Sugarplum Soda Syrup Recipes

STRAWBERRY SODA SYRUP

Steps:

• Place strawberries into a heavy saucepan, add water, and bring to a boil. Stir, reduce heat to low, and simmer until strawberries soften, about 15 minutes.
• Strain juice into a separate saucepan, using a fine mesh strainer; discard strawberry pulp. Stir in sugar until dissolves. Bring strawberry juice back to a boil a second time.
• Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Skim any foam from the top of the syrup. Turn off heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Pour syrup into a lidded container and refrigerate.

SUGAR-FREE SIMPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• Dissolve Splenda in water and allow to cool. Strain through a coffee filter to remove sediment. Use wherever a recipe calls for simple syrup.
• VARIATIONS: You can flavor this syrup for other uses.
• Ginger syrup: Simmer finely minced fresh ginger in syrup for about 40 minutes. Strain and cool.
• Orange (or Lemon) syrup: Add the zest of one orange (or large lemon) and about a tablespoon of juice to 1/2 cup of syrup and simmer for about 40 minutes. Strain and cool.
• Spice syrup: Stick cinnamon (crushed) simmered with a drop of red food coloring gives you a delightful cinnamon syrup. Other sweet spices such as nutmeg, clove, or allspice will also yield interesting flavors.
• Table syrup: Maple flavoring with a bit of real maple syrup isn't bad on waffles. Adding 2 tablespoons to dark (blackstrap) molasses to about 1/2 cup of simple syrup isn't bad either if you like cane syrup on your hotcakes.
• Chocolate syrup: Add cocoa and vanilla to taste. Try this version with some added cinnamon for a Mexican chocolate version.

PLUM SIMPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• Bring sugar, 1 cup water, and plums to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat; let stand 20 minutes. Strain and let cool completely. Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 5 days.

SUGARPLUMS

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the raisins, plums, mixed fruit and pecans. Cover and process until chopped. Transfer to a large bowl., Roll into 1-in. balls, then roll in sugar. Place on waxed paper and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours. Store in an airtight container. Roll in additional sugar before serving if desired.

SUGARPLUMS

Steps:

• Beat the butter until light and fluffy.
• Slowly beat in sugar and continue to mix until light and crumbly.
• Add cream and vanilla, and beat until completely blended.
• Shape and decorate as desired.
• Store in a cool place.

SPUN SUGAR FOR SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

Steps:

• Cover a 4-by-5-foot area of floor with parchment or newspaper. Set a pasta drying rack or a wooden drying rack on the paper, and coat well with cooking spray.
• Combine sugar, the water, and corn syrup in a small saucepan; stir to combine. Place pan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to brush down any sugar crystals on sides of pan. Clip on a candy thermometer; cook, without stirring, until temperature reaches 290 to 295 degrees.
• Remove from heat; let sit for about 5 minutes, until very fine threads form when whisk is lifted from sugar. Dip whisk into sugar; swing over rack, using a quick motion, to create long threads.
• When rack is coated with a thin cobweb-like layer of sugar, lift it in one piece from rack, and roll it gently into a ball. Set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat until 12 balls are formed.