Dickens sounds familiar. But what exactly is mincemeat?

Mincemeat is a rich combination of chopped dried fruits, spices, distilled spirits, beef suet, and traditionally, minced meat. While this sweet-savory mixture has evolved from its medieval roots, it continues to be closely linked with the festive spirit of Christmas, often used in pies or pastries.

Historically, the meat in mincemeat was often beef or venison. The term "mince" comes from the Middle English word *mincen* and the Old French *mincier*, meaning "to chop finely." According to *The Christmas Encyclopedia*, the iconic mincemeat pie — also known as mince pie or Christmas pie — has its origins in medieval England.

A common question from those unfamiliar with mincemeat pie is: Does it actually contain meat?

What Exactly is Mincemeat?

Mincemeat is a blend of dried chopped fruits, aromatic spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, sugar, nuts, distilled spirits, and traditionally, meat. The classic versions of this English dish often included mutton or beef, with alcohol acting as a preservative. The term "mincemeat" originally referred to a mixture that included meat, while sugar helped balance the flavors.

The mincemeat mixture traditionally contained suet, often used as a filling for pies or pastries. Depending on the recipe, the filling could be sweet or savory. Today, many commercially available versions substitute suet with vegetable shortening.

What's Inside?

In addition to the classic components — dried fruits, spirits, spices, meat, and suet — mincemeat recipes can be customized with various ingredients to give it a unique twist. You might find simmered apples, cider, candied cherries, brown sugar, apricots, dried cherries, cranberries, currants, figs, or citrus added for extra flavor.

Mincemeat Recipe Ideas:

• OldTime Mincemeat Pie
• Mock Mincemeat Pie
• Mincemeat Pie Filling
• My Own Mincemeat Pie Filling

What Exactly is Suet?

Suet is animal fat that is carefully extracted from the meat, clarified, chopped, and then boiled. This process removes any impurities. Once the mixture cools, the fat and water separate, and the remaining solid fat is what we call suet.

Suet is a key ingredient in many traditional British dishes, in addition to mincemeat. It appears in recipes like steamed puddings and various types of pastry. In savory cooking, suet adds a rich, umami depth to hearty dishes such as meat pies.

Some modern recipes use vegetarian suet instead of traditional animal fat. This plant-based alternative is made from refined vegetable oils and works well in mincemeat recipes. While it won't replicate the distinct meaty flavor of beef suet, it will provide the right texture and can be swapped into any recipe calling for suet.

What is Mincemeat Pie, Anyway?

Mincemeat pies were once considered a luxury, symbolizing wealth due to the high cost of meat and fruit. Wealthy English households would host grand Christmas feasts, where these pies were a prominent feature of the menu.

Recipes from the 15th to 17th centuries often featured a fermented blend of meat and fruit, used as a savory filling for pies. Early versions included tart vinegars and wines for flavor. By the 18th century, distilled spirits like brandy were added, along with warming spices such as clove, nutmeg, mace, and cinnamon. The addition of sugar gradually transformed the pie from a savory dish to something closer to a sweet dessert.

Later mincemeat pie recipes included lean beef, beef suet, raisins, currants, sugar, lemon and orange zest, and aromatic spices like nutmeg and cloves, all simmered together with brandy.

Mincemeat pies and tarts remain a festive tradition during the Christmas season, although many contemporary recipes skip the meat. In the northeastern U.S., these pies are also a staple at Thanksgiving gatherings for many families.

If you're eager to experience this holiday treat, be sure to browse our full collection of Mincemeat Pie Recipes.