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CANDIED KIWI FRUIT

  • How To's
  • Cooking Ideas

Okay, so we admit: we have a bit of a sweet tooth. And normally, Zespri® Kiwifruit will completely satisfy our sugar cravings — especially Zespri SunGold®, which has an amazing, tropically sweet flavor. That's why our recipe page is chock-full of delicious dessert recipes that marry the tropical goodness of SunGold® with jams, jellies and pastries, among other sweet recipes.

But sometimes, we need more.

And that's where candying kiwifruit comes in.

What's in a Name?

Candied fruit. Glacé fruit. Sugar glazed fruit. Tanghulu.

When one snack has so many well-known names, you know it's good!

(That's our rule, anyway. :)

If you know how to make candied strawberries or how to make candied grapes, then you already know how to make candied kiwifruit — the process is basically the same.

How to Make Candied SunGold Kiwifruit

Making candied kiwi is simple, easy and quick. You can candy the fruit in just a couple hours.

Prep the Kiwifruit. Use the ripest possible SunGold® Kiwifruit. Wash in cool (not cold water and pat dry. Then slice the kiwifruit.

Prepare the sugar syrup. In a large saucepan, combine 3 parts water to 1 part sugar to make a thick syrup — in other words, 3 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar, 6 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar, and so on.

Slowly bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Be careful not to overheat the mixture.

Coat the Kiwi. Add the kiwifruit slices to the syrup, making sure the fruit is completely covered.

Cook the Kiwi. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 30 to 50 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn the fruit slices. You want to cook the SunGold® until it is translucent, but not falling apart.

Cool the Kiwi. Put wax paper on a cooking sheet and place a wire rack on top of it. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked fruit from the syrup. Carefully place the syrup-covered kiwifruit on the rack and let the fruit cool down.

Coat the Kiwi (again). Dip the cooled kiwifruit, a few pieces at a time, in a shallow bowl of granulated sugar. Coat completely and place the pieces on a clean rack to dry.

And that's all there is to it.

If you want to store some for later, place the candied kiwifruit in single layers between waxed paper in an airtight container. You can store candied kiwifruit up to three months in a refrigerator or cool, dry pantry.

What About Sugar-Glazed Zespri Green?

SunGold® might seem like an obvious choice for sugar coating due to its natural sweetness. But you can sugar-glaze Zespri Green kiwifruit just as easily.

You could peel the green kiwi before slicing it. But since there is an abundance of nutrient-dense flavor in the skin, we recommend enjoying your candied kiwi skin-on.

An Occasional Indulgence

Zespri Kiwifruit is the perfect portable snack to satisfy sugar cravings. For those special, rare occasions when you need to satisfy next-level sugar cravings, give candied kiwifruit a try. You'll still enjoy many of the benefits of kiwifruit, like digestion-boosting fiber, radical-fighting antioxidants, and plenty of body-loving vitamins.

Once you've made sugar-glazed kiwifruit, you'll be able to enjoy the candied result mixed into baked goods, as a topping or garnish for specialty dishes, or as an occasional snack on its own.

But don't take our word for it. Try it for yourself. Then let us know on social media how much you loved it! Don't forget to tag @ZespriKiwifruit for your chance to be featured.