How to make cherry berry mince pies

Whether you’ve scoffed your store of mince pies or fancy making your own for friends and family, this delicious, unusual recipe is just what you need.

As Christmas edges closer and closer you may have already eaten all the mince pies. Never fear! We’ve got you covered with this twist on the classic mince pie recipe that’s more like a sharp, indulgent cherry jam. Traditional vine fruits make way for both glacé and sour cherries, with fresh cranberries providing pectin.

Makes enough for at least 24 mince pies.

Ingredients

• 75ml sherry
• 75g light brown muscovado sugar
• 300g cranberries
• 150g glacé cherries, halved
• 75g dried sour cherries
• 30g dried blueberries
• 1 tsp star anise powder
• 2 pieces of preserved stem ginger in syrup, drained and chopped (about 30g)
• 2 tbsp syrup from the jar of stem ginger
• about 75ml kirsch, maraschino liqueur or cherry brandy

Method

1. Heat the sherry in a large pan, add the sugar and let it dissolve
2. Add the cranberries, glacé cherries, sour cherries, blueberries and star anise powder. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the cranberries begin to pop and most of the liquid is absorbed
3. Take off the heat, stir in the chopped stem ginger and its syrup and add most of the kirsch (or other cherry-based alcohol of choice)
4. Spoon into a sterilised jar and add a final glug of kirsch before sealing the lid

This is sure to impress any one and is an exciting twist on a much-loved Christmas favourite. Pop them into a festive box, tie them with some ribbon and it’ll delight and surprise in equal measure!