Sugar-Coated Sugar Plums Recipe with a Hint of Spice

Sweet memories dance through holiday kitchens with these delightful sugar plums that capture winter’s magical essence.

Traditional confections like sugar plums carry rich culinary heritage from generations past.

Delicate and charming, these no-bake treats blend nuts, dried fruits, and warm spices into bite-sized delights.

Each sugar plum becomes a small treasure of festive flavor and nostalgic warmth.

Simple ingredients blend seamlessly to create these elegant confections that sparkle with seasonal spirit.

Crafting these delectable morsels connects you to time-honored holiday traditions.

Roll up your sleeves and let the festive magic begin with these irresistible sugar plums that promise to enchant every palate.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 188 kcal

Servings: 11

What Ingredients Make Sugar Plums Magical

• Dried Plums: Adds natural sweetness and chewy texture, choose soft and plump varieties for best flavor.
• Dried Apricots: Provides tangy brightness and helps bind ingredients, select bright orange and moist apricots.

• Almonds, Walnuts: Deliver rich, earthy undertones and delightful crunch, opt for fresh, unsalted nuts with no bitter aftertaste.

• Food Processor or Sharp Knife: Essential for creating uniform, finely chopped mixture without turning ingredients into a paste.

Basic Tools For Shaping Sugar Plums

• Food Processor: Your secret weapon for quick, even chopping of dried fruits and nuts. Works like magic to blend ingredients smoothly.
• Sharp Knife: Perfect backup if you don't own a food processor. Allows precise, manual chopping of ingredients.
• Cutting Board: Provides a clean, stable surface for chopping ingredients.
• Mixing Bowl: Handy for combining and mixing chopped ingredients.
• Measuring Cups: Essential for accurate ingredient portions.

Putting Together Sugar Plums Without Baking

• Fruity Foundation

Grab your food processor and toss in a colorful mix of dried plums, apricots, almonds, and walnuts. Pulse everything until you’ve got a delightful, chunky texture that’s not quite a paste but wonderfully blended.

• Spice Awakening

Sprinkle in warm, aromatic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of orange zest. These magical ingredients will transform your mixture into a festive flavor explosion that dances on your taste buds.

• Sweet Binding

Add honey or maple syrup to help your mixture stick together. The natural sweetness will create a perfect consistency that holds shape when rolled.

• Rolling Magic

Use your hands to roll the mixture into small, bite-sized spheres. Don’t worry about making them perfectly round – rustic charm is part of the appeal! Roll each ball in a light dusting of powdered sugar or finely ground nuts.

• Cooling and Setting

Place your sugar plums on a parchment-lined tray and let them rest in the refrigerator. This helps them firm up and allows the flavors to mingle and develop a delicious, intense taste.

• Serving Delight

Arrange your sugar plums on a pretty plate, perfect for holiday gatherings or a cozy winter treat. They’ll keep in an airtight container for several weeks, making them an ideal make-ahead dessert.

Different Coatings To Try On Sugar Plums

• Festive Flavor Boosters: Experiment with adding a pinch of ground cardamom or orange zest to create a more complex and aromatic sugar plum mixture.
• No-Processor Hack: When chopping ingredients without a food processor, use a sharp knife and chop on a cutting board, ensuring a consistent texture by rocking the knife back and forth.
• Dietary Flexibility: For a gluten-free version, double-check that all dried fruits and nuts are certified gluten-free, making this treat safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Storage Savvy: Keep sugar plums in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify over time. Roll in additional powdered sugar before serving for a fresh, festive look.
• Nut-Free Alternative: Replace tree nuts with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for those with nut allergies, maintaining the same delightful texture and sweet-nutty profile.

Serving Sugar Plums At Holiday Parties

• Holiday Charm Platter: Arrange sugar plums on a festive wooden board with sprigs of fresh mint and dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant Christmas dessert presentation.
• Gifting Delights: Package sugar plums in small decorative tins or cellophane bags tied with ribbon, perfect as homemade edible gifts for friends and family during winter celebrations.
• Dessert Companion: Serve alongside hot beverages like mulled wine, chai tea, or espresso to complement the nutty, sweet flavors and create a cozy after-dinner treat experience.
• Breakfast Surprise: Crumble sugar plums over morning yogurt, oatmeal, or pancakes for a delightful burst of dried fruit and nut richness to start your day with unexpected sweetness.

How To Keep Sugar Plums From Getting Sticky

• Quick Refrigeration: Store sugar plums in an airtight container and keep them chilled for up to 2 weeks, maintaining their delightful texture and preventing spoilage.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the sugar plum mixture in advance and refrigerate for 24 hours before rolling into balls, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
• Freezer-Friendly Treat: Arrange sugar plums on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for storage up to 3 months – perfect for unexpected sweet cravings.
• Gift-Ready Packaging: Pack sugar plums in decorative tins or small gift boxes lined with parchment paper, creating a charming homemade treat for friends and family during holiday seasons.

Festive Sugar Plums Recipe

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• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 11 1x

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Description

Delightful sugar plums recipe blends traditional holiday treats with festive cheer. Nuts, dried fruits, and warming spices create a nostalgic confection perfect for seasonal 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 (60 ml/2 fl oz) honey
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ cup (50 g/1.8 oz) granulated sugar (for coating)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Pulverize dried plums, apricots, almonds, and walnuts in a food processor until achieving a uniform yet slightly textured consistency, alternatively mincing meticulously with a sharp knife.
2. Flavor Infusion: In a spacious mixing bowl, blend the chopped ingredients with honey and orange zest, thoroughly integrating these aromatic components to create a harmonious mixture.
3. Spice Incorporation: Sprinkle ground cinnamon and nutmeg over the mixture, gently folding to distribute the warm, fragrant spices evenly throughout the blend.
4. Shaping: Craft compact spheres resembling large marbles by rolling the mixture between palms, ensuring each sugar plum maintains a consistent, rounded form.
5. Coating: Generously enrobe each confection in fine powdered sugar, rotating to achieve complete and uniform coverage that creates a delicate, crystalline exterior.
6. Setting: Arrange the sugar plums on a parchment-lined tray, then refrigerate for 30 minutes to solidify their texture and enhance their distinctive flavor profile.
7. Storage: Transfer the completed confections to an airtight container, strategically layering with parchment paper to prevent adhesion and maintain their delectable quality.

Notes

• Choose Precise Chopping: Use a food processor for uniform texture or carefully mince ingredients with a sharp knife to ensure even-sized pieces.
• Boost Flavor Balance: Gently fold honey, orange zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg to distribute warm spices evenly without overpowering the natural fruit and nut flavors.
• Perfect Rolling Technique: Roll sugar plums between palms with light pressure to create compact, marble-sized spheres that hold together without crumbling.
• Smart Storage Strategy: Refrigerate sugar plums for 30 minutes to firm texture and use parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking when storing in an airtight container.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 11
• Calories: 188
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 1 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg