Chewy & Sweet Dried Old Pumpkin Snacks
How to Easily Make Chewy and Delicious Dried Old Pumpkin Snacks at Home
Make chewy and sweet dried pumpkin snacks with seasonal old pumpkin, perfect for autumn! This recipe uses a process of steaming the pumpkin after removing its starch, then applying sugar and drying it through osmosis. This method results in a snack that’s not overly sweet, but wonderfully chewy and soft. They are perfect as a special treat or a portable snack.
Main Ingredients
- 1.5kg old pumpkin
- 750g sugar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
① Prepare and Steam the Old Pumpkin: Cut the 1.5kg old pumpkin in half. Using a fruit peeler, a potato peeler, or a large knife, carefully peel off the skin. Slice the peeled pumpkin into manageable pieces, aiming for a thickness that is neither too thin nor too thick. Rinse the sliced pumpkin lightly under running water to remove surface starch. Removing the starch prevents the pumpkin slices from sticking together during drying and ensures a cleaner result. Since you have a lot of pumpkin, steam it in a steamer for about 15 minutes. Once steamed, let it cool completely before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2
② Coat with Sugar and Initial Drying: When drying fruits or vegetables with high moisture content, sugar helps in drawing out the moisture. It also fills the space left by the evaporated water, contributing to a chewy texture. Because some sugar dissolves and integrates during the drying process, the finished snacks are not excessively sweet. This method is also known as ‘osmotic drying’. Don’t worry too much about the sugar content; place the pumpkin slices in a food dehydrator and dry them for approximately 12 hours. Given the current weather conditions, natural drying might be difficult, so using a dehydrator is highly recommended.
Step 3
③ Flip Midway Through Drying: After about 6 hours of drying, carefully remove all the pumpkin slices from the dehydrator tray and flip them over. Although it might be a bit of a hassle, this step ensures that the pumpkin snacks dry evenly. It also helps in achieving that perfect chewy and delicious texture. Taking this extra step will result in even better dried pumpkin snacks.
Step 4
④ Dried Pumpkin Snacks Complete and Storage: Your dried old pumpkin snacks are now ready after a total of 12 hours in the dehydrator! Once dried, remove them from the dehydrator and store them in an airtight container. This will help preserve their freshness, allowing you to enjoy them for a long time. They make for a convenient and healthy snack to carry around, perfect for outings or hikes. Be sure to try making these when old pumpkins are in season!
