What are sugar plums? Here's how to make the traditional treat. (2024)

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What are sugar plums? Are you wondering if they are even real? They are…and they’re delicious. Our friend KC of G-Free Foodie shared her recipe for Traditional Sugar Plum Candy. For the record – all authentic recipes contain prunes, or dried plums. Hence the name.

What are sugar plums? Here's how to make the traditional treat. (1)

If you’ve ever read “The Night Before Christmas”, or watched the Nutcracker, you’ve probably heard of sugar plums. Maybe the iconic line “visions of sugar plums danced through their heads” comes to mind? Maybe you were enchanted watching the Sugar Plum Fairy? But what do you actually know about this sweet treat?

The original meaning of the word “sugar plum” was simply derived from the shape of a candy coated ball of nuts of seeds. Hundreds of years ago, this work was done by hand, and the candies were shaped more like a plum than a sphere. For this reason, these candy coated treats were christened “sugar plums”.

As time progressed, sugar plums evolved into a beloved candy containing dried fruits, toasted nuts, warm spices and a crunchy sugar coating. And in case you’re wondering, this version DID include dried plums (aka prunes – and yes, prunes are dried plums).

How to make Traditional Sugar Plum Candy

Making this old-fashioned treat is surprisingly simple. Simply toast the nuts, then add the ingredients to your food processor. If you’ve ever made energy balls, the mixture should be a similar consistency. Then, simply roll the mixture into balls, and then roll the ball in crunchy sugar until it’s well-coated. It’s that simple!

Our recipe is made with real food ingredients, like nuts, honey, spices and dried fruit. Sure, they’re rolled in crunchy sugar, but we still consider these a healthier treat!

What are sugar plums? Here's how to make the traditional treat. (2)

A Delicious DIY Holiday Gift

These tasty treats are the perfect DIY holiday gift! Take them to your next party as a hostess gift, or make a big batch to share with friends. Sugar plums are also a delicious addition to a holiday dessert board!

What are sugar plums? Here's how to make the traditional treat. (3)

What are sugar plums? Here's how to make the traditional treat. (4)

Traditional Sugar Plum Candy

KC Cornwell, G-Free Foodie

Are you wondering if sugar plums are real? Our friend KC of G-Free Foodie shared her recipe for Traditional Sugar Plum Candy. For the record – all authentic sugar plum recipes contain prunes, or dried plums. Hence the name.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Servings 14

Calories 104 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup California Prunes about 3 1/4 ounces
  • 1/2 cup walnuts toasted & coarsely chopped about 2 oz
  • 1/4 cup dates pitted & chopped just over 1 oz, about 5 or dried figs
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries about 1 1/4 oz
  • 1/4 cup hazelnut meal or almond meal* toasted or hazelnut or almond flour (see note to use whole nuts)
  • 2 TBSP apricot preserves or honey
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 pinch fine sea salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar

Instructions

To toast the walnuts and hazelnut or almond meal:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F (180C).

  • Spread the nuts out in a single layer on one side of a sheet pan, pour the nut meal in a pile on the other side, and flatten with your hand or a spatula so it’s an even layer, about 1/4 inch (6mm) thick. Place the sheet pan in the oven for 8 minutes, then remove and allow to cool.

To make the Sugarplums:

  • Put the chopped prunes, walnuts, dates, and cranberries in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the ingredients are chopped into small, even pieces. Stop before the mixture becomes a ball.

  • Add the toasted nut meal, apricot preserves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and salt. Pulse several times (you may need to stop to scrape down the sides) until the ingredients are fully combined and the mixture will hold itself together when rolled into a ball. (You should still see some texture from the fruit & nuts.)

  • Line a tray or container with wax or parchment paper. Scoop the mixture into heaping 1 TBSP portions and roll into 1 inch (2.5 cm) balls, and place on the paper.

  • Roll the sugarplums in the sugar just before serving.

Notes

You can store the sugarplums before they are rolled in sugar. Store at room temperature in a covered container (but not airtight/sealed) for up to 1 week. Or, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Allow the sugarplums to come to room temperature before coating them in sugar.’

Love this traditional sugar plum recipe? Try out this Warm Sugar Plum co*cktail!

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 85mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 56IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 0.3mg

Keyword candy, energy balls, Holiday, sugar plums

Tried this recipe? Want to save it for later?Share it on social and tag @CAPrunes or #CAPrunes!

What are sugar plums? Here's how to make the traditional treat. (5)

Warm Sugar Plum co*cktail

This warm winter co*cktail by KC of G-Free Foodie combines the fragrant blend of spices, juice and rum – perfect for a cozy night in!

Sugar Plum Cookies

Sugar Plums are a traditional holiday staple. Incorporate this sweet candy into your modern-day holiday by baking a batch of Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookies from This Mess Is Ours.

Looking for more holiday treats?

Holiday Granola

Usher in the holidays with this delightful combination of cinnamon, ginger, and honey wafting from your oven. This Christmas granola is perfect for gifting.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These festive Chocolate Crinkle Cookies byChef Peter Sidwellaren’t only beautiful to look at, they also have less refined sugar thanks to the addition of California Prune Puree.

What are sugar plums? Here's how to make the traditional treat. (9)

Fruitcake

What’s the absolute best fruitcake recipe? Our friend Meg from This Mess is Ours put in some extensive research – and this recipe for fruitcake came out on top.

Did you try this recipe? Maybe you’ve got a favorite recipe using California Prunes that you’d like to share with us? Snap a pic and share it on social using #caprunes.

Like what you see? Be sure to follow California Prunes on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for more delicious recipes!

What are sugar plums? Here's how to make the traditional treat. (2024)

FAQs

What is a sugar plum? ›

A sugar plum is a sweet treat made of dried fruit, nuts and warm spices coated in crunchy sugar. It tastes of the warm flavors found in many holiday treats, cinnamon, cloves, and sweet with a bit of tart.

What were the original sugar plums? ›

A sugar plum originated as a piece of dragée or hard candy made of hardened sugar in a small round or oval shape. "Plum" in the name of this confection does not always mean plum in the sense of the fruit of the same name, but commonly refers to small size and spherical or oval shape.

What does "sugar plum" mean in slang? ›

Wiktionary. Term of endearment; sweetheart, darling. Wiktionary. Alternative spelling of sugar-plum. Wiktionary.

What is the sugar plum analogy? ›

For instance, if you had a “mouth full of sugar plums,” it meant you spoke sweet but deceitful words. If you “stuffed someone's mouth with sugar plums,” it meant you were trying to bribe someone.

What does sugar plum do to the body? ›

Sugar plums are a source of potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system while boosting collagen production within the skin, and calcium to build strong bones and teeth.

Are sugar plums the same as prunes? ›

As time progressed, sugar plums evolved into a beloved candy containing dried fruits, toasted nuts, warm spices and a crunchy sugar coating. And in case you're wondering, this version DID include dried plums (aka prunes – and yes, prunes are dried plums).

Are sugar plums the same as Italian plums? ›

In America, we call them sugar or Italian plums, and we grow them primarily to dry into prunes. (In France, the word for plum is actually prune.) Their high sugar content makes them ideal for drying and preserving.

Is sugar plum a Christmas thing? ›

The Sugar Plum Fairy is a coveted role in "The Nutcracker." The connection with the holiday season is clearer, however. “The association with Christmas is likely due to the value and scarcity and expense of sugar in the past, making it a special treat you might only have once a year,” Kimmerle said.

When a guy calls you sugar plum? ›

Term of endearment: sweetheart, darling.

What does it mean when a girl calls you sugar pie? ›

A term of endearment; honey, sweetie, darling.

What does it mean to be a plummy girl? ›

In Britain, it's used far more often as an informal way to say "very desirable," like an actor's plummy role in a new movie, or "upper class," like your wealthy cousin's plummy accent. It's also applied to sounds that are rich and full. Definitions of plummy. adjective. very desirable.

What the heck is a sugar plum? ›

Well, they're not sugar-coated plums. Instead, a sugar plum is a piece of hard candy made of hardened sugar coating and a seed, nut, or spice, not a plum or another fruit. In fact, part of the name, "plum," refers to its small size and oval shape, not its taste.

What is the significance of sugar plums? ›

If someone was giving a bribe, they were said to be stuffing that person's mouth with sugar plums. “Plum” was also 18th century slang for a large amount of money. candy dry then returns it to the pan, adding yet another layer of sugar and so on.

What is the spiritual meaning of the sugar plum? ›

The Sugar Plum Fairy is about the hope and faith that there is something in life far greater, more beautiful, and more powerfully good than any earthly human being. We can each aspire to be like her in some way and she will bring us to a higher spiritual place.

What is the difference between a sugar plum and a regular plum? ›

What are Sugar Plums and Where Do They Come From? Well, they're not sugar-coated plums. Instead, a sugar plum is a piece of hard candy made of hardened sugar coating and a seed, nut, or spice, not a plum or another fruit. In fact, part of the name, "plum," refers to its small size and oval shape, not its taste.

What does the idiom sugar plum mean? ›

If someone was giving a bribe, they were said to be stuffing that person's mouth with sugar plums. “Plum” was also 18th century slang for a large amount of money.

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