Dulces De Calabasas Mexican Pumpkin Candy Recipes

AUTHENTIC DULCE DE CALABAZA (MEXICAN PUMPKIN CANDY)

Steps:

• Cut pumpkin into uniform wedges or slices. Peel and cut pieces of desired size.
• Soak overnight in lime water to cover. (Use 1 tablespoon lime to each quart of water. Stir lime water well before pouring over pumpkin.).
• Remove pumpkin from lime water and wash thoroughly 3 or more times in clear water.
• Cover pumpkin with warm water and bring slowly to boiling point. Boil for 5 minutes.
• Drain and wash twice in clear cold water. Drain for an hour.
• Pierce each piece in several places with a fork so that sugar syrup can be absorbed.
• Weigh pumpkin and use equal amount of sugar. Cover pumpkin with sugar, moisten with water and bake at 300 degrees until pumpkin is crystalized, about 3 hours.
• Drain and place pumpkin on wax paper to dry.
• Will keep refrigerated about a week but you should double bag leftovers and freeze for later.

DULCES DE CALABASAS (MEXICAN PUMPKIN CANDY)

Steps:

• 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.
• Slice off skin, taking off as little flesh as you can.
• 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.).
• Put in a fairly heavy saucepan and cover with water.
• Cover, bring to a boil, and boil for 15-20 minutes.
• Drain, but save water, and place pumpkin back in pan.
• Measure water to make sure you have about 1 1/2 cups.
• Stir in packed brown sugar until smooth. Add cloves and/or cinnamon at this point, if desired.
• Pour the sugar/water syrup over the pumpkin, cover, return to a boil, and boil another 15 minutes.
• Turn off heat and let sit overnight (at least 8 hours.) This is how the pumpkin soaks up the syrup and "candies".
• In the morning (or after the 8-10 hours), return to a boil, and boil an additional 5 minutes.
• Remove from syrup with a slotted spoon and place on a tray or cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.
• 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.).
• Roll in granulated sugar and enjoy! Place in air-tight container to store up to two weeks.

PAN DULCE DE CALABAZA - SWEET PUMPKIN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F Butter a 9-x-5-inch loaf pan an d line th bottom with baking parchment or waxed paper.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and allspice.
• Place the calabaza puree, sugar, butter, and eggs in a large mixing bowl and thoroughly combine with an electric mixer. With the mixer at low speed, gradually add the flour mixture. Fold in the raisins. Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
• Bake on the middle rack of the oven until the loaf has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 5o to 60 minutes. Let the loaf cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto the rack, peel off the paper, and let it cool completely before serving.