Description
Delight in the festive flavors of these mince pie cookies that fuse the traditional holiday mincemeat with gooey dark chocolate chunks. Soft in the middle and slightly crisp at the edges, these cookies are perfect for sharing during the holiday season or anytime you crave a comforting, sweet treat with a spiced twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 120g salted butter, softened
- 75g golden caster sugar
- 1 medium egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp (about 100g) mincemeat (vegetarian, if needed)
- 180g plain flour
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 150g dark chocolate, broken into chunks
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4 and line two baking sheets with baking parchment to prevent the cookies from sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat the softened butter and golden caster sugar together until the mixture becomes very light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the cookie dough.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the medium egg and vanilla extract thoroughly into the creamed butter and sugar, ensuring the mixture is well combined and smooth.
- Incorporate Mincemeat: Stir in 4 tablespoons (about 100g) of mincemeat until evenly distributed throughout the batter, which adds rich fruit and spice flavors reminiscent of traditional mince pies.
- Mix Dry Ingredients and Chocolate: Add the plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, dark chocolate chunks, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the wet mixture. Stir gently until all ingredients are combined into a sticky cookie dough.
- Scoop the Dough onto Baking Sheets: Using tablespoons, scoop dollops of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them adequately to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the edges are firm but the centers remain soft. Remember, the cookies will firm up further as they cool.
- Cool and Serve: Leave the cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheets for a few minutes before optionally transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, ensure the mincemeat used does not contain suet or any animal-derived ingredients.
- Softened butter is key for achieving a light and fluffy cookie dough, so allow it to come to room temperature before starting.
- If you prefer a less sweet cookie, use dark chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage.
- For a gluten-free variation, substitute the plain flour with a gluten-free baking blend.
- These cookies are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: mince pie cookies, festive cookies, Christmas cookies, minced fruit cookies, dark chocolate cookies, holiday baking, spiced cookies
