Visions of Sugar Plums danced in my kitchen.
A healthy holiday treat. Sugar Plum energy balls.
We are well into the holiday season, and this year we are celebrating by hosting a Candies & Cocktails event with friends. In preparation, I thought the sweet treats we are serving would tie nicely to the 12 days of Christmas. Today’s sweet treat is surprisingly healthy. It’s really an energy ball that I have made for hikes, but I punched up the flavor with some bold spices and finished giving it the holiday touch by covering them in sanding sugar. If you omit the sanding sugar they are sugar-free, naturally sweetened with honey and dried fruit. Here is the easy recipe for Sugar Plums, our first sweet treat of the season.
Prep time: 30-45 minutes
Cook time: 0 this is a raw recipe
Serves: 24-36 pieces
YBL Holiday Sugar Plums, a boldly spiced and healthy energy ball.
KITCHEN TOOLS NEEDED
2 Mixing bowls
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups
Food processor
2 Small to Medium bowls
INGREDIENTS
YBL Holiday Sugar Plums
2 cups slivered blanched almonds
1/4 cup honey
1/4 tsp anise seed, finely chopped or ground
1/4 tsp fennel seed, finely chopped or ground
1/4 tsp cardamom, finely chopped or ground
pinch of pink Himalayan salt
2/3 cup dried apricots
2/3 cup pitted prunes
2/3 cup pitted dates
2/3 cup sanding sugar
Beginner friendly
Measure, dump, pulse, roll and done. If you don’t have a food processor, you can chop everything then mix it together in a bowl.
INSTRUCTIONS
Measure ingredients and add everything but the honey to a mixing bowl.
Mix dry ingredients.
Add half of the mixture and half of the honey to the food processor.
Pulse until chopped and well combined. Empty into another mixing bowl.
Add the second half of the mixture and remaining honey to the food processor.
Pulse until chopped and well combined. Add to the first batch.
Place sanding sugar in a small bowl.
Fill the second small bowl with room temperature water. (this is to keep your hands slightly wet to prevent sticking)
Scoop out 1 Tbs of the mixture. Roll into a ball.
Roll ball in sanding sugar. Place on a plate or parchment paper.
Alternatively, if you don’t own a food processor, you can finely chop each ingredient as you add to the mixing bowl, combine honey, mix, and follow remaining instructions.
This mixture is especially sticky. Keep a bowl of room temp water nearby to wet your hands. This will prevent them from sticking and help to do quick work of balling the mixture before rolling it in the sanding sugar.
And that’s it, folks. An easy raw vegetarian energy ball spruced up with some of my favorite bold spices and sugar. You can store these Sugar Plums for up to 2 weeks room temperature or even longer in the fridge. Either way store them in a closed container like a tupperware or ziplock. Feel free to sub the spices out if you aren’t a licorice or anise/fennel fan. If you do adapt the spices, I’d love to hear what combinations you tried in the comments below.
