Jolly Holiday Sugar Plums Recipe: Sweet Christmas Magic

Sweet memories dance through kitchens during holiday sugar plums recipe celebrations, warming hearts with traditional delights.

These delectable treats connect generations through simple ingredients and cherished techniques.

Generations of bakers have perfected this classic confection, blending nuts, dried fruits, and aromatic spices into bite-sized delicacies.

Rich with nostalgia, each sugar plum carries whispers of winter gatherings and festive cheer.

Rolled by hand and dusted with powdered sugar, these delightful morsels promise a magical culinary experience.

Prepare to unwrap a piece of edible history that will enchant your taste buds and spark joyful conversations around the holiday table.

Sugar Plums: What Goes In

• Dried Plums: Chewy base that adds deep, rich sweetness and natural texture to the sugar plums.
• Dried Apricots: Bright, tangy fruit that brings a golden color and subtle fruity complexity to the mixture.
• Almonds: Crunchy nuts that provide a delightful nutty flavor and add protein-rich crunch.
• Walnuts: Earthy, robust nuts that contribute a deep, slightly bitter undertone and extra nutritional value.

• Honey: Natural binding agent that creates a sticky consistency and adds floral sweetness.
• Cinnamon: Warm, aromatic spice that delivers a cozy, comforting flavor profile.
• Nutmeg: Subtle, slightly sweet spice that brings depth and a traditional holiday warmth.
• Cloves: Intense, pungent spice that offers a bold, distinctive flavor and festive aroma.

• Granulated Sugar: Sweet, sparkling finish that adds a delicate crunch and elegant presentation to the sugar plums.

Equipment to Form Perfect Sugar Plums

• Food processor: Essential for quickly chopping ingredients into fine, uniform pieces.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining and mixing the sugar plum ingredients.
• Knife: Backup option for chopping if no food processor is available.
• Shallow dish: Ideal for rolling sugar plums in granulated sugar.
• Plate or container: Used for chilling and storing the finished sugar plums.

How to Make Sugar Plums from Scratch

• Chop Fruit and Nuts

Grab your food processor and blend dried plums, apricots, almonds, and walnuts until they’re finely broken down but not mushy. No food processor? No problem – just use a sharp knife to chop everything super fine.

• Create Flavor Blend

Dump the chopped mixture into a mixing bowl. Drizzle in honey and sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Mix everything until the blend becomes sticky and starts to stick together like a delicious paste.

• Shape Sweet Treats

Use your hands to roll the mixture into tiny round balls, each about the size of a small marble. Work quickly so the mixture stays compact.

• Add Sparkling Coating

Pour granulated sugar into a shallow dish. Gently roll each ball in the sugar, making sure they’re completely covered and looking like little sugary jewels.

• Chill and Serve

Place your sugar plums on a plate or in a container. Pop them in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to help them firm up. Once chilled, they’re ready to enjoy as a sweet, festive snack.

Tips for Elevating Sugar Plum Flavor

• Quick Chop Technique: Use a sharp knife if a food processor isn't available, ensuring ingredients are finely chopped but not mushy for the perfect texture.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare sugar plums up to a week in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for convenient snacking or gifting.
• Nut-Free Alternative: Swap almonds and walnuts with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for those with nut allergies while maintaining a similar crunchy texture.
• Spice Exploration: Experiment with different spice combinations like cardamom or orange zest to create unique flavor profiles that complement the sweet dried fruits.
• Dietary Modifications: Create a low-sugar version by using coconut sugar or stevia instead of granulated sugar, and replace honey with maple syrup for a vegan-friendly option.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 130 kcal

Servings: 12

When and How to Serve Sugar Plums

• Holiday Gift Wrap: Package these sugar plums in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons for a charming homemade present that delights friends and family.
• Dessert Accompaniment: Serve alongside hot cocoa, tea, or coffee for a delectable sweet treat that complements warm beverages perfectly during winter gatherings.
• Festive Platter Presentation: Arrange sugar plums on a decorative holiday plate with sprigs of fresh mint or rosemary for an elegant and colorful dessert display that looks as delicious as it tastes.
• After-Dinner Nibble: Place a few sugar plums on small dessert plates as a refined alternative to traditional cookies or chocolates, offering guests a sophisticated and healthier sweet ending to a meal.

Keep Sugar Plums in Perfect Condition

• Fridge-Friendly Treat Storage: Keep sugar plums in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, ensuring they stay fresh and maintain their delightful texture.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the sugar plum mixture up to 3 days in advance and store in the refrigerator, allowing you to quickly roll and coat them when guests arrive or cravings hit.
• Freezer Stash Strategy: Freeze uncoated sugar plum balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and roll in sugar before serving for a quick sweet treat.
• Portion and Pack Trick: Layer sugar plums between parchment paper in a sealed container to prevent sticking and make transportation or gifting a breeze. Perfect for holiday gatherings or weekend snacking.

Festive Sugar Plums Recipe

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• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Sugar plums dance with festive charm in this classic holiday confection. Spiced nuts, dried fruits, and honey combine to create a sweet treat that delights winter celebrations.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup (150 g / 5.3 oz) dried plums (prunes), chopped
• 1 cup (150 g / 5.3 oz) dried apricots, chopped
• ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 oz) almonds, finely chopped
• ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 oz) walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
• ¼ cup (50 g / 1.8 oz) granulated sugar (for coating)
• ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) honey
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Pulverize dried plums, apricots, almonds, and walnuts in a food processor until achieving a fine, uniform consistency. Alternatively, finely chop ingredients with a sharp knife if a food processor is unavailable.
2. Flavor Infusion: In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped mixture with honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Blend thoroughly until the ingredients form a cohesive, sticky mixture that holds together perfectly.
3. Shaping and Coating: Gently roll the mixture into compact spheres approximately one inch in diameter. Delicately roll each sphere in granulated sugar, ensuring complete and uniform coverage for a sparkling, crystalline finish.
4. Chilling and Serving: Transfer the sugar-coated spheres to a serving plate or storage container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to solidify the treats and enhance their textural complexity, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify before serving or storing.

Notes

• Pulse Precisely: Avoid over-processing ingredients to maintain a chunky, textured consistency that prevents the mixture from becoming a dense paste.
• Balance Sweetness: Adjust honey quantity based on the natural sweetness of dried fruits to control overall sugar content and create a balanced flavor profile.
• Control Moisture: Ensure mixture isn’t too wet or dry when forming spheres; perfect consistency allows easy rolling without crumbling or sticking to hands.
• Customize Coating: Experiment with alternative coatings like finely ground coconut, crushed nuts, or powdered sugar for different flavor and texture variations.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 130
• Sugar: 13 g
• Sodium: 1 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg