Traditional Mincemeat Pie Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

Through years of testing, we’ve refined and perfected our mincemeat pie filling, staying true to the traditional ingredients that give this pie its rich, spiced flavor while making a few updates for ease. Here are the key mince pie ingredients you’ll need.

Mincemeat Pie Filling: We love using jarred, prepared mincemeat—a rich blend of apples, raisins, and spices that forms the base of the filling.

Pie Crusts: Refrigerated Pillsbury™ Pie Crusts are one of our go-to shortcuts. They’re easy to handle, bake up flaky, and deliver a homemade taste. Prefer scratch-made? Check out our scratch pie crust how-to.

Pecans: Add a bit of crunch to balance the soft filling. Substitute walnuts, almonds, or use currants or raisins for a nut-free option.

Brandy: A traditional touch that brings warmth. For a non-alcoholic version, swap in apple cider or orange juice.

Dried Calimyrna Figs: Not a classic ingredient, but they add texture and a honey-like sweetness. Golden raisins or dates work well, too.

Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Gala apple, brown sugar, lemon peel.

Cookware You’ll Need

The basic cookware needed for making our mincemeat pie hasn’t changed much. Here’s what you’ll need for this easy mincemeat pie recipe.

Medium Mixing Bowl: Provides plenty of space to stir all the filling ingredients together.

9-inch Glass Pie Plate: We've tested different options and recommend a heat-resistant glass pie plate for even browning and a flaky crust. A ceramic dish works just as well.

Aluminum Foil: Thin strips of foil help prevent the crust edges from over-browning—a simple trick we use for all our double-crust pies.

Other Cookware You’ll Need: Vegetable peeler, paring knife, cutting board, chef’s knife, dry and liquid measuring cups, measuring spoons, grater, mixing spoon, plastic wrap, and a cooling rack.

How to Make Mincemeat Pie

Here’s how to make our traditional mincemeat pie recipe.

1. Mix Ingredients

Stir together the mincemeat pie filling ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. This is called macerating when dried fruit sits in liquid to soften, and the flavors blend and deepen.

2. Prep the Crust

Let the pie crust sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to soften. If used straight from the fridge, it may crack, but if left too long, it can become sticky and harder to handle. Gently unroll the dough; if it’s stiff, let it soften for a few more minutes. Once ready, press one crust into the pie plate, add the filling, then top with the second crust, and crimp the edges to seal.

3. Bake and Serve

Bake the pie uncovered for 15 minutes; then, cover the edges with foil to prevent them from overbrowning. Bake until the top crust is fully golden. Let the pie cool about 5 hours so the filling can fully set, ensuring it holds together when sliced.

Possible Variations

We heard you love this traditional mincemeat pie recipe but also like to add your own twist. Here are some ideas from our bakers.

Add More Spice: Love2Bake4All suggests, “I added 1/4 teaspoon of allspice and 1/8 teaspoon of cloves to intensify the spiciness of the pie. Wonderful!”

Substitute the Brandy: Swap with dark rum or bourbon, or as lovescast4 shared, “Instead of brandy, I substituted orange juice.”

Switch Up the Citrus: Love2Bake4All also shared, “I substituted the peel of one medium navel orange for the lemon.”

Looking for more easy pie ideas? Browse our collection of the best pie recipes to find your new favorite.

Serving Mincemeat Pie

The warm, festive flavors of this mincemeat pie recipe make it a delicious complement to Thanksgiving recipes and Christmas holiday meals. Here are a few of our favorite ways to serve a slice.

Hard Sauce: A traditional topping made by beating brandy with softened butter and powdered sugar.

Ice Cream: Vanilla is classic, but cinnamon, butter pecan, or rum raisin pair well with the spiced filling.

Vanilla Custard Sauce: Also called crème anglaise, this smooth, pourable sauce adds creamy richness.

Whipped Cream: A spoonful of unsweetened whipped cream balances the pie’s sweetness.

Storing and Reheating

Here are our tested methods for storing and reheating your traditional mincemeat pie.

Room Temperature

Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or place leftover pie in a covered container for up to 2 days.

Refrigerator

Cover as stated above and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Freezer

• Freezing Baked Pie: Cool completely. Freeze uncovered until frozen, 2 to 3 hours. Then, remove from pie plate, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Store in a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. Note: Do not store in a glass pie plate which can crack from extreme temperature changes.

• Freezing Unbaked Pie: Freeze unbaked pie uncovered until frozen, 2 to 3 hours. Remove from pie plate, wrap, and store as directed for a baked pie.

Reheating

• Refrigerated Baked Pie: Heat a slice in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds on High (100%) or until warmed.

• Frozen Baked Pie: Unwrap and place frozen pie in a glass pie plate. Let thaw at room temperature for about an hour on a cooling rack. Bake the partially thawed pie at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes or until warmed through.

• Frozen Unbaked Pie: Unwrap and place frozen pie in a glass pie plate. Bake at 425°F for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown.

Why Pillsbury Users Love This Recipe

We've heard from users that this mincemeat pie recipe has won the hearts of many in our community. The combination of rich, spiced flavor from dried fruits, citrus zest, and the perfect balance of sweetness make every bite a festive treat. Users love how the tender, buttery crust complements the dense, chewy filling, creating a satisfying contrast in texture.

What makes this pie truly special is how it keeps the traditional mincemeat flavor while adding a modern twist with ingredients like brandy and fresh apple. It’s a comforting, nostalgic dessert that brings back warm holiday memories and never fails to impress. Whether it’s the balanced sweetness or the flaky crust, this traditional mincemeat pie delivers on all fronts, becoming a favorite for holiday celebrations.