Raw & vegan, these 5-ingredient mince pie bites are a healthier alternative to traditional mince pies. Keep everyone’s tastebuds happy with fruit-packed bite-sized pieces that are full of protein-rich cashew nut butter but still with a kick of brandy!
It is so easy to over indulge during the festive period, not least because of the many seasonal treats that you don’t get to enjoy for the rest of the year. One of the biggest pitfalls for me is mince pies as my mum makes the most delicious homemade pastry for hers that includes ground almonds, yum! So for the run-up to Christmas I have been getting my mince pie fix with this healthier (but no less delicious – sorry mum!) version.
These mince pie bites are raw and vegan and can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. I’ve kept these ones simple but you could play around by adding winter spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon. Feel free to exclude the brandy too if you would prefer as they would still have the same juicy texture without it. I’ve included measurements for the fruit and candied peel separately just in case but I used a bag of ‘mixed dried fruit’ which usually has this combination together.
Makes approx 12 balls
Ingredients:
200g Dried vine fruit (sultanas, raisins)
2tbsp Candied mixed peel
2tbsp cashew nut butter (or any nut butter of your choice)
1tbsp brandy
Cocoa powder to coat
Method:
1. Add all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend until combined.
2. Separate the mixture into small portions and roll each into a ball. Coat the ball by rolling it in the cocoa powder. Store in the fridge until you are ready to eat them!
Have you found any healthy alternatives to your seasonal favourites this Christmas?
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I would keep the brandy in ;) What a great way to get that mince pie flavour without all the calories of pastry. Merry Christmas to you and your family :D
The brandy does make them extra special! It’s nice to have something around that you can eat without any guilt ;) Merry Christmas to you too Emma x
My sister and I haven’t had a traditional Christmas upbringing, so we only tried mince pies last year and were astonished by how rubbish they were! Dry pastry with a smear of tasteless filling. These were probably particularly bad ones (your mum’s sound far nicer!) but not being great pastry fans anyway, we were put off… This recipe looks far more appealing. More flavour, less air. :P
I’ve been put in charge of dessert, so it’ll at least be healti-er – I can’t help it! xD But I’ve yet to find the right recipe! Has to be sorted by the end of today… Dithering between something boring but safe (chocolate cake and ice-cream) or something more wacky… Spoilt for choice on the blogsphere! Do you know what you’re doing?:)
Shop-bought mince pies can really vary – I do quite like some of them but they are nothing compared to homemade ones!
Hmm that’s a tough one as there seem to be so many options – maybe safe but with a bit of a twist? You could have ginger and chocolate cake with ice-cream to make it a bit more festive? Or surprise everyone by adding beetroot. Unfortunately for me I’m working both today and tomorrow then travelling to my mum’s house in the afternoon tomorrow ready for Christmas so most of the cooking/planning is in her (capable) hands. Merry Christmas :)