Mincemeat for mince pies

[SM33]

We have been making mince pies and the pastry was great but everyone was less than impressed with the mincemeat filling. So we are looking for recommendations for the best mincemeat? Store bought rather than making our own!
Thanks!

I always add some chopped up small apple and a slug of rum or brandy to shop bought mincemeat. (although I haven't bothered making them this year)
I do have a luscious lemon torte from M&S though, instead. 😋

Lidl has been my favourite this year. We prefer the standard mincemeat, not the brandy, matured, luxury etc.

Bit like @Chocolately here - add grated apple, handful of cranberries (or splodge of cranberry sauce) and good slug of brandy to a supermarket jar (usually Lidl). Have been known to top with marzipan instead of pastry if I've got some left over from the cake too.

Tesco's finest ruby port mincemeat is great! I ways add a frangipane topping with or without sliced almonds on top.

Also make pastry with sugar and ground almonds: Rick Stein

Yes the one we used had brandy in, perhaps that was why it wasn’t great.

@SM33. I often find the brandy tastes artificial or too strong. Like others I'll add my own flavours, although plain mincemeat has suited all this year. I do add some amaretto/almond when I fancy something different.

I like the aldi one best, I don’t like the ones with brandy or whatever in, taste artificial to me. I sometimes add a little marzipan if I have it, or stir in a little brandy myself if I feel like it.

im struggling with pastry this year, I’m not the best pastry cook in the world and I’m not impressed with the just roll this year DH actually said mine is better !

paul Hollywood uses a shortbread instead of pastry, I might try that some time

We will try the plain Lidl one. It’s the first time we have made our own - pastry was so much nicer than the store bought ones.

I add chopped apple, orange and nuts to basic mincemeat. And a bit of vanilla essence. I've made over 4 dozen this month, they're very popular.

It was my DD that cooked the mince pies - the pastry was great. She used this recipe which was so easy to follow www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/unbelievably-easy-mince-pies

Aldi. The big standard one. It's lovely!!

A bit of grated orange zest and a little ground ginger tends to perk shop bought mincemeat up nicely.

The Tesco Finest one seems to come up well in taste tests each year