Name: Mince Pie Bakewell Squares
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 150 g Butter (cold); 300 g Plain flour; 35 g Caster sugar; 3 tbsp Cold water (or milk); 250 g Baking spread (softened); 250 g Golden caster sugar (or regular caster sugar); 4 Eggs (large); 1 tsp Almond extract; 125 g Self raising flour; 125 g Ground almonds; 1/2 tsp Baking powder; 400 g jar of Mincemeat; 50 g Flaked almonds; 2 heaped tbsp Icing sugar; Water to make a thick paste

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These Mince Pie Bakewell Squares are a festive twist on a bakewell tart, and are made in a traybake style for ease. They have a sweet shortcrust pastry base, a filling of fruity mincemeat and a frangipane inspired almond cake topping. They are great for Christmas bake sales or parties as they are so easy to portion up for a hungry crowd!

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Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information

Make sure all your cake ingredients (particularly the butter and eggs) are at room temperature before you start baking the cake. The butter for the pastry should be cold.
For the pastry, you can either cut the butter or baking spread into chunks, or if you are using block butter you can grate it into the flour using a cheese grater.
You can use either baking spread or butter for both the pastry and cake layers. I prefer butter for the pastry and baking spread for the cake.
If you can't get hold of golden caster sugar, regular caster sugar will work well too.
I like to use a good quality mincemeat for the filling (and preferably one with some added booze - it is Christmas after all!) or of course you can use homemade mincemeat.
Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Mince Pie Bakewell Squares

To make the pastry, rub butter into plain flour and caster sugar. Add cold water (or milk) and bring the mixture together to form a dough. Tip it into a lined baking tray and spread it out in an even layer, then prick it with a fork. Put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Then bake it for 20 minutes.

To make the sponge, mix the butter and golden caster sugar together. Then whisk in eggs and almond extract. Finally fold in ground almonds, baking powder and self raising flour. Spread the mincemeat over the baked pastry.

Gently spread the cake batter over the top and spread it out. Sprinkle over some flaked almonds. Bake it for 35 minutes until it is a lovely golden brown. When it is fully cool, mix icing sugar with water and pipe it over the sponge in a zig zag pattern, then cut into squares.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How long do the Mince Pie Bakewell Squares last for and can you freeze them?

They will last for 3-4 days in an airtight container in a cool place. To freeze the squares, wrap the cake well in cling film or put it in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Can you make this recipe with plain/all purpose flour?

Self raising flour, which is very commonly used in the UK where I am based, already contains a raising agent and a little salt too. Therefore if you want to swap it for plain or all purpose flour, you will need to add some additional baking powder and also a little salt if you like. Some people like to add salt to cake recipes and some don't, so I'll leave that up to you as it won't affect the bake. The general advice is to add 2 teaspoons baking powder (a measuring teaspoon, not the kind you stir your coffee with) per every 200g plain or all purpose flour. So for this recipe you'd need to add an additional 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder. Please note, I have not tested this recipe using plain or all purpose flour.

What size tin do you need for this recipe?

This recipe is best made in a 12" x 9" (36.5cm x 26cm) traybake tin with deep sides (4cm or 1.5"). However, if you'd prefer to make it in a smaller 9" square tin, check the recipe card notes section for details on how to change the measurements and baking time.

How many people does this recipe serve?

It completely depends how you slice it up, which is great because it makes this such a versatile cake for parties and gatherings. I love a big chunk of cake so I cut it into 12 slices, but for a party you may prefer to cut it into smaller slices so it feeds more people. You can cut into 16 slices, or even 24 slices.

Can this recipe be made with shop bought pastry?

Yes, if you prefer you can use shop bought shortcrust pastry. Roll it out and trim it to size, then bake as per the recipe instructions.

Can this recipe be made gluten or dairy free?

Yes! For gluten free you can replace the self raising flour with a gluten free self raising flour blend, and the plain flour with a gluten free plain flour blend. If you only have a gluten free plain flour blend, you will need to add additional baking powder for the cake sponge. The general advice is to add 2 tsp baking powder per 200g flour, so for this recipe you'd need to add 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder. You may also like to add ¼ tsp xanthan gum for better texture. For a dairy free version, use a dairy free baking spread for both the cake and pastry. Please do check the labels for everything you use to make the cupcakes if you are serving it to someone with an allergy or intolerance.

Can this recipe be made into cupcakes or a larger cake?

Check out my Mince Pie Cupcakes recipe for an mince pie inspired cupcake. Or for a larger cake you might like my Mince Pie Cake.

More tips for making the Mince Pie Bakewell Squares:

The icing on top is optional, but it does make the squares look extra special!
For an extra festive twist, add some orange zest to the cake batter.
Make sure to check the label if you buy shop bought mincemeat. Most varieties are vegetarian nowadays, and contain vegetarian suet. However suet is traditionally made from animal fat so always check the label if you are serving this bake to vegetarians.

Troubleshooting

My number one tip for getting the best results is to read through this whole page of tips and recommendations before starting, and follow the recipe exactly. If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

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