
A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Different fruits require different preparation - citrus fruits should have white pith removed to prevent bitterness, berries should be large and finest quality with stems left out, peaches and pears can be halved, pineapples should be sliced thin and quartered.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Pick out the finest of any kind of fruit, leave on their stalks
Beat the whites of three eggs to a stiff froth
Lay the fruit in the beaten egg with the stalks upward, drain them and beat the part that drips off again
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Select them out, one by one and dip them into a cup of finely powdered sugar
Cover a pan with a sheet of fine paper, place the fruit inside of it, and put it in an oven that is cooling
When the icing on the fruit becomes firm, pile them on a dish and set them in a cool place
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
The egg white proteins (albumin) create a sticky coating that allows the powdered sugar to adhere uniformly to the fruit's surface. As the egg whites dry in the cooling oven, they form a thin, crisp meringue layer that encases the sugar crystals, creating a delicate, jewel-like coating. The low, gentle heat from the cooling oven dehydrates the coating without cooking the fruit, preserving its fresh flavor while creating a stable, crystalline shell.
The crystallized fruit is best made 4-6 hours before serving to allow the coating to fully set. Once completely dry, the fruit can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and stored in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
Store crystallized fruit in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Do not refrigerate, as moisture will cause the sugar coating to dissolve and become sticky. The fruit must be kept in a cool, dry environment with low humidity to maintain the crystalline coating. Consume within 2 days for best texture and flavor.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The crystallized fruit is best made 4-6 hours before serving to allow the coating to fully set. Once completely dry, the fruit can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and stored in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
Store crystallized fruit in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Do not refrigerate, as moisture will cause the sugar coating to dissolve and become sticky. The fruit must be kept in a cool, dry environment with low humidity to maintain the crystalline coating. Consume within 2 days for best texture and flavor.