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Home » Recipes » Vegetable Desserts

Carrot and Apple Mince Pies

Published: Dec 1, 2016 · Modified: Feb 3, 2021 by Kate Hackworthy · 16 Comments

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These healthy carrot and apple mince pies are easy to make, refined sugar-free and bursting with fruit and veg. They're a perfect Christmas treat for kids and grown-ups.

Close up of a bite out of a Carrot and Apple Mince Pie, in front of others on a cooling rack.

These healthy carrot, orange and apple mince pies are a wonderful treat for Christmas.

Traditionally, British mince pies are made with pastry filled with mince meat made of dried fruit, sugar and alcohol (such as rum or brandy).

However, these mince pies are full of nourishing ingredients, with no refined sugar.

Well, as long as you don't sprinkle confectioner's sugar on top. 

Plus, they have fruit and veg and a flaky pastry crust. Yum!

I've lightened up the traditional mince pie filling by adding grated carrot and chopped apples. You still get the great taste of mincemeat, but with lower calories and a less 'heavy' taste.

A lighter version that taste delicious.

Small tarts on a wire cooling rack.

mince pies

If you love these healthier carrot and apple mince pies, then I hope you'll love these other mince pie recipes too!

Cider Mince Pies with Cheddar Pastry

Mince Pie Filo Rolls

Christmas Mince Pies with Beetroot Pastry

 

Close up of a bite out of a Carrot and Apple Mince Pie, in front of others on a cooling rack.

healthy Christmas traditions

Christmas with kids is absolutely magical.

Now that my son is 6 and my daughter is 4, this year will be completely filled with the joys of the holidays.

They understand all that's going on and they remember the traditions. Perhaps they'll even consider these apple mince pies to be family traditions!

We're starting to make more and more traditions, merging my husband's way of doing things with my family's, plus making up some of our own.

We always start Christmas with a cooked breakfast, often my daughter's beloved smoked salmon scrambled eggs.

We usually skip lunch on Christmas and instead have a very early dinner at 4.

In the middle of the day, to stop them picking at chocolates and biscuits, I'll usually make 'baby canapes'.

These are often served at our house and are simply chopped apples with peanut butter, and banana slices with a little sliver of chocolate in them.

I like that they think they're getting a chocolate treat, but their bellies get full of banana so they can't eat too much.

Other traditions that we have are that they always get to open one present on Christmas eve, which contains new pyjamas and a book.

They are also allowed to open their stockings as soon as they wake up (to hopefully buy us a few extra minutes in bed!) and stockings always have a satsuma in the toe, as well as a new toothbrush and a little treat.

Although I love to cook, my husband usually takes over Christmas dinner.

The kids play with their new toys and let us get on with things in the kitchen. Then they happily tuck in!

Healthy Carrot and Apple Mince Pies on a vintage cooling rack on a wooden table.

get the healthy carrot and apple mince pies recipe

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📖 Recipe

Little pies on a wire rack cooling.

Healthy Carrot and Apple Mince Pies

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
These healthy carrot and apple mince pies are easy to make, refined sugar-free and bursting with fruit and veg. They're a perfect Christmas treat for kids and grown-ups.
5 from 10 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine British
Servings 12
Calories 121 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 apples
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 orange
  • Juice of 1 additional orange
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 6 tablespoon raisins
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 package shortcrust pastry

To decorate:

  • Powdered icing sugar optional

Instructions
 

  • Peel the apples and orange and dice into 1cm cubes.
  • Peel and grate the carrot.
  • Put the apples, orange and carrot into a saucepan with the orange juice, zest, raisins, honey and cinnamon.
  • Heat the pan gently for 25 minutes until the fruit is soft.
  • Preheat oven to 200C/180fan/400F, lightly grease the cups of a tart or muffin tray.
  • Roll out the pastry and cut into rounds slightly larger than the holes in the muffin tray.
  • Cut the scraps into shapes with a star cookie cutter. Re-roll the pastry if necessary.
  • Place the circles into the tart/muffin tray, add a heaped teaspoon of the filling and top with a pastry star.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and allow to cool before serving.
  • Optional: dust the tarts with powdered icing sugar.

Nutrition

Calories: 121kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 120mgPotassium: 152mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 890IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 10 votes

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Pat

    December 05, 2023 at 2:21 pm

    5 stars
    LOved this version of mince pies - way less rich and not sickly like they can be. The apple and carrot can't really be tasted but pads out the mincemeat nicely.

    Reply
  2. Nathan J

    November 22, 2021 at 3:09 am

    5 stars
    Hi Kate:

    It was very nice. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Angela

    December 20, 2017 at 12:06 pm

    5 stars
    Mince pies with carrot and they're actually great I am a convert! This is such a fantastic recipe.

    Reply
  4. Julie

    December 10, 2017 at 11:46 am

    Lovely, gotta try them. Can you please tell me if these can be made ahead?

    Reply
  5. health and fitness

    December 23, 2016 at 5:52 am

    These does not look like carrot. A great dessert for vegans and even those that are not. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  6. Nadia

    December 02, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    5 stars
    They look delicious and so easy to make 😀 Beautiful shots 🙂

    Reply
  7. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

    December 01, 2016 at 3:38 pm

    This is a nice change of pace for the holiday season. It sure is hard to eat healthy at this time of year. This helps.

    Reply
  8. Lucy Parissi

    December 01, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    5 stars
    I love how you have managed to make mince pies healthier! They look lovely. Carrot sounds like a perfect addition actually I need to try this!

    Reply
  9. Platter Talk

    December 01, 2016 at 3:10 pm

    5 stars
    Your little mince pies are so charming! I love the star atop, too. Thanks

    Reply
  10. The Food Hunter

    December 01, 2016 at 3:00 pm

    carrot and apple sounds like a wonderful combination
    and I love that it is healthy

    Reply
  11. Cricket Plunkett

    December 01, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    I've never had a mince pie, but these look delicious. Not to mention cute and adorable!

    Reply
  12. Claire @foodiequine

    December 01, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    5 stars
    These are just adorable! Love mince pies with stars on top and the addition of carrot is genius.

    Reply
  13. Sharon

    December 01, 2016 at 11:36 am

    What adorable little pies! Their small size makes them perfect for holiday parties!

    Reply
  14. choclette

    December 01, 2016 at 11:02 am

    5 stars
    These look so cute Kate and I love the addition of carrot. I haven't made any mincemeat yet the year, but if I manage it, I'm going to add carrot now.

    Reply
  15. Rachel

    December 01, 2016 at 10:03 am

    The addition of carrot is something I have never heard of or come across before but I like the sound of these x

    Reply
  16. Sarah Bella

    December 01, 2016 at 9:53 am

    Wow, carrot, orange and apple mince pies sound amazing, they look delicious! I think my children would really love these, what a great way to get those healthy foods into the kids!
    I also have to ration my kids chocolate at Christmas too, they get SO much! xx

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. Here you'll find vegetarian recipes and vegan recipes celebrating vegetables, from dinner to dessert! If you love vegetables, you've come to the right place. About Me

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