Sugar plums are a delightful holiday treat that brings a touch of old-world charm to your festive celebrations. With their sweet and fruity flavor combined with a subtle crunch from nuts and sugar, these confections are perfect for sharing or gifting. Here’s how to make traditional sugar plums that will be the highlight of your holiday table.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried plums (prunes)
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1 cup dried figs
- ½ cup almonds, finely chopped
- ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 3 tablespoons honey
- Granulated sugar (for coating)
Instructions
- Prepare the dried fruits: Chop the dried plums, apricots, and figs into small pieces and place them in a food processor. Pulse until they form a sticky, cohesive mixture.
- Combine the nuts: Add the chopped almonds and walnuts to the food processor and pulse until everything is well combined but still has some texture.
- Season the mixture: Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and honey to the fruit and nut mixture. Blend until the ingredients are evenly distributed and the mixture sticks together.
- Shape the sugar plums: Using your hands, roll small portions of the mixture into balls about the size of a walnut.
- Coat with sugar: Roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat them completely. This gives the sugar plums their signature sparkling appearance.
- Set and serve: Place the sugar-coated balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow them to sit for about 30 minutes to firm up before serving.
Serving and Storage Tips
- Serving: Sugar plums are best served at room temperature and make a beautiful addition to a holiday dessert platter.
- Storage: Store sugar plums in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a month. Allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor.
FAQs
1. Can I use other dried fruits in sugar plums?
Yes, you can substitute or add other dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, or cherries for a unique flavor profile.
2. Are sugar plums difficult to make?
Not at all! With just a food processor and a few simple ingredients, sugar plums are easy to prepare and require no baking.
3. Can I make sugar plums vegan?
Yes, replace the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar to make vegan sugar plums.
4. Why are they called “sugar plums”?
The name “sugar plums” refers to their shape and sweetness rather than containing actual plums. The term originates from old confections that were small, sweet, and round like a plum.
Enjoy crafting these nostalgic and delicious sugar plums for a magical holiday experience!
PrintSugar Plums
Sugar plums are sweet confections combining dried fruits like prunes (dried plums), dates, and cranberries with nuts such as almonds and pecans. Flavored with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, they’re shaped into bite-sized balls and rolled in sugar, offering a delightful blend of textures and festive flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 20 sugar plums 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: European-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- ½ cup prunes, finely chopped
- ¼ cup dried apricots or dates, finely chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
- ½ cup toasted, unsalted almonds, chopped
- ¼ cup toasted, unsalted pecans, chopped
- 2 tablespoons cherry or apricot jam
- ¾ teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup coarse sugar for coating
Instructions
- Prepare the Mixture:
- In a food processor, combine the prunes, apricots or dates, and cranberries. Pulse until the fruits are finely chopped and start to come together.
- Add the chopped almonds and pecans to the processor and pulse a few more times until the mixture is well combined but not overly processed.
- Add Flavorings:
- Transfer the fruit and nut mixture to a large bowl.
- Stir in the jam, orange zest, spices, and a pinch of salt. Mix until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, forming a sticky dough-like consistency.
- Shape the Sugar Plums:
- Using your hands, roll small portions of the mixture into balls, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Coat with Sugar:
- Place the coarse sugar in a shallow dish.
- Roll each ball in the sugar until fully coated, giving them a festive sparkle.
- Set and Serve:
- Arrange the sugar plums on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Allow them to sit for about an hour to firm up before serving.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Notes
- Feel free to experiment with different dried fruits and nuts to suit your taste.
- For a different coating, consider rolling the sugar plums in finely shredded coconut or finely chopped nuts.
- These treats make excellent homemade gifts during the holiday season.