Candied Cucumber – This is No Pickle

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Cucumbers are clean, crisp, and refreshing. Why do we often sour them, turning them into pickles? Although candied cucumbers resemble bread and butter pickles, I assure you that they taste nothing alike.

Candied cucumbers taste like candy! They are sticky, sweet, and – since I added some fresh mint when I candied them – minty fresh! These candied cucumbers made a gorgeous topper for my cucumber martini cupcakes (coming soon). But, they would also steal the show on an after-dinner cheese plate or perched on the side of a glass of an actual cucumber martini.

How to Make Candied Cucumber

I found the instructions for making candied cucumber from Cluracon on Instructables. Here’s her recipe in my own words:

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5 from 2 votes

Candied Cucumber

Cucumbers are clean, crisp, and refreshing.  Why do we often sour them, turning them into pickles?  Although candied cucumbers resemble bread and butter pickles, I assure you that they taste nothing alike.
Course Condiments
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings 16 slices
Calories 99kcal
Author Stefani

Ingredients

  • 1 cucumber
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped mint

Instructions

  • Thinly slice the cucumber. I found that 1/4" slices worked the best. I tried using 1/8" slices and many of them broke when I lifted them off of the baking sheet. I used the crinkle cut blade on my mandoline [paid link] to cut them, but you could certainly cut them by hand (and not obsess about making them all equal thickness).
  • Fill a large pan with sugar and water. Try to use a pan with a large diameter (don't worry about it being tall) that can fit many cucumber slices without them overlapping. Don't worry if they won't all fit. I did mine in two batches.
  • Heat the sugar and water on medium-high and mix periodically until the sugar completely dissolves.
  • Turn heat down to medium-low and toss in the mint and as many cucumber slices as you can fit without them overlapping.
  • Cook the cucumbers for 20 minutes.
  • Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or with parchment paper.
  • Scoop the cucumbers out of the syrup and place them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Return any large chunks of mint to the pot (because the candied cucumber slices look better without big green chunks stuck to them).
  • Repeat steps 4-8 for the second half of your cucumber slices.
  • Bake cucumbers at 180 F for two hours.
  • Carefully remove cucumbers from the trays and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 29mg | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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Mystery Photo

 

I posted the above photo on Facebook and asked people to guess what it was. I had over 100 guesses. Many of you were close – you could tell it was a cucumber or a pickle and you knew it was dehydrated. But, no one guessed it was candied.

It’s time to start thinking of cucumbers as sweets. Give candied cucumbers a try and let me know what you think!

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Recipe Rating




11 comments:

  1. Kyndrasays:

    I made these recently, and they tasted amazing, but I only got about 12 full slices. I used parchment paper to line the pan, but my problem was that almost all the baked sugar cucumbers stuck to the parchment paper, and were almost impossible to get off. Had to cut off the parchment paper…and it was a mess.

    Next time, I’ll have to find myself a Silpat and try that (with hopefully better results).

    I saved the syrup and used it in some smoothies and another batch of cupcakes.

  2. Clairesays:

    I just made these. I’ll dispute some of the directions… if these are to end up as crispy as they appear in the photo, they need to be sliced thinner — more like 1/8″ thick. I made them at 1/4″ thick and they never got past being damp and chewy. I even backed them for much longer than indicated. Also, note that they shrink quite a bit.
    After boiling in the sugar syrup, cool and keep the syrup for drinks or other uses. The syrup ends up smelling and tasting so fresh and unique due to the cucumber flavor.

  3. Annikasays:

    This sounds CRAZY but intriguing. :o)

  4. souperiorsays:

    No matter how hard I try I cannot get my head round the idea of what these taste like….but it’s such an intriguing idea, I’m going to have to try it!

  5. Helensays:

    I just tagged you in my blogspot. Check it out! http://eatenjoylive.blogspot.com

  6. leaf (the indolent cook)says:

    They sound intriguingly scrumptious! Would love to try this one day.

  7. Jenny @ Savour the Sensessays:

    I love pickles, but I have never heard of candied cucumbers… I want to try them!

  8. Priyasays:

    Love the idea, looks fabulous.

  9. I'm At Home Bakingsays:

    I am not a pickle eater but I do love cucumbers, this looks interesting, will have to try!

  10. Joansays:

    I’ve made zucchini candy and love it. It turns out chewy like gummies. I’ll have to give cuke candy a try.

  11. Lesliesays:

    Now that is a very cool idea…love the idea of candied cucumbers!

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