“...the children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads...”

sugarplum |ˈSHo͝ogərˌpləm|

noun 

small, round confections made of almonds, spices and dried fruit. 

In 1822, when Clement Clark Moore wrote his famous poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas," “sugar plums” were quite different from what we know them to be today.  The visions dancing in the heads of sleeping adolescents would have simply been sugar-coated coriander seeds.  Sound yummy?  Not so much.  Over the years the sugar plum recipe evolved to include a variety of sweet spices as well as honey, almonds and dried fruit.   

Sugar plums are made with toasted, minced almonds and finely shopped dried fruits such as dates, prunes and/or apricots.  Honey binds the ingredients together and the mixture is rolled into little balls, which are then rolled in confectioner’s or course sugar.  

The sugar plum has come a long way from its original heritage - which happens to make for some awesome trivia to through out at your next dinner party.  

Sincerely, 

  Pedantic Foodie