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Homemade Sugar Plums Recipe

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4.1 from 2 reviews

Sugar Plums are a delightful no-bake treat combining finely chopped dried fruits and toasted nuts, flavored with warm spices and coated in sparkling coarse sugar. These bite-sized plums offer a perfect balance of sweetness, texture, and aromatic spices, making an ideal festive snack or a wholesome dessert.

  • Author: Chef
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 17 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Ingredients

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

Other Ingredients

  • 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 salt
  • 1/2 cup coarse sugar for coating (purple sugar recommended)

Instructions

  1. Toast the Nuts: Preheat your oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Spread the almonds and pecans evenly on a sheet pan and bake them for 6-7 minutes until they emit a fragrant, nutty aroma. This step enhances their flavor, but if you’re short on time, you may skip to the next step.
  2. Prepare the Fruit and Nut Mixture: Finely chop all dried fruits as listed. Place the chopped fruits and toasted nuts into a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped but not pureed. Add cherry jam, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and a pinch of salt. Pulse again until the mixture becomes sticky and starts to clump together, indicating it’s ready to form into shapes.
  3. Form the Sugar Plums: Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to portion out the sticky mixture. Shape each portion into a small oval resembling a plum. Optionally, create an indentation on the front using a toothpick to mimic a real plum’s appearance.
  4. Coat with Sugar: Roll each formed plum thoroughly in the coarse purple sugar until well coated. For an extra festive touch, you can insert a small rosemary sprig at the top to act as a stem.
  5. Serve and Store: Enjoy immediately or store the sugar plums in an airtight container at room temperature. They make a perfect snack or addition to your holiday dessert platter.

Notes

  • Toasting the nuts is optional but enhances flavor and aroma.
  • The choice of dried apricots or dates can be adjusted to personal sweetness preference.
  • If you don’t have purple sugar, coarse white sugar works well as an alternative.
  • Use a food processor to get uniform chopping; if unavailable, hand chopping finely with a sharp knife works.
  • These sugar plums are naturally gluten-free and vegetarian.
  • Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up to one week.

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