Sweet Holiday Magic: Homemade Sugar Plums Recipe

Sweet memories dance through kitchens when sugar plums appear on festive plates.

Whispers of childhood nostalgia emerge with each delicate bite.

Generations have cherished these magical confections passed down through delightful traditions.

Grandmothers carefully crafted these tiny jewels with love and precision.

Nuts, dried fruits, and honey blend into a delectable treat that sparks joy.

Delicate spices hint at warmth and comfort in every morsel.

You’ll find these sugar plums simple to create and impossible to resist.

Prepare to be enchanted by this classic holiday confection.

What Makes Sugar Plums Classic

• These sugar plums are a breeze to make with simple steps and minimal kitchen equipment.
• Kids will love rolling the mixture into balls and coating them in sparkling sugar, making this a playful recipe to enjoy together during holiday preparations.
• Skip the oven and create delicious bite-sized treats in just 15 minutes, perfect for last-minute dessert needs or unexpected guests.
• Packed with nutrient-rich nuts and dried fruits, these sugar plums offer a natural sweetness without refined sugars, making them a guilt-free indulgence.

Sugar Plum Ingredient List

• Dried Plums, Dried Apricots: Sweet, chewy base for sugar plums with concentrated fruit flavor. Choose soft, moist dried fruits without added sugar.
• Almonds, Walnuts: Provide crunch and nutty richness. Raw, unsalted nuts work best for natural flavor.

• Honey: Natural binder that helps ingredients stick together. Select pure, high-quality honey for best taste.
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves: Warm, aromatic spices that give traditional holiday flavor. Use ground spices for smooth texture.

• Granulated Sugar: Creates sweet, sparkling exterior. White sugar provides the classic finish for sugar plums.

How to Make Sugar Plums Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare Dried Fruits and Nuts

Grab a food processor and toss in dried plums, apricots, almonds, and walnuts. Pulse everything until finely chopped but not completely mushy. No food processor? No worries- carefully chop the ingredients with a sharp knife into tiny pieces.

Step 2: Create Flavor Mixture

• Honey
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves

Mix thoroughly until the entire blend becomes sticky and starts holding together nicely.

Step 3: Shape Sweet Treats

Using your hands, roll the mixture into small round balls approximately one inch wide. Make sure each ball is compact and smooth.

Step 4: Coat with Sparkly Sugar

Pour granulated sugar into a shallow dish. Gently roll each ball in the sugar, ensuring complete coverage for a beautiful, glittery exterior.

Step 5: Chill and Serve

Place the sugar-coated treats on a plate or inside a container. Pop them into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This helps them firm up and enhances their delightful texture. Once chilled, these sugar plums are ready to enjoy as a sweet, festive snack.

Pro Tricks for Making Sugar Plums

• Chop Precisely: Use a food processor for even, fine chopping of dried fruits and nuts to ensure consistent texture and easy rolling.
• Mix Thoroughly: Combine spices and honey completely to create a sticky, well-integrated mixture that helps sugar plums hold their shape.
• Roll Evenly: Create uniform 1-inch balls using gentle pressure to prevent cracking and ensure consistent size for professional-looking treats.
• Sugar Coating Trick: Roll sugar plums in granulated sugar just before serving to maintain a fresh, sparkling appearance and prevent moisture absorption.
• Storage Strategy: Refrigerate sugar plums in an airtight container for up to two weeks, allowing flavors to meld and develop a delightful, firm texture.

Storing Sugar Plums

• Store sugar plums in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Keep them separated by parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Carefully place sugar plums in a freezer-safe container, layer with wax paper between each batch. Freeze for 3-4 months without losing flavor or texture.
• Remove frozen sugar plums from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving. Gently roll in additional sugar if needed for a fresh appearance.
• These treats taste best when served slightly cold, maintaining their firm texture and sweet flavor profile.

What to Serve with Sugar Plums

• Brew a warm, fragrant winter spice tea that complements the sugar plums' cinnamon and nutmeg notes, creating a cozy flavor harmony.
• Serve alongside high-quality dark chocolate pieces to enhance the nutty, fruity complexity of these sweet treats, offering a rich contrast.
• Select a sweet dessert wine like port or moscato, which brings out the subtle dried fruit flavors and provides a sophisticated tasting experience.
• Dollop a light vanilla cream on the side to add smoothness and balance the intense spiced sweetness of the sugar plums.

Unique Takes on Traditional Sugar Plums

• Gluten-Free Delight: Replace regular granulated sugar with powdered monk fruit sweetener for a low-carb, sugar-free version suitable for diabetic and keto diets.
• Nut-Free Alternative: Substitute almonds and walnuts with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds to create an allergen-friendly recipe for those with nut sensitivities.
• Vegan Version: Use maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey to make the sugar plums completely plant-based, perfect for vegan dietary requirements.
• Spice Adventure: Experiment with cardamom, ginger, or orange zest to add unique flavor profiles while maintaining the traditional sugar plum texture and preparation method.

Sugar Plum FAQs Wrapped Up

• What are sugar plums traditionally associated with?

Sugar plums are historically connected to Christmas and holiday celebrations, often mentioned in classic stories like “The Night Before Christmas” as a festive treat enjoyed during the winter season.

• Do sugar plums actually contain plums?

Modern sugar plums typically don’t contain fresh plums. They are made with dried fruits like plums, apricots, and nuts, creating a sweet confection that resembles small round candies.

• Are sugar plums a healthy snack?

Sugar plums can be a relatively healthy treat since they’re made with natural ingredients like nuts and dried fruits, which provide nutrients, fiber, and natural sweetness from honey instead of refined sugar.

• Can I customize the nuts or fruits in this recipe?

Absolutely! You can swap walnuts for pecans, use different dried fruits like dates or raisins, or adjust the spices to create your own unique version of sugar plums.

Sugar Plums Recipe

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4.7 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet memories dance through Sugar Plums, a festive confection that whispers holiday traditions. Candied fruits, nuts, and warming spices blend into bite-sized delights perfect for sharing with loved ones during winter celebrations.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fruits and Nuts:

• 1 cup (150 g / 5.3 ounces) dried plums (prunes), chopped
• 1 cup (150 g / 5.3 ounces) dried apricots, chopped
• ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 ounces) almonds, finely chopped
• ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 ounces) walnuts or pecans, finely chopped

Sweeteners:

• ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fluid ounces) honey
• ¼ cup (50 g / 1.8 ounces) granulated sugar (for coating)

Spices:

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

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Instructions

1. Pulverize dried plums, apricots, almonds, and walnuts in a food processor until they reach a fine, uniform consistency without becoming a complete paste. If a food processor is unavailable, meticulously chop the ingredients using a sharp knife.
2. Combine the finely chopped mixture in a mixing bowl, introducing honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Thoroughly blend the ingredients until the mixture becomes cohesive and develops a sticky texture.
3. Craft compact spheres from the mixture, ensuring each orb measures approximately one inch in diameter. Apply gentle pressure while rolling to maintain structural integrity.
4. Spread granulated sugar across a shallow dish, creating an even coating surface. Delicately rotate each sugar plum sphere within the sugar, ensuring complete and uniform coverage for a luminous, crystalline exterior.
5. Carefully position the sugar-encrusted spheres on a serving plate or storage container. Refrigerate the confections for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing them to solidify and enhance their textural complexity before presenting or consuming.

Notes

• Customize chopping techniques by using a food processor for quick, uniform pieces or hand-chop for a more rustic texture.
• Experiment with alternative nuts like pecans or pistachios to create unique flavor variations and accommodate nut allergies.
• Adjust sweetness levels by reducing honey or substituting with maple syrup for a lower-glycemic option perfect for diabetic-friendly diets.
• Store sugar plums in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, making them an excellent make-ahead holiday treat or gifting option.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 130
• Sugar: 16 g
• Sodium: 1 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg