Description
Festive Sugar Plums are a delightful no-bake treat combining dried fruits, nuts, warm spices, and a splash of brandy, rolled into sweet plum-sized balls and coated in sugar. Perfect for holiday celebrations, these rich and flavorful bites mature beautifully after chilling.
Ingredients
Scale
Dried Fruit and Flavorings
- 600 g dried fruit (mixture of figs, dates, raisins)
- 25 g crystalized ginger
- 1 large orange, zest and juice
- 1 tbsp brandy (optional)
Nuts and Spices
- 200 g nuts (combination of almonds, pistachios, and pine nuts)
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp powdered cardamom
- ¼ tsp powdered ginger
- ¼ tsp caraway seeds
- ⅛ tsp powdered cloves
Coating
- sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Mix Fruit and Flavorings: In a bowl, combine the dried fruit with orange zest, orange juice, and brandy if using. Allow the mixture to absorb the liquid while you prepare the nuts.
- Toast and Spice Nuts: Coat the nuts evenly with the spices — cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, caraway seeds, and cloves. Toast them in a dry pan for about 5 minutes until fragrant, then remove and let cool for a few minutes.
- Process Ingredients: Place the spiced nuts and fruit mixture (excluding the sugar) into a large food processor. Pulse until a thick, moldable paste forms that can be shaped comfortably by hand.
- Form Sugar Plums: Roll the mixture into plum-sized balls. Once rolled, coat each ball thoroughly in sugar.
- Chill and Mature: Refrigerate the sugar-coated balls overnight to set. For best flavor, roll again in sugar before storing.
- Storage and Serving: Store the sugar plums in an airtight container for at least two days to allow the flavors to mature. They are ready to serve anytime after this resting period.
Notes
- Substitute brandy with rum if preferred or omit alcohol entirely to keep it family-friendly.
- Use any combination of dried fruits and nuts you like; the variety enhances flavor and texture.
- Make sure to toast nuts gently to prevent burning and to bring out their natural oils.
- Roll the balls firmly so they hold their shape but avoid packing too tightly to keep a pleasant texture.
- Double rolling in sugar after chilling improves the outer coating for a nice crunch and presentation.
- Store these treats in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plum (approx. 30 g)
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
