It’s that time of year for visions of sugar plums dancing in little heads. Only to be surprised to find there’s really no sugar or plums in said sugar plums. It’s actually a dried fruit and nut ball rolled in coconut. Apparently, way back when, “plum” used to mean any dried fruit.
Super easy to make since there’s no baking or cooking involved. With the dried cranberries and apricots, orange zest, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg, there’s a taste of the holiday season in each bite. But you can use pretty much any combination of dried fruits, nuts and spices for a healthy sweet treat.
Sugar Plums
Makes about 14 balls
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raw pecans
1/2 cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried unsulfered apricots, chopped
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons freshly-squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup shredded coconut
Pulse the nuts in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the dried fruit, orange zest and spices, pulse until well-combined. Add the orange juice 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing in between until the mixture sticks together.
Scoop out about a tablespoon, press together and roll into 1″ balls. Then roll the balls in the coconut. Keeps covered in the fridge for a couple of weeks or so.
Related Post
Dreamy Nut Bars
With the spices and zest, these sound like especially delicious sugar plums! I can’t believe they would last unmolested for a couple of weeks. Not in my house!
WOW. So nice looking. I would like one now!
Ah, you beat me to this cute little pun of a dessert! I was thinking of doing the exact same sort of thing. At least this way, you’ve taken out all of the work for me. ;) Looks perfectly delicious, just as I had imagined.
I’ve always wondered what sugar plums actually are–they look so yummy!
I love the creative take you used with these – they seem much more exciting than regular Victorian sugar plums. ^^
I’d only ever heard of the sugar plum fairy…can’t see any gossimer wings….
Wonderful ingredients, great as little treats to give as festive gifts.
As for your photography…keeps on getting better and better.
Happy Holidays Dear Chow V. xxx
I always wondered what sugar plums were…nice…these sound delicious, and super-healthy, too, like a Christmas-themed energy bar!
Me hungry! :D
I didn’t know what sugarplums really were- their delightful, and I like that there’s no sugar added!
I made these today with the exact same ingredients (although I may have a slightly heavy hand with spices) and they turned out delicious! They’re also so beautiful when they’re rolled in coconut. Thanks! :)