Sugar Plums

Traditional Sugar Plums – An easy, delicious, warm, and flavorful old-fashioned Christmas treat made with dried fruits, nuts and spices. These bite-sized confections are perfect for holiday gatherings!

What are sugar plums?

Sugar plums are one of the classic holiday treats made with dried fruits like prunes (or dried plums), dates and cranberries. Despite the name, they aren’t actually plums. Instead, they are small, sweet confections typically made by blending the dried fruits with nuts, orange zest, fruit jam and spices into a coarse mixture, which is then rolled into small balls.

These traditional sugar plums have a rich history and were often enjoyed as a sweet snack, a treat for children, or even given as gifts during the holiday season. They are rolled in sparkling or decorative sugar to give them a festive appearance.

Ingredients & Substitutions:

Walnuts – Walnuts can be substituted with almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, or pistachios for a different flavor.

Prunes – Prunes are dried plums. The traditional recipe calls for prunes. However, you can replace them with dried figs.

Cranberries & Dates – I used half a cup of each dried cranberries and dates in this recipe. They can also be replaced with raisins, apricots, dried cherries, or currants.

Spices – I used cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, and anise for a warm and festive touch. Adjust the quantity of spices according to your preference.

Orange Zest – I highly recommend using orange zest. You can swap it with lemon zest for a different flavor. Skip if you don’t want it.

Apricot Jam – It will add sweetness and moisture. It can be replaced with any of your favorite fruit preserve, honey, or maple syrup.

Sparkling Sugar – You will need this to roll the sugar plums. You can also use granulated sugar, coarse sugar, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar or desiccated coconut.

Serving suggestions:

Serve sugar plums with a cup of coffee or tea as a cozy evening snack. Include them as part of a dessert platter or cookie platter during the holiday season. These can make a great edible gift.

Storage suggestions:

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want to store them for longer period of time, store them in the refrigerator for up to a month. You can also freeze them for 2-3 months. You may need to roll them in them again in sugar before serving.

Tips & Notes:

You can use any of your favorite nuts instead of walnut. Lightly toast them before grinding to enhance the flavor.

Adjust the spices according to your taste preference.

Make sure the dried fruits you are using are fresh and soft for the best flavor and texture.

If the mixture is too sticky, chill it in the refrigerator for sometime before rolling. If the mixture feels too dry, add little more jam or honey to get the right consistency.

Do not blend the fruit mixture into a paste, it should have some coarse texture.

Step by step instructions:

Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Spread a cup of walnuts on a lined baking sheet in a single layer. Toast them in the preheated oven at 180C for about 8-10 minutes or until they are fragrant.

Add the toasted walnuts to a food processor along with prunes, walnuts, cranberries and orange zest.

Pulse it until the dry fruits are chopped.

Give it a mix using a spatula and add all the aromatic spices and apricot jam to the mixture.

Pulse it again until just combined and comes together. You should be able to roll the mixture but do not over-process it. It should have some texture.

Roll the mixture into small round balls.

Roll the shaped plums in granulated or decorative sugar until well coated. Repeat the process with the remaining mixture.

More festive treats:

• No Bake Avalanche Cookies
• Potato Chip Cookies
• Monster Cookies
• Chocolate Covered Pretzels
• Holiday Oreos
• Gingerbread Snowballs
• Baci di Dama
• Swedish Chocolate Balls
• Pretzel Wreaths
• Cream Cheese Mints

Traditional sugar plums recipe video below: