Mince Pie Crumble Bars Recipe

If you’re looking for a festive treat that’s cozy, comforting, and packed with classic holiday flavors, you’ve got to try this Mince Pie Crumble Bars Recipe. I absolutely love how these bars combine a buttery oat crumble with rich homemade mincemeat filling — it feels like all the best parts of a mince pie, but in a handy, sliceable bar. Whether you’re baking for the holidays or just craving that nostalgic mince pie zing, these bars will become your new go-to dessert (trust me on this one!).

this …

Ingredients You’ll Need

This Mince Pie Crumble Bars Recipe is all about layering flavors and textures. The combination of dried fruits rehydrates beautifully in a splash of brandy, while the oat crumble brings that perfect buttery crunch. When shopping, look for good-quality dried fruits and cold butter to achieve the best texture.

• Raisins: Adds natural sweetness and chewy texture to the mincemeat.
• Currants: These little gems pack intense fruity notes; perfect for traditional mincemeat.
• Sultanas: Softer and sweeter than raisins, they balance the blend nicely.
• Dried Cranberries: Introduce a subtle tartness that livens up the filling.
• Mixed Peel: Brings that classic citrusy zing essential in mince pies.
• Cooking Apple: Finely chopped to add moisture and a subtle fresh sweetness.
• Unsalted Butter (for filling): Adds richness and moistness to the mincemeat.
• Light Brown Soft Sugar (for filling and crumble): Its caramel notes deepen the flavor.
• Ground Cinnamon: Warms up the filling with a familiar holiday spice.
• Mixed Spice: A blend of spices that gives mince pie its signature flavor.
• Lemon Zest: Adds a fresh brightness to cut through the sweetness.
• Brandy (or apple juice): Rehydrates the fruit and adds depth; swap for apple juice if you prefer alcohol-free.
• Rolled Oats: Creates the crumble’s lovely texture and hearty flavor.
• Plain Flour: The structure for the crumble base and topping; dust your surface well when rolling out dough.
• Cold Unsalted Butter (for crumble): Cubed, to achieve a flaky, crumbly texture.
• Baking Powder: Gives a light lift to the crumble base.

Variations

I love to give this Mince Pie Crumble Bars Recipe my own spin depending on the season or who I’m serving. It’s flexible enough to handle tweaks, so feel free to adjust the fruits, spices, or sweetness to your liking.

• Alcohol-Free Version: I swap the brandy for robust apple juice or spiced tea — still super flavorful but perfect if you want to avoid alcohol.
• Nutty Twist: Adding chopped walnuts or pecans into the crumble topping adds a lovely crunch and earthiness that my family adores.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Use gluten-free flour and oats certified gluten-free — the texture changes slightly but it still bakes up beautifully.
• Extra Fruity Filling: Sometimes I toss in chopped dried apricots or cherries for a little extra sweetness and color.

How to Make Mince Pie Crumble Bars Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Mince Filling

Start by soaking the dried fruits — raisins, currants, sultanas, cranberries, and mixed peel — in brandy or apple juice for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight. This plumps them up and infuses that lovely rich flavor. Then stir in finely chopped cooking apple, brown sugar, spices, lemon zest, and softened butter. Mix everything thoroughly and set aside; the filling will thicken as it rests, which is exactly what you want.

Step 2: Make the Crumble Dough

In a big bowl, combine rolled oats, plain flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. I like to keep the butter cold and cubed to create a nice flaky texture, so rub it quickly into the dry ingredients with your fingertips until the mixture looks crumbly and sandy — kind of like wet sand at the beach. Don’t overwork it, or it won’t be as delicate.

Step 3: Assemble and Bake

Press about two-thirds of the crumble mixture firmly into a buttered and floured baking tray to form an even base — I find a 9×13 inch pan works perfectly. Spread the rich mincemeat filling evenly over this base, then sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the top for that signature crumble look. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for around 20 minutes or until golden and fragrant. It fills your kitchen with the most inviting scent — one of my favorite moments in baking!

Step 4: Cool and Slice

Once out of the oven, let the bars cool in the tin for at least 30 minutes before slicing them into squares. If you try to cut them too soon, they’ll be crumbly and fall apart — patience is key here. I found using a sharp serrated knife makes cleaner cuts without squashing the crumble.

How to Serve Mince Pie Crumble Bars Recipe

Garnishes

I usually dust the bars lightly with powdered sugar just before serving to add a simple festive touch, and sometimes a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream — it pairs beautifully and makes it feel like a special occasion dessert. A sprinkle of extra lemon zest or cinnamon on top can also brighten the presentation.

Side Dishes

These bars shine as a dessert at any holiday meal, but I also like serving them with mulled wine or a warm cup of spiced tea alongside for that ultimate comforting combo. For brunch, they’re surprisingly good with a sharp cheese plate or even just a pat of butter and a strong coffee.

Creative Ways to Present

For a holiday party, I’ve arranged these bars on a festive platter lined with holly sprigs and cinnamon sticks — it’s simple but looks gorgeous. Sometimes I cut bars into bite-sized squares and serve them on mini cupcake liners, perfect for passing around at gatherings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They actually hold up well and the flavors deepen after a day, so I often recommend making them a day ahead of when you want to serve.

Freezing

If you want to freeze, slice the bars first and wrap each individually in plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer bag. I’ve frozen these successfully for up to 2 months — just thaw them overnight in the fridge, and they’re good to go!

Reheating

To warm up, I pop a bar or two in a preheated oven at 150°C (300°F) for about 10 minutes to revive that crumble crispness. Avoid microwaving if you can, as it tends to make the crumble a bit soggy.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Mince Pie Crumble Bars Recipe has become a holiday staple in my kitchen for good reason — it’s easy to make, endlessly delicious, and hits all those cozy, festive flavor notes we all crave. Whether you’re baking with family or making treats for a snowy afternoon, I hope you’ll enjoy these bars as much as my loved ones do. Trust me, once you try them, you’ll find yourself reaching for this recipe year after year. Give it a go and let me know how it turns out in your kitchen – happy baking!

Print