These mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels are stunning. Melt-in-the-mouth apple is stuffed with festive mincemeat and wrapped in sugar and cinnamon dusted flaky pastry.
Ingredients
- 2 Bramley apples
- 8 tsp mincemeat vegetarian if required
- 320 g ready rolled puff pastry
- 1 medium free range eggs
- 1 tbsp demerara sugar (turbinado sugar)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 190C (170C fan/375F). Peel the Bramley apples and cut them in half along their equator. Remove the cores.
Unroll the puff pastry and divide into quarters.
Place an apple half on the centre of each rectangle of puff pastry.
Fill the cores of each apple with mincemeat.
Wrap the apples up in the pastry by folder the corners into the middle, stretching the pastry a little if necessary to completely seal the parcel.
Mix the egg with a splash of water to make an egg wash, then brush the parcels all over.
Sprinkle each parcel with sugar.
And a pinch of cinnamon.
Bake on a greaseproof sheet for 20-30 minutes until golden brown, then serve hot. They're amazing with a drizzle of cool double cream.
Bramley apples have been a staple in many a British kitchen for over 200 years, and works just as well in savoury dishes as it does in desserts.
Are you tempted to try these mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels?
Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels
Are mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels easy to make?
Yes, this recipe is super simple, and such a delight! If you love apple turnovers and mince pies then this recipe is for you.
Combining delightful fresh tangy Bramley apples with mincemeat to create these festive parcels, they are a big hit for dessert in our house over the festive period.
You can adapt the recipe with other fillings to enjoy this treat at other times of the year too!
Will I need any special equipment for this recipe?
You should be able to find everything you need for this recipe in the average kitchen. I’ve used an apple corer to create a neat hole in the middle of the bramley apples to fill with mincemeat.
If you don’t have an apple corer just carefully use a sharp paring knife to cut out the cores, it's ok if you need to cut the apples into quarters and put the pieces back together if that's easier. Find the full list of equipment on the recipe card below.
Where can I buy bramley apples?
Bramley apples are nearly exclusively grown in the UK, with some trees in North America, Canada and Japan.
You can get Bramley apples in most UK supermarkets, sometimes simply called cooking apples.
They are larger than most apples and are a bright green colour, sometimes with red blushes where the apples have been sun-kissed.
Bramley apples are perfect for cooking as they turn from tart to quite sweet with a lovely almost fluffy texture, whilst still holding their shape.
Are mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, this recipe is totally suitable for vegetarians, it contains no meat or fish.
If you are making this for a vegetarian be mindful to use vegetarian mincemeat as it would traditionally be made with non-vegetarian suet, most ready-made mincemeat is vegetarian now.
Are mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels suitable for vegans?
This recipe is finished with an egg wash so would not be suitable for vegans with this element.
You can easily use a vegan alternative like plant-based milk instead. And most ready-made pastry is suitable for vegans too, but make sure to check the packet, remember to get mincemeat that is suitable too.
Are mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels gluten-free?
For this recipe, I’ve used ready-made puff pastry that is made with wheat flour so it wouldn’t be suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten in their diet.
If you want to make this recipe gluten-free you can try using gluten-free ready-made pastry instead. It's a little harder to find, but most large supermarkets stock it now.
Are mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels safe to eat while pregnant?
There isn’t anything in this recipe that would usually pose a risk to a pregnant woman as long as all the ingredients are in good condition and the parcels are made hygienically.
A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice, if you have any worries or concerns please speak to a qualified health professional.
Are mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels suitable for babies and toddlers?
The NHS recommends not giving sugar to young children so if you wanted to make this for little ones you could make them an apple parcel without the mincemeat, and without the dusting of sugar on top.
What goes well with mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels?
This dessert is perfect with a little cream, ice cream, or custard, whatever takes your fancy. Why not try it with my vegan custard if you’ve made a vegan version of these Bramley apple parcels.
Can I make this recipe without mincemeat?
If you don’t like mincemeat or want to make these yummy apple parcels at a different time of year then you can have fun with all sorts of other fillings.
Dried fruits like dates, figs, and mango work well. Or you could try using something like cranberry sauce or raspberry jam instead of mincemeat. Anything a little juicy and fruity that goes well with apples will work beautifully.
I haven’t got Bramley apples, can I use different apples?
This recipe will work with any apples, so if you don’t have any Bramley apples simply use your favourite variety.
Bramley apples are special in their texture when cooked, when kept in large pieces like this recipe they cook into a beautifully fluffy apple that holds its shape. Other types of apples may breakdown a bit more when they cook, creating more of an apple sauce, but it will still taste delicious.
Can I add extra spice to my mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels?
If you want your apple parcels to be even more festive you could try grating a little fresh nutmeg over the top of the parcels before baking. Ginger also works well with apple and mincemeat if you want a little more warmth to the spice.
How should I store mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels?
Once cooked and cooled any leftovers will need to be kept in the fridge. I find it best to keep them in a sealed container, or you could cover them with a beeswax wrap on a plate.
How long do mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels keep?
When kept in the fridge these apple parcels will keep for up to 4 days, you can also freeze them where they will keep for up to 2 months.
Can I leave mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels out on the counter?
Other than serving, these apple and mincemeat parcels should be kept in the fridge to keep them at their best and reduce the risk of bacterial spread.
Can I make mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels ahead?
As we’re using ready-made pastry this recipe doesn’t take long to bring together, and I think they are yummiest served fresh and warm.
If you want to get ahead you could prepare the apples a few hours in advance. Once you’ve peeled, cored, and cut the apples keep them in a bowl of water with a squeeze of lemon in the fridge to stop them browning. When you’re ready to make the parcels dry off the apple pieces with a clean tea towel or some kitchen towel.
Can I freeze mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels?
This recipe keeps well in the freezer. Make sure to cool and get any extras into the freezer as soon as you can after cooking.
Pop them into a suitable size container, with as little airspace as possible. Label your container with the date and what's inside. These apple parcels will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
What is the best way to defrost mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels?
You can defrost these apple parcels simply in the fridge, just pop them onto a plate in the fridge to thaw out for a few hours, or overnight.
You can also reheat them straight from frozen if you don’t want to defrost them first, see note below on how to reheat.
Once thawed, they need to be consumed within 24 hours and do not refreeze already frozen food.
What is the best way to reheat mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels?
I find it best to reheat these apple parcels in the oven to keep the pastry nice and crisp, for speed you could use the microwave but the pastry will go a bit soggy.
Preheat the oven to 160C/320F (140C/285F fan) pop the apple parcels onto a lined baking sheet and warm through for 10-15 minutes until the insides are piping hot. If you have a probe thermometer you can check the internal temperature has reached 70C/160F.
When reheating from frozen cover with tin foil on the baking sheet for the first 10-15 minutes, and then remove the tin foil, return the parcels to the oven for a further 5 minutes for the pastry to crisp up. Make sure they are cooked through before serving.
Can I make these mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels in a different quantity?
Yes, if you want to make more or less of these delightful apple and mincemeat parcels you can.
On the recipe card below you’ll see the servings is set to 4, which uses 2 apples and one packet of ready-made pastry.
Click on the number of servings and a little slider will appear that you can move up or down to get the amount you want to make. All the ingredients will update automatically so you’re ready to make.
Can I make mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels in individual portions?
These parcels are already in generous individual portions, perfect for a festive dessert.
If you wanted you could try making smaller parcels to create a lighter dessert. Divide the pastry into 8 pieces rather than 4.
Pop a teaspoon of mincemeat into the middle of each piece of pastry, and then put a quarter, instead of a half apple piece on top.
Pull the pastry up around the apple as you would for the larger parcels and finish with the egg wash and cinnamon sugar before baking.
How can I make sure my mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels are perfectly cooked?
When your apple parcels are ready they will look lovely and golden brown, the sugar will have melted beautifully into the pastry, you can carefully turn one over to check the bottom of the pastry is as crisp as the top.
Why did my pastry crack and split when I rolled it out?
Ready-made pastry is quite delicate and sometimes has a tendency to stick to the paper and not want to unroll.
I find if you take the pastry out of the fridge about 10-15 minutes before you want to use it, and just let it rest, still rolled up it helps make the pastry more manageable. It will warm ever so slightly and makes it easier to unroll.
Why did my filling ooze out of the parcel?
This will be because there wasn’t enough of a seal around the apple. They may not look as pretty if the pastry has come open but they will taste just as yummy.
To avoid this next time you can dab a little water, or some of the egg wash to use as a glue where the corners of the pastry join, helping them stick together.
Why did my mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels turn out wet and undercooked?
This could be because the oven wasn’t hot enough or the parcels have been taken out too soon. If the pastry isn’t cooked in the time pop them back into the oven for a further 5 minutes or so to finish off.
How can I add/change the flavours in this dish?
If you want to make these Bramley apple parcels not so festive you can stuff the cores with dates or dried figs instead of mincemeat, they go all jammy and lovely inside the apple, bringing sweetness and flavour, like the mincemeat but without the Christmas vibes.
Print this mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels
If you'd like to print this mincemeat and Bramley apple puff parcels recipe to try later, just hit the grey PRINT button on the recipe card below.
Mincemeat and Bramley Apple Puff Parcels Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Bramley apples
- 8 tsp mincemeat vegetarian if required
- 320 g ready rolled puff pastry
- 1 medium free range eggs
- 1 tbsp demerara sugar (turbinado sugar)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190C (170C fan/375F). Peel the Bramley apples and cut them in half along their equator. Remove the cores.
- Unroll the puff pastry and divide into quarters.
- Place an apple half on the centre of each rectangle of puff pastry.
- Fill the cores of each apple with mincemeat.
- Wrap the apples up in the pastry by folder the corners into the middle, stretching the pastry a little if necessary to completely seal the parcel.
- Mix the egg with a splash of water to make an egg wash, then brush the parcels all over.
- Sprinkle each parcel with sugar.
- And a pinch of cinnamon.
- Bake on a greaseproof sheet for 20-30 minutes until golden brown, then serve hot. They're amazing with a drizzle of cool double cream.
Nutrition
This is a commissioned post for Bramley Apples
More great ways to cook with apples
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Becky says
These look divine, I'll be trying this at the weekend, thanks!
Honest Mum says
Wow, these look utterly delicious
[email protected] says
ooh - this looks nice and easy! I might get the kids to join in with making it.
lucy mcdonald says
I love a Bramley. Nice recipe thanks.
Vicki Montague - The Free From Fairy says
These look amazing and so quick to make with ready made pastry! The perfect Christmas breakfast I think!
rebecca beesley says
oh yes i will definitely try this!
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant says
This is beautiful and doesn't seem too difficult to make. Pinned!