Brandied Prunes with Orange Zest

Dried plums steeped in brandy with orange zest, cinnamon and cloves makes a perfect holiday dessert. Serve with ice cream, whipped cream or rich chocolate cake.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves 24

Ingredients
4 cups (about 24 ounces) Sunsweet® pitted prunes
3 cups brandy
1 1/2 cups strong brewed black tea
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped orange zest
4 cinnamon sticks
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions
In medium bowl, combine Sunsweet® pitted prunes and brandy; set aside. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, bring tea and sugar to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Stir in prune mixture, orange zest, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 20 minutes. Remove from heat; cool 20 minutes, uncovered.

Store, covered, in refrigerator for up to 1 month. Remove cinnamon sticks before serving. Serve warm, spooned over vanilla ice cream, if desired. Can also be served warm in individual dessert dishes, topped with whipped cream and crumbled macaroons or gingersnap cookies.

Tips:
To brew strong tea, use 2 standard-size tea bags per 2 cups boiling water.