The Best Sugar Plum Recipes for Christmas

Make These Interesting Confections for the Holidays

Nov 15, 2009 Deborah Harding

Sugar plums are mentioned in Christmas Literature and you too can make them for the holidays.

Sugar plums are a traditional Christmas delicacy and it is debatable as to whether the originals actually contained plums at all. Some say sugar plums are a piece of candy made of sugar and in the shape of an oval. Other documents have been found that describe sugar plums as a confection that has been wrapped in gaily colored foil and are sticky and sweet.

Sugar plums are mentioned in “A Visit from St. Nicholas” or “The Night Before Christmas” with sugar plums dancing in the heads of the children that were asleep awaiting the jolly old elf's arrival. Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite is usually performed during Christmas and there is a Sugar Plum Fairy character in the ballet.

Although some feel that a sugar plum is an actual purple plum it probably wasn't. We do know that it was sweet and in the past sweet things were a real treat because sugar was so expensive. Some believe it was a comfit which is a confection that contains a seed or a nut that has been coated with several layers of sugar. Caraway seeds were used because they left the breath sweet when chewed by themselves. About 12 coats of a sugar syrup encrusted the seeds that made them somewhat crispy and delicious. Others believe that they were the meats of nuts that were inserted into dried fruits and then the fruits were sugared and wrapped in colored foils. If you take a dried date or apricot you will see that it is quite easy to insert and roll an almond sliver into the middle of it.

The following are a few recipes for Sugar Plums that will make some luscious treats for the holidays.

Sugar plums (made with chopped dried fruit)

This is a no cook recipe so it is safe for the kids to help make these sugar plums after the ingredients are chopped.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried apricots
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 2/3 cup flaked coconut
  • ½ cup raisins
  • ½ cup dried apples
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • confectioner's sugar

Directions:

  1. Place the steel blade on the food processor and chop the apricots, pecans, coconut, raisins and dried apples.
  2. Add the orange juice and blend for about 5 to 10 seconds.
  3. Remove the batter by teaspoonfuls and squish the ingredients into balls.
  4. Place confectioner's sugar in a bowl and roll the balls into the sugar coating them completely.
  5. Place each into a small candy papers (like what you put cupcake batter in but smaller) and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for 3 weeks.

Sugar Plums (made with dried fruits, honey and almonds)

These too are a non-cook recipe once the almonds are toasted that kids can help but the honey makes them very sticky.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups whole almonds
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 teaspoons orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup apricots, chopped
  • 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Place almonds on a baking sheet in a single layer and place in oven for 10 minutes.
  3. Remove from oven and let cool.
  4. Once they are cool place in the food processor with a steel blade and chop fine.
  5. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
  6. In a bowl combine the honey, orange zest, and spices and mix well.
  7. In the food processor chop the apricots and dates and add to the spice mixture.
  8. Add the almonds and mix in with your hands.
  9. Take the batter by rounded teaspoons and squeeze into balls.
  10. Place confectioner's sugar in a bowl and roll the balls to cover.
  11. These will need to be refrigerated between sheets of wax paper in airtight containers. They will last for about 1 month.

Sugar Plums (made with dried fruits and topped with cocoa)

Ingredients;

  • ½ cup pecans, chopped
  • ¼ cup dates, chopped
  • ¼ cup dried figs, chopped
  • ¼ cup prunes, chopped
  • ¼ cup dried cherries or cranberries, chopped
  • ¼ cup raisins, chopped
  • cup grated coconut
  • 2 tablespoons rum or orange juice
  • powdered cocoa

Directions:

  1. Use the food processor with a steel blade to chop everything very fine.
  2. Place chopped nuts and fruits into a bowl and add rum or orange juice.
  3. Mix together with hands.
  4. It should hold together when squeezed and if it doesn't add a little bit more liquid.
  5. Form into 1 inch balls.
  6. Place about ¼ cup powdered cocoa into a bowl and roll the balls in to cover completely and place in a paper cup.
  7. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.

Mock Sugar Plums

These are easy to make and the kids can help. The kids will also love them and you will have trouble having them in stock during the holiday. No problem, just make more any time.

Ingredients:

  • pitted dates
  • peanut butter
  • granulated sugar

Directions:

  1. Open the date where the pit was and over fill it with peanut butter. If the kids are helping use Popsicle sticks to put the peanut butter in the cavity.
  2. Roll the whole thing in granulated sugar.
  3. You can wrap them in wax paper or just put them in a candy dish.
  4. They will need to be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They are better then second day.

Enjoy these sugar plums of all kinds during the holidays. They are a great gift placed in wax paper lined tins. Everyone will wish it were Christmas more often so they can get more of them.

HOL101

The copyright of the article The Best Sugar Plum Recipes for Christmas in Seasonal Cooking is owned by Deborah Harding. Permission to republish The Best Sugar Plum Recipes for Christmas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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