SIMPLE STRAWBERRY ‘CANDY’ TREATS.

Not everyone has access to a dehydrator but not to worry, your oven and a few tips will result in some deliciously tasty dried strawberries.

I recently made a post to my Facebook page about dehydrated strawberries. Judging by the huge number of likes, comments and shares this is a sweet treat that a LOT of people want to try. Judging by the taste, I can see why!

Many raved about how wonderful they were but others had trouble when they tried to make the treat so I wanted to write this blog post to offer some helpful tips and advice for strawberry drying success.

This isn’t an exact recipe because there are many variables that impact cook time and final out come. You just have to experiment a bit until you get it right using your own oven.

The size and ripeness of the berries, how thin they are sliced, the consistency of your oven temp. and even relative humidity of your climate can all play a role in how your berries turn out.  Some will take longer to dehydrate than others so keep a close eye on them.

Dried strawberrries can make a great snack to satisfy a craving for something sweet. Just like most fruits they do contain a lot of  sugar so should be eaten in moderation and my diabetic readers should consider how much sugar they’ve had throughout the day before opting for these.

INGREDIENTS:

2 pints fresh strawberries

DIRECTIONS:

Rinse fresh strawberries

Remove stems

Slice the berries so that they are about 1/4″ thick

Spread berries flat on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet

Place them in the oven using low heat. I use 200 -210 F

Turn on oven’s hood vent and crack the oven door to allow moisture to escape

Keep a close eye on your berries but I usually cook mine for about 3 and a half hours

When they appear to be mostly dried, remove from oven and allow then to cool

Use a spatula to carefully remove the dried berries (some will still be a bit sticky)

STORAGE:

Be sure to wait until berries are completely cooled.

Can be stored in zipped plastic bag or sealed jars.

Best to store in a dark, dry location at about 60 degrees F

They can be stored in the fridge but when removed there may be some condensation and become stickier but still tasty.

Hope you enjoy this project and the delicious dried strawberries. They are a perfect treat for the kids as an alternative to candy too.

http://danettemay.com/simple-strawberry-candy-treats/