CONTEST CANDY: Sugarplums

SUGARPLUMS
An original recipe adaptation by BumbleBeeBoogie

Sugarplum, or plum is an old English word for dried fruit as in the traditional Christmas dessert plum pudding.

1/2 cup honey
3 tablespoons brandy, optional
2 teaspoons orange zest, minced
1-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 cup almonds, toasted and finely chopped
1 cup dried apricots, snipped into a fine dice
1 cup dates, finely chopped
1 cup golden raisins or dried cranberries, chopped
choice of 1/3 cup of granulated white sugar or confectioners' powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch

In a bowl, mix together the honey, optional brandy, orange zest, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Stir in the almonds, apricots, dates and raisins or cranberries. Adjust the amount of honey necessary to roll all of the ingredients together into balls the size of walnuts.

In a small bowl, mix together the sugar (of choice) and the cornstarch. Roll the balls in the sugar-cornstarch mixture to coat. Store in an airtight container on sheets of waxed paper between the layers of sugarplum balls.