Tutti Frutti ~ Candied Green Papaya For Fruitcakes etc.
It’s amazing what you can do with some ingredients out there, and recently I learned that tutti frutti—that mixed candied fruit found in so many baked goods—is made of a fruit I thought was hopeless.
What Is Tutti Frutti Made Of?
Tutti frutti is made of green papaya. It can also be made from rutabaga, turnip or even the white part of watermelon rind.
I once bought a green papaya (also known as raw papaya) thinking it would make a delicious salad, but I was completely wrong. It’s nothing like the sweet burst of ripe papaya. Julienning it was like trying to cut through wood, and when I tasted it I couldn’t believe something could be so bland. Green papaya has absolutely no flavour and its texture is so raw and harsh, eating it is somewhat a struggle.
I don’t doubt there are marvellous recipes using green papaya I have not yet encountered, but the one recipe I did encounter was this one for tutti frutti. You know, those multi coloured fruit pieces in fruitcakes no one can seem to identify? Well it’s made from the lifeless green papaya, among the other mentioned ingredients, and when you use it to make tutti frutti it actually becomes a fun ingredient to keep at home.
What Is It Used In?
Tutti frutti makes an appearance in many cakes, cookies, muffins and breads. It’s the pleasant sweet bite you get in a good panetonne, or in a rummy spoonful of spumoni ice cream. Try stirring a handful into my easy no churn ice cream recipe. In cakes they glisten like jewels, and many a pastry chef relies on it for Florentines, nougats and other candy. Branded with a bad rap from the beginning, tutti frutti is highly under rated. It can very well stand alongside the chocolate chips, raisins and nuts in your pantry and add colour and texture to all kinds of baked stuff.
How Long Does It Take To Make?
It generally takes 2 days to make tutti frutti, but very little actual working time. Most of this is for soaking in syrup and then drying later.
After the overnight soak in syrup and food colouring, tutti frutti is ready to use. But if you want to easily store it in an airtight container without sticking together, you have to dry it. Simply lay it out in a single layer on a plate or mesh screen, and keep it for a day or two until it dries completely.
How long it takes to dry depends on the climate you are living in at the moment. If it’s warm, 24 hours is often enough time. In cooler conditions it can take 48 hours or even a few days.
To speed up the drying time, set your oven at its lowest temperature (usually 170-180F), lay in a single layer on plates and set them inside for 2-4 hours.
How Do I Store Tutti Frutti And How Long Does It Last?
You can store tutti frutti in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
I hope you’ll check out my video and recipe for tutti frutti. If it’s already a staple in your collection of ingredients, making your own will save you money. Plus it’s fun too make too! Go give it a try and let me know how it worked out for you!
| Prep Time | 30 Minutes |
| Cook Time | 25 Minutes |
| Passive Time | 3 Days |
| Servings |
Cups
|
- 4 Cups Green papaya diced
- 2 Cups sugar
- 1 Cup water
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla
- Food colouring
Ingredients
|
|
- In a medium saucepan bring a 2-3 cups of water to a boil. Add green papaya and cook for 5 minutes. Strain and set aside.
- In the same saucepan combine sugar, water and salt. Bring to a boil, without stirring, and add blanched green papaya. Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes or until the syrup forms a string when pulled between fingers. Remove from heat and cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Add vanilla and stir well. Divide papaya with syrup among 4 bowls. Colour one batch red, one green, one yellow and leave one white. Cover bowls and refrigerate overnight so syrup and colouring can soak through.
- Next day, strain each batch of candied papaya and spread onto plates using one plate for each colour. (Save the syrup for sweetening drinks or other delights.) Keep tutti frutti in a warm place to dry for 24-48 hours. (Tutti frutti is ready to use immediately without drying.)
- When dry, combine tutti frutti in an airtight jar and store in refrigerator for up to 3 months.