Drunken Prunes

The oaky taste of Armagnac, a French brandy made in Gascony, has long been paired with prunes. While Armagnac is available in vintage bottlings, nothing so extravagant is needed for this recipe. Use waterproof markers to decorate the outside of glass jars with flowers, abstract designs or a favorite line from a poem.

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Cook Time:
5 mins
Additional Time:
7 days 1 hr 25 mins
Total Time:
7 days 1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
16
Yield:
about 4 cups (16 servings, 1/4 cup each)
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 16 servings

  • 2 heaping teaspoons Darjeeling or other black tea leaves

  • 2 cups boiling water

  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar

  • 1 1/4 pounds pitted prunes, (dried plums)

  • 1 cup Armagnac, or cognac

  • 1 vanilla bean, cut in half

Directions

  1. Stir tea and water in a small bowl; let steep for 5 minutes. Strain into a medium saucepan; stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat; boil until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Place prunes in a large bowl; stir in hot syrup. Set aside to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.

  2. Meanwhile, sterilize two 1-pint canning jars by steaming them upside down, their lids alongside, in a closed steamer for 10 minutes; or place in a large pot and cover by 1 inch of water and boil for 10 minutes.

  3. Drain prunes, reserving liquid separately. Whisk Armagnac (or cognac) into the liquid. Pack each sterilized jar with half the prunes. Nestle half the vanilla bean in each jar. Pour 1/2 cup of the Armagnac mixture into each jar. Seal and turn upside down to blend ingredients. Set right side up and store in the refrigerator for 1 week to plump.

Tips

Tip
Refrigerate the prunes in sealed jars for up to 2 months. When giving, include a card with serving suggestions: “Spoon these ‘drunken prunes' over vanilla frozen yogurt, mascarpone cheese or plain yogurt.”

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, Fall 2004

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

135 Calories
0g Fat
27g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 16
Serving Size 1/4 cup
Calories 135
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 6g
Added Sugars 6g 12%
Protein 1g 2%
Total Fat 0g 0%
Vitamin A 711IU 14%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Folate 1mcg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Calcium 18mg 1%
Iron 1mg 5%
Magnesium 16mg 4%
Potassium 272mg 6%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.