Luxury Mincemeat - cooking recipe

Ingredients

150 g raisins (use 25g less if using the nuts)
150 g sultanas (use 25g less if using the nuts)
125 g currants
125 g figs, ready to eat, chopped
125 g dates, ready to eat, chopped
175 g dark muscovado sugar
75 g butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
450 g bramley apples, peeled cored and diced (cooking apples)
150 ml cider
1 lemon, grated rind and juice
2 tablespoons golden syrup
2 tablespoons brandy
2 tablespoons madeira wine

Preparation

Mix all the dried fruit, sugar, butter, spices, and apples in a bowl.
Heat the cider in a large pan until it bubbles around the edge.
Stir in the fruit mixture, lemon rind and juice; and syrup.
Cover and simmer for 20 mins stirring occasionally.
Remove the lid and continue to simmer until the juice is almost absorbed.
Cool, stir in the brandy, Madeira (and nuts if using).