Skip to main content

Fruit and Spice Bonbons

3.3

(3)

Image may contain Confectionery Food Sweets and Dessert
Fruit and Spice BonbonsYunhee Kim

These classic candies (called sweetmeats by the British) look sinful but are little more than dried apricots, figs, and plums dusted with nuts, cocoa, or sugar.

Tip:

You can chop the fruit the night before making this recipe and store it, covered, in the refrigerator (fruit is easier to shape when it's chilled than at room temperature).

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    20 minutes

  • Yield

    Makes 20 bonbons

Ingredients

Fruit options (choose one)

Each version makes 20 bonbons. To chop the fruit, use a heavy chef's knife or a food processor set on pulse.

Apricot

2 cups finely chopped dried apricots
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ginger
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Plum

2 cups finely chopped dried red plums or prunes
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Fig

2 cups finely chopped dried figs, stems removed first
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup crystal sugar, maple sugar, or unsweetened cocoa; or 1/4 cup ground chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    1. Mix the dried fruit and spices with your hands until well combined.

    Step 2

    2. Scoop 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball about 1/2 inch in diameter. Repeat until the entire mixture has been used.

    Step 3

    3. Roll the balls in the sugar, cocoa, or nuts (or skip this part, if serving plain), and place them in paper mini-muffin cups. Serve or store airtight at room temperature for up to a week.

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
Baking meatballs and green beans on two sides of the same sheet pan streamlines the cooking process for this saucy, savory dinner.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.