Glacé Fruits

Glacé fruits are fruits such as plums, oranges and pineapples that have been soaked in a sugar syrup until the sugar replaces the moisture, inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms and thus extending their keeping qualities.

The most commonly found glace fruit is the cherry, which is a popular ingredient in cakes, biscuits and puddings. Available in a number of colours (purple, red, yellow and green), glacé cherries may be kept for up to a year in an airtight container. However, it's worth bearing in mind that because they are so sticky and syrupy, they can tend to sink to the bottom of cake mixtures. This can be prevented by rinsing and drying the cherries before using them, and them coating them with a light dusting of flour to help keep them separate and suspended in the mixture.