Sugarplums Christmas Candy

“While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads …” Sugarplums are a vintage Christmas candy that you can easily make! Today’s sugarplums are dried fruits and nuts rolled in sugar. They make a whimsical treat for the holidays!

The original sugar plums referenced in Clement Clark Moore’s poem, “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and The Nutcracker were simply coriander seeds surrounded by hardened sugar in an oval (plum) shape. Today, they tend to be a dried fruit, nut, and spice mixture rolled in coarse sugar. Our recipe includes dried plums, or prunes, in the list of ingredients.

Without the sugar the taste actually reminds us of modern-day healthy energy bites. Roll them in granulated sugar for a pretty and festive presentation!

Tips: When forming into balls, wet your hands a bit to prevent sticking. Do not overprocess it into a sticky paste.

Variations: If you wish, substitute different dried fruits, nuts, and preserve. If you’d like, add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a dash of ground cloves for spice. For a more adult version, add a spoonful of brandy.

Bonus: These little sugarplums are a nice little treat for those looking for a non-dairy cookie alternative.