Dulces De Calabasas (Mexican Pumpkin Candy) |
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Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 1200 Minutes |
Ready In: 1230 Minutes Servings: 30 |
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This is the stuff you get by the cash register at Mexican restaurants or in little Mexican grocery stores. It's been one of my favorites since I was, oh, 6 or 7 and got some at Olviera Street. I add the cinnamon and cloves because I like it spicy, but traditionally it's just pumpkin and sugar. Really labor-intensive, but so worth it! Do not use carving pumpkins, use sugar-pie or other cooking pumpkins (which the computer does not recognize.) Cook time is for unattended resting time. Ingredients:
2 lbs whole pumpkin (1-2 small, 1 qt. when chopped) |
water |
1 cup brown sugar, packed |
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (optional) |
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) |
granulated sugar |
Directions:
1. Cut pumpkin in half, remove seeds and as much of the stringy stuff as you can, and chop into pieces approximately 1-1.5 inches by 1.5-2.5 inches.
2. Slice off skin, taking off as little flesh as you can.
3. Measure to make sure you have approximately one quart of pumpkin pieces (either pack well into a measuring cup or fill a calibrated 1/2 gallon or 1 gallon measure to the quart line and drop in pieces until water hits the 1/2 gallon line, then drain water.).
4. Put in a fairly heavy saucepan and cover with water.
5. Cover, bring to a boil, and boil for 15-20 minutes.
6. Drain, but save water, and place pumpkin back in pan.
7. Measure water to make sure you have about 1 1/2 cups.
8. Stir in packed brown sugar until smooth. Add cloves and/or cinnamon at this point, if desired.
9. Pour the sugar/water syrup over the pumpkin, cover, return to a boil, and boil another 15 minutes.
10. Turn off heat and let sit overnight (at least 8 hours.) This is how the pumpkin soaks up the syrup and candies .
11. In the morning (or after the 8-10 hours), return to a boil, and boil an additional 5 minutes.
12. Remove from syrup with a slotted spoon and place on a tray or cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.
13. Allow to dry at least 10-12 hours in a place where it will not be disturbed (if you're not going to be using the oven and haven't had it on recently, the cold oven is a great place to keep it safe.).
14. Roll in granulated sugar and enjoy! Place in air-tight container to store up to two weeks.
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