Sugar Plums Recipe – Sweet, Spiced, and Easy to Make

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This easy sugar plums recipe is a festive throwback that fits right into modern holiday snacking. Naturally sweetened with dried fruit and a touch of spice, these no-bake treats are quick to prep and endlessly customizable. They are perfect for holiday cookie trays, snacky gift bags, or just a healthier treat to nibble with a cup of tea.

Updated November, 2025. Rewritten for clarity with new tips.

a picture of rolled sugar plums on a white platter with christmas ornamants in the background

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Homemade Sugar Plums Recipe at a Glance

Sugar plums are no-bake holiday treats made from dried fruit, nuts, spices, and a sweet or cocoa coating.
This sugar plums recipe takes about 15 minutes, you just blend the ingredients, roll into balls, and coat.
The dried fruit and nuts make sugar plums a healthier dessert option that is higher in fiber, healthy fats, and vitamins than many cookies and candies.
You can customize sugar plums with different dried fruits, nuts, spices, and coatings like sugar, cocoa powder, or dark chocolate.
Store sugar plums in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days at room temperature, up to 2 weeks in the fridge, or freeze for up to 3 months.

What are sugar plums?

Sugar plums go back to the 16th century, when dried fruits and spices were coated in layers of sugar, a time-intensive treat made famous by The Night Before Christmas. This modern version adds a touch of chocolate and comes together quickly in a food processor, perfect for holiday snacking.

a picture of the ingredints needed to make

Everything You Need to Make Sugar Plums

Ingredients

Dried plums (prunes) or figs
Dried apricots
Dried cranberries
Pecans and almonds
Cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg
Cocoa powder
Coarse sugar

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How to Make Sugar Plums – Step-By-Step

Combine: Add all the ingredients to a food processor — dried fruits, nuts, spices, and a splash of orange juice.
Pulse and Blend: Pulse until everything is finely chopped and starts to clump together into a sticky, textured mixture. Stop and scrape down the sides if needed.
Roll: Scoop out about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll into balls using your hands. If the mix feels too sticky, chill it for 10–15 minutes first.
Finish: Roll each sugar plum in a shallow dish of coarse sugar or dip halfway in melted dark chocolate. Place on parchment paper to set.

a picture of the process steps to make sugar plums

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy these tasty treats on a holiday baking tray with chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter blossoms, butter cookies or magic cookie bars.

Variations

Sugar plums are a holiday treat that is so adaptable. You can change up any combination of fruit, nuts, and spices. Here are some suggestions for making sugar plums your own.

Fruit – Any variety of dried fruit will work in this recipe; you can swap the prunes out for figs or dates and the cranberries with raisins.
Nuts– As with the fruit, any variety of nuts will work.
Coating – Traditional sugar plums are coated in sugar, I rolled half of them in sugar and the other half in unsweetened cocoa powder. You can also roll sugar plums in colored sugar crystals or sprinkles.

A picture of sugar plums rolled in sugar on parchment paper

How to Store Sugar Plums

Storage Tips
Store sugar plums in an airtight container:

At room temperature for 3–4 days
In the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months

Tips for Success

Before blending the dried fruit in a food processor, make sure it is at room temperature for the best results.
Keep your hands clean and slightly damp before shaping the sugar plums into balls.
If you prefer a less chunky version of dough, add a little bit of water and blend until the nuts are finely chopped.

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Recipe FAQs

Are sugar plums a healthy holiday treat?

Sugar plums are a healthier option than many holiday cookies and candies. They are naturally sweet from dried fruit, so you do not need added refined sugar in the mixture. The dried fruit adds fiber and vitamins, and the nuts add healthy fats and a bit of protein. They are still a treat, but a more nutrient-dense one.

Can I use fresh fruit instead of dry fruit to make sugar plums?

Fresh fruit does not work well in sugar plums because it has too much moisture. It will not blend into the thick, sticky paste you need for rolling. If you want a hint of fresh fruit flavor, you can add a small splash of fresh orange juice to the food processor instead.

What are sugar plums made of?

Sugar plums are small, round treats made from dried fruit, nuts, and warm spices. In this recipe, you use dried plums (or figs), dried apricots, dried cranberries, almonds, pecans, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. The mixture is pulsed in a food processor, rolled into balls, then coated in sugar or cocoa powder.