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Pańska skórka
Chewy pink and white candy
Pańska skórka: chewy pink-and-white Warsaw candy sold at cemeteries on All Saints' Day
On 1 November the paths outside Powązki cemetery in Warsaw are lined with sellers in white coats breaking off chunks of pańska skórka from big pink-and-white blocks. The name means ‘lord's skin’, and the candy is chewy, sticky and pull-apart, like a firm marshmallow crossed with nougat, smelling of vanilla and a little lemon. It is made by whipping a hot sugar syrup into egg whites, so the whites cook as you go; pasteurised whites make it safer still. The usual slip is under-cooking the syrup, which leaves a mass that never sets. For the pink half, use a plant-based colouring such as beetroot powder, not carmine, which is not vegetarian. Chef's tip: use a sugar thermometer; 125 °C is the number that matters.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 14 oz sugar
- ½ cup water
- 3 ½ oz glucose syrup
- 2 egg whitespasteurised if possible
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp neutral oilfor the tin
- 2 tbsp potato starchfor dusting
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Brush a 20 × 20 cm tin with 1 tsp neutral oil, line with baking paper and dust with half the 1 tbsp potato starch.
3 minStep 2: Put 14 oz sugar, ½ cup water and 3 ½ oz glucose syrup in a heavy pan over a medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Then stop stirring and boil until a thermometer reads 250°F, about 12–15 minutes.
15 minStep 3: When the syrup reaches about 250°F, start whisking 2 egg whites with 1 pinch salt in a stand mixer until they hold stiff peaks.
4 minStep 4: With the mixer running, pour the hot syrup in a thin stream down the side of the bowl. Keep whisking for 6–8 minutes, until the mass is thick, glossy and only just warm, and pulls in long ropes.
8 minStep 5: Beat in 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp lemon juice. Spread half into the tin. Quickly mix ½ tsp beetroot powder or plant-based pink food colouring into the rest until evenly pink and spread it on top.
4 minStep 6: Dust with the rest of the 1 tbsp potato starch and leave uncovered at room temperature for 6 hours or overnight, until firm and no longer sticky on top.
1 minStep 7: Turn out and cut or break into pieces with an oiled knife. Keep in an airtight tin for up to a week.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 43 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pańska skórka take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of vanilla extract?
- Vanilla bean paste, same amount.
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