Candied fruits are berries or fruit slices, cooked in syrup and then dried. You can cook such a treat at home. The main thing is to know the sequence of actions. It is worth noting that the preparation of candied fruits is one of the methods of home canning, which allows you to save the product. You can make a treat from nuts, fruits, berries and vegetables. But it is better to use those that have dense pulp. Most often, candied fruits are made from apples, watermelon, melon, physalis, citrus, apricots, mountain ash, cherries, cherries, plums, quinces and pears at home.
Cooking Goodies: Preparing
So where to start? How to make candied fruit from apples? The process of making such a treat is quite simple. But time is required for this much more than in order to stock up on jam.
To start making goodies should be the processing of raw materials. Apples must be washed, cut into pieces and core removed. Sliced fruits must be laid out in a pot or enameled container for cooking. Sprinkle sugar on top of them.
Cook apples
Cooking candied fruits from apples is carried out in the same way as cooking jam. Strain the fruits until they are ready. Time depends on the variety and maturity of apples. So that the fruits are much better saturated with sugar, it is necessary to carry out several boils, taking a break between them from 8 to 12 hours. Experts recommend boiling apples for a little longer. In this case, the syrup will be more viscous.
And then what?
Candied apples are very tasty. However, cooking them alone is not enough. The resulting composition should be carefully poured together with syrup into a colander or sieve. This is to ensure that all excess liquid is glass. In order for apple slices to be better sugared, and the syrup separated completely, it is worth leaving the cooked fruits to drain for a couple of hours.
Dried candied fruit
When the liquid drains from the candied fruit, only pieces of fruit will remain in the colander. They must be laid out on a baking sheet in one layer. Candied candied fruit must be placed in the oven and dried. The temperature should be 40 ° C. For the same purpose, you can use a machine such as an electric dryer.
During this procedure, you need to ensure that the delicacy does not dry out. Candied apples should remain soft and look like a dried product.
After the treat has dried, you should sprinkle sugar on top of it, while trying to cover each piece. For this, candied fruit can be gently shaken. It’s better, of course, to use powdered sugar. You can cook it yourself by grinding ordinary sugar in a coffee grinder or blender. To make the delicacy not too sweet, you must observe the proportion. One kilogram of fruit requires from 170 to 200 grams of sugar.
After you add the candied fruit, they must be dried again by placing in an electric dryer or in the oven. If the delicacy was prepared from watermelon or melon, then re-drying would not be required. Typically, candied fruits from such products are left at room temperature until fully cooked.
How to store candied fruits
Many housewives make candied apples for the winter. But how to store them correctly? Cooked treats are best kept in a glass jar. For this, candied fruits are tightly packed in a container and covered with a lid. It can be plastic or tin. You can also use cellophane or parchment paper. You can store candied apples with treats from other products. A mixture in one jar looks very attractive.
If candied apples, the recipe of which is given above, will be stored in a dry room, then they can be laid out in an ordinary box of cardboard, plywood or wood. For better safety, the bottom and walls of the drawers should be laid out with parchment paper.
Where are homemade candied fruits used and where to put syrup
After making candied fruit, syrup remains. It can be used for compotes, jam, jam and jam. As for the apples delicacies themselves, it can be added to cereals, cottage cheese desserts, muffins, pies, buns and cakes. Candied apples can be used to decorate ready-made dishes.
Are candied fruits healthy?
There is still debate about how beneficial candied fruits are. With full confidence, we can say that the delicacy, cooked at home, retains most of its useful components. Of course, the product will turn out not so bright and attractive as a store one. Indeed, all kinds of dyes are added to the delicacy during production under industrial conditions, which harm our body.
Another candied fruit recipe
Candied apples are prepared for the winter by many. However, not everyone knows that lemon zest can be added to a treat. To make candied fruits you will need: sugar, apples and citrus peel. Initially, sugar syrup is prepared. To do this, mix sugar, a few glasses of water and citric acid. This mixture is cooked until thickened.
In the resulting syrup, you need to add peeled apples. The fruits are cooked for another 30 minutes. Before removing the candied fruits from the fire, add a pinch of vanillin and a zest of several lemons to the mixture. The result should be a light jam. Candied fruit can be made from the finished product as needed.
Apples are laid out in a sieve to stack syrup. Then the fruit slices must be laid out on plates in one layer. So they dry up much faster. In this position, candied fruits should be left for a day. After the specified time, the delicacy should be sprinkled with sugar.
That's all, candied apples are ready. It is best to store them in glass containers.
Finally
If you monitor your weight, then candied fruits should be abandoned. After all, this delicacy contains a lot of sugar. And this indicates a high calorie product. With caution, it is worth eating such a delicacy to those who suffer from diabetes. As for children, candied apples perfectly replace sweets. Such a treat will appeal to every child. Unless, of course, the baby has health problems, candied apples can be eaten in virtually unlimited quantities. After all, the delicacy is also useful.