Red Pepper Candy

I am always looking for ways to replace some of my “creature comforts” with smarter options.  A friend told me about this healthier alternative.  It is super easy to make and oh so good!

Red Pepper Candy

Ingredients:

Red Bell Peppers
Pure Canadian Maple Syrup

Instructions:

1. Slice clean red peppers lengthwise into approximately ¼ to ½ inch wide strips, no larger. Optional: you may then cut these strips in half again if you choose.
2. Place sliced peppers in a dish and sprinkle with pure maple syrup – approximately 1 tsp per pepper – give or take depending on your sweet tooth. *
3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple hours or overnight to marinate.
4. Dry into candy using a dehydrator or an oven.

Dehydrator Instructions:

1. Place slices on dehydrator screens ensuring that none of the peppers are touching.
2. Dehydrate at 125F until the peppers are crispy and brittle. (Time will vary depending on a number of factors – air humidity, uniformity and overall thickness of your slices – it could be anywhere between 10 to 24 hours so keep an eye on them the first time you are making them.)

Oven Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 150F.
2. Cover a wire rack with parchment paper and and place it on a cookie pan.
3. Arrange the sliced peppers making sure that none are touching.
4. Place this on the middle oven rack, leaving the oven door ajar a few inches.
5. Dry until crispy and brittle (approximately 6 to 10 hours or more depending on the oven, air humidity, uniformity and thickness of your peppers.)

Enjoy!

*Pure Canadian maple syrup is a natural sugar and a healthier alternative to refined sugar, containing antioxidants and trace minerals that refined sugars do not.  Be aware however, that it is still a sweetener with a calorie content averaging around 50 calories per tablespoon.