Nancy Silverman - Christmas Holiday Cookbook: Creative Christmas Recipe Ideas for your Friends and Family

Although sugar plums have been more or less obsolete for more than 100 years, the word conjures up visions of traditional Christmas joy.

Serving Size: 40 sugar plums

Preparation Time: 1hour

Ingredient List:

• 6 ounces slivered almonds
• 4 ounces dried plums (prunes)
• 2 ounces dried cherries (sweetened)
• 2 ounces Turkish apricots
• 2 ounces currants
• 2 ounces dried sweetened cranberries
• teaspoons each anise seeds, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, ground cardamom
• cup confectioners sugar
• teaspoons kosher salt
• cup organic honey
• 1 cup multi-colored sparkling sugar*

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet over moderate to high heat, toast the slivered almonds, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant.

2. Take the skillet off the heat and cool to room temp.

3. Once the nuts are cool, place them along with the plums, dried cherries, Turkish apricots, currants, and cranberries in a food processor. Pulse, until granulated. The mixture needs to hold together.

4. Add the spices; anise seeds, together with the fennel, caraway, and ground cardamom to the dry skillet and over moderate to high heat allow the spices to toast lightly, for a couple of minutes, frequently stirring. Once fragrant, take off the heat.

5. In a mixing bowl, whisk the confectioners' sugar, spices, and salt together until full combined.

6. Add the fruit-nut mixture along with the honey to the bowl and using damp, clean hands, mix until incorporated.

7. Scatter the multi-colored sparkling sugar to a bowl. Using a heaped teaspoon, scoop the fruit mixture and gently roll it between the palms of your hand, to make a (1 diameter) ball shape.

8. Carefully, and evenly roll the balls in the sparkling sugar and transfer to a wire baking to dry.

*Use these products sparingly as they are not recommended for daily use and read the directions and warnings thoroughly before using.