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Sugar Plums Recipe

Sugar Plums Recipe
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★★★★★

4.7 from 26 reviews

Delightful and nostalgic homemade Sugar Plums made with a blend of finely chopped dried fruits and toasted nuts, flavored with warm spices and orange zest, coated in coarse purple sugar for a sweet, festive treat perfect for holiday celebrations or anytime you crave a natural, fruity dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Dried Fruits

  • 1/2 cup prunes, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup dried apricots or dates, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped

Nuts

  • 1/2 cup toasted, unsalted almonds, chopped
  • 1/4 cup toasted, unsalted pecans, chopped

Flavorings and Spices

  • 2 tablespoons cherry jam
  • 3/4 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon cardamom
  • Pinch of salt

Coating

  • 1/2 cup coarse sugar (purple sugar recommended)

Instructions

  1. Toast the nuts: Preheat your oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Spread the almonds and pecans evenly on a baking sheet and toast them for 6-7 minutes, or until fragrant and golden brown. Toasting enhances the nuts’ flavor but can be skipped if you prefer.
  2. Chop and combine: Finely chop all dried fruits—prunes, apricots or dates, and cranberries. Add the chopped fruits along with the toasted nuts into a food processor. Pulse several times until the mixture is finely chopped but not pureed.
  3. Add spices and jam: Add cherry jam, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and a pinch of salt to the food processor. Pulse again until the mixture becomes sticky and holds together when pressed.
  4. Shape the plums: Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the mixture. Roll each portion into an oval shape using your hands. Optional: create a small indentation on the front of each sugar plum with a toothpick to mimic a traditional look.
  5. Coat and garnish: Roll each shaped plum generously in coarse purple sugar to coat. For a festive touch, optionally stick a small rosemary sprig into the top as a stem. Serve and enjoy these naturally sweet, spiced treats.

Notes

  • Toasting the nuts is optional but adds a deeper, nuttier flavor.
  • Use any dried fruits you prefer or have on hand; dates are a great substitute for apricots.
  • Cherry jam adds extra moisture and a subtle tartness—feel free to use another fruit jam if desired.
  • Coarse sugar helps mimic the traditional sparkling sugar plum coating; colored sugar like purple adds a festive look.
  • Store sugar plums in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or refrigerate for longer freshness.

Nutrition

Keywords: sugar plums recipe, holiday treats, dried fruit candies, no bake dessert, festive snacks, spiced fruit balls

Find it online: https://cheframiflavor.com/sugar-plums-recipe/