Pineapple "candy"

Most commercial candies are off limits to my girls because of food allergies and who wants all that refined sugar and additives anyway?  Don't answer that.  I have had some luck finding replacement candies at specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes but they are usually bloody spendy!  I remember having crystallized dried pineapple as a rare treat growing up and I still like it.  It still has tons of added sugar though that honestly, it doesn't even need.  (Plus, how the heck old is that stuff you can find in the bulk sections?)  I found out that nice fresh pineapple makes the yummiest, sweetest candy just drying it as is.  Sometime last year I had purchased a large container of chunked fresh pineapple and there was still a little left that was needing to get used up quickly.  Unwilling to throw it out, I tossed it in the dehydrator overnight.  It turned out fabulous!  This is a good one to do when the store is running a particularly good special on fresh pineapple, otherwise it can get spendy as well.  But you know there is only one ingredient here:  fresh pineapple.  Just start with this:


And end up with this:


Now they may look a little rough, but this is a naturally sweet chewy treat that my girls love.  "May I have some more pineapple candy?  Puh-leeeeeease?"  Overnight on the fruit setting, which is 135ºF, should be sufficient.  We like them chewy, not crunchy.  They are almost like little mini fruit leather bites.  Just remember they will be harder once cooled, so take a piece out to check when you think they may be close to finished.  Try it out, it's better than candied!

Comments

  1. Delicious! I have to remember to use my dehydrator more often. How do you store the finished treats?

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  2. For a small amount I just stick them in a zip top bag or airtight container. They don't last long! If I have a lot however, I have stuck them in the freezer. I think the water activity is low enough that spoilage should not be an issue, but I stuck them in anyway when I had a bunch. (It also helps portion them out slower when they are hidden in the freezer...) ;)

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  3. Like Like! I really want a dehydrator. But it seems kind of expensive. :/

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  4. The little dehydrator I have is the round nesco and I did get it for Christmas from my mum one year. I've seen them on amazon for $35-75 depending on the model. I think my folks got it from Costco. It's not one of those super expensive square load ins with the big trays but it does the job adequately for us. ;) I've made good leathers and a candy like crisp with crushed pineapple and coconut dried to crunchy stage. I'd suggest checking out garage sales and the thrift store, you could probably nab a brand new one for pennies.

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