Coconut And Grapefruit Gumdrops

Total Time: 34 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 14 mins

Ingredients

• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 (1 3/4 ounce) package powdered fruit pectin
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup ruby red grapefruit juice
• 1/2 teaspoon grated grapefruit peel
• red food coloring

Recipe

• 1 line a 8x4x2-inch loaf pan with foil, extending foil over edges of the pan. spray foil with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• 2 in a 1-1/2-quart heavy saucepan combine the 1 cup sugar and the corn syrup. cook over medium-high heat to boiling, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for 3 minutes to dissolve sugar. avoid splashing mixture on sides of pan (see how to avoid gritty candy, below). carefully clip candy thermometer to side of pan.
• 3 cook over medium heat (mixture should boil at a moderate, steady rate over the entire surface), stirring occasionally, until the thermometer registers 280 degree f, (soft-crack stage) about 7 minutes.
• 4 meanwhile, in a heavy 2-quart saucepan combine coconut milk, water, pectin, and baking soda. (mixture will be foamy.) bring to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. this should take about 2 minutes. remove saucepan from heat; set saucepan aside.
• 5 when sugar mixture in first saucepan has reached soft-crack stage, remove the saucepan from heat; remove candy thermometer. return pectin mixture to boiling. gradually pour the hot sugar mixture in a thin stream into the boiling pectin mixture, stirring constantly (this step should take 1 to 2 minutes). cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute more.
• 6 remove saucepan from heat. pour candy mixture into prepared pan. let stand about 2 hours or until firm.
• 7 when firm, use foil to lift candy out of pan. use a wet knife to cut candy into about 3/4-inch squares. roll squares in coconut sugar. store loosely covered.
• 8 for coconut sugar: place 1/2 cup toasted coconut in a food processor. cover and process until very finely ground. add 1/4 cup granulated sugar. store in an airtight container.
• 9 for grapefruit gumdrops: •prepare as directed above except omit the coconut milk and the 1/4 cup water. replace with 3/4 cup ruby red grapefruit juice. after combining both mixtures, stir in 1/2 teaspoon grated grapefruit peel. tint with one drop of red food coloring. roll in coconut sugar, as directed.