Either honey, maple syrup, molasses, white cane syrup or corn syrup may be used.
Crystallized Fruits
Use your own preserves. Peach, pear, apple, quince or watermelon rind will do. Drain from the fruit all syrup possible. Cut any size desired, sprinkle with sugar, and dry in the warmer or a very slow oven. It may be necessary to sprinkle the fruit again with sugar during the drying. When dry enough not to be at all sticky, sprinkle with sugar and pack in layers with wax papers between. This fruit may be used for dipping in bitter chocolate for bitter-sweets.
Fruit Paste
Put through the meat chopper enough cherry, peach, or quince preserves to make a half-pint with the juice. Heat fruit and add two tablespoons of gelatine, previously softened in a very little cold water. Stir well, and continue stirring until it begins to cool and thicken, then pour into oiled dish to make a layer one inch thick. Let dry slowly, sprinkle with sugar and place in box with wax paper between the layers. A mixture of dried apricots and dates may be used for this paste. Wash apricots and soak over night in enough water to cover. Pour off water, bring it to a boil, pour over apricots, and let stand until cool. Put apricots and dates through meat chopper and proceed with the proportions as given.
Fruit Butter
Chop together equal parts of stoned raisins, dates and figs and add (after weighing) nuts equal in weight to the whole. The nuts may be mixed according to convenience and taste, as one part of black and white walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts, hazel or Brazil nuts. In general nuts grown in the locality should be used. Mix thoroughly and pack in a mold for slicing.
Bitter-Sweets
An attractive variety of candies may be made by dipping sweet fruits in bitter chocolate. Use for this purpose dates, citron, candied orange peel or crystallized fruits. Melt unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler. Keep the chocolate just warm enough to prevent solidifying. With a silver fork drop pieces of fruit in chocolate. See that each piece is completely coated, then remove to wax paper to harden.