This recipe for Mincemeat & Almond Shortbread is adapted from Rachel’s Favourite Food for Friends by Rachel Allen, and is perfect at Christmas to enjoy with a cuppa, or to give as a gift.

Sign up for our free Newsletter stuffed full of ideas, competitions and offers. PS Did we mention it’s free? Please share this with your family & friends if you liked it!

Makes 32 squares

Ingredients :

• 25g caster sugar
• 250g butter, softened
• 250g flour (or 375 g flour if you don’t want to use ground almonds)
• 125g ground almonds
• 300g mincemeat
• icing sugar, to dust or if you prefer you can make some water icing and top the shortbread with icing

 Method :

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Cream the butter in a bowl with a mixer, then add the caster sugar, flour and almonds and bring it all together with your hands. Alternatively, put the caster sugar, butter, flour and ground almonds in a food processor and whizz until everything just comes together.
3. Divide the dough in two. Shape one half into a flat round and place it in the freezer while you work (don’t get distracted by something else and forget it’s in there!), then press the other half into a 23 x 33 cm Swiss roll tin.
4. Thinly spread the mincemeat over the shortbread base, making sure to cover it all.
5. Take the remaining dough out of the freezer and place it between two sheets of cling film. Roll it out into a rectangle the same size as the tin.
6. Peel off one layer of cling film and place the rolled out shortbread on top of the mincemeat, cling film side up. Smooth out the dough and cut off any excess dough from around the edges. Peel off the cling film.
7. Bake the shortbread in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes, until it’s pale golden brown and cooked through. Place on a wire rack and let it cool fully before you dust with icing sugar or ice the top of the shortbread. Then cut your shortbread with a cutter shape and remove from the tine.

You might also enjoy reading: More festive recipes in 15 Easy Christmas Recipes.

Have you tried this Mincemeat and Almond Shortbread recipe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.