Grapefruit Pâte de Fruit Candy

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups apple sauce unsweetened
• 0.5 teaspoon lime zest finely grated
• 2.5 cups granulated sugar 
• 0.7 cup grapefruit juice freshly squeezed
• 1 tablespoon premium fruit pectin 
• 4 drops food coloring red

Equipment

• sauce pan
• baking paper
• whisk
• baking pan
• kitchen thermometer
• cutting board
• candy thermometer

Directions

1. Cut a 16-inch-long piece of parchment paper and fold over the edges so it measures 8 inches wide. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with the parchment, seam-side down (the 2 long ends will hang over the edges). Be sure to fit the parchment as smoothly as possible into the dish, snugly creasing it into the corners; set the pan aside.
2. Place 1 cup of the sugar, the applesauce, juice, and pectin in a medium saucepan and whisk to combine.
3. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Attach a candy thermometer to the saucepan, add 1 more cup of the sugar (set the remaining 1/2 cup aside), and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches 220°F, about 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and remove the thermometer. Stir in the zest and the food coloring, if using.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and refrigerate until set, about 2 to 3 hours.To remove the pâte de fruit from the pan, sprinkle 1/4 cup of the remaining sugar in a thin, even layer about the size of the baking pan on a cutting board. Invert the pan, and the pâte de fruit, onto the sugar and peel off and discard the parchment.
6. Cut the pâte de fruit into 1-inch squares.
7. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar evenly over the top and toss the squares in the sugar to completely coat. Store in a covered container at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. (If the pâte de fruit absorbs the sugar coating, just toss the pieces with more sugar before serving.)