Quick Summary: Winter squash simmered in a fragrant syrup of piloncillo, cinnamon, and orange until the flesh is soft and caramelized. Drizzle with Mexican crema and scatter toasted pepitas on top. A traditional Day of the Dead recipe that fills the house with the best aroma of fall. Prep: 15 min | Cook: 50 min | Serves: 9
Jump to: RECIPE | What is Calabaza? | Best Pumpkins to Use | Tips for Enhancing Flavor | Substitutions | How to Serve | FAQ
Calabaza en Tacha (aka candied pumpkin) is one of the traditional treats served on Mexico’s Day of the Dead Celebration, “Dia de Muertos”. The flavor is similar to what is served in the US as candied yams or sweet potatoes, which are traditional Thanksgiving fare.
The key ingredients that distinguish this Mexican recipe include piloncillo syrup, cinnamon sticks, orange peel and of course the pumpkin.
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What is Calabaza en Tacha?
Calabaza en Tacha, or candied pumpkin, is a traditional Mexican celebration recipe. Sliced winter squash is simmered in a syrup of piloncillo (or brown sugar) and aromatic spices.
It is one of those traditional treats prepared especially for Día De Los Muertos, a celebration on November 1st and 2nd that honors and celebrates the life of those who have died. It is one of the most common foods placed on family altars during this Mexican holiday.
If you prefer a similar dish using sweet potatoes rather than squash, this sweet potato casserole is really popular on the American holiday table.
Unlike the Thanksgiving sweet potato side dish however, Calabaza en Tacha is usually enjoyed in Mexico as a dessert, snack, or even as breakfast (often drizzled with crema).
my Mexican celebration recipes.
Other Mexican food and drink recipes served at various Mexican celebrations might include one of my Día de los Muertos and Mexican celebration recipes.
Best Pumpkins to Use for Candied Pumpkin
In Mexico, candied pumpkin is usually made with calabaza de Castilla, a light-colored winter squash with a tough rind. Cooks used to drill holes in the tough rind to allow the sugar syrup to penetrate.
You can use any type of winter squash to make this recipe, but if the rind is tough poke it a few times with a knife (no drill required).
Calabaza de Castilla is a large, tan or mottled green squash, a cousin of butternut and the West Indian calabaza sold in Caribbean markets. Its flesh is dense and sweet, which is why it holds its shape in the syrup.
In the recipe below I used a variety of winter squash called Long Island Cheese, as it has bright orange flesh and a smooth, dense texture.
Most winter squash will work for this recipe. I would just avoid the kind of pumpkins sold for carving jack o’ lanterns. They are not the best in flavor.
I grow heirloom winter squash and have provided a summary of flavor and texture of my favorite heirloom squash if you want more information.
Tips for the Best Flavor
While this is a fairly simple recipe, there are a few things you can do to eke out the best flavor possible:
- Cut your preferred squash into even pieces that are large, but not so big they won’t fit into your pot. The shape doesn’t matter. I cut mine into slices 1 1/2” thick and about 4-5” long to fit into a large dutch oven.
- Don’t worry if your pumpkin slices are not completely covered with the syrup. They will release some of their juice and that will help to cover them.
- Poke some holes in the rind with a sharp knife before placing them in the pot so they can uptake all of the sugar syrup.
- Place pumpkin slices in the pot, rind side down.
- Select your favorite aromatic spices. I used the traditional cinnamon sticks and cloves, but then added some star anise. Cardamom would be good also.
Ingredients & Substitutions
There are very few ingredients in this candied pumpkin recipe: the squash, the sugar and the spices (with optional crema drizzled on top).
Here are the typical substitutions you might find from cook to cook:
Squash/Pumpkin
- Butternut squash
- Cinderella pumpkin
- Long Island Cheese
- Basically any type of winter squash that has good flavor and density (no carving pumpkins)
Piloncillo
Piloncillo is sometimes referred to as Mexican brown sugar. Although similar to American brown sugar, it is less processed.
Piloncillo is not as sweet as granulated white sugar and when reduced it turns into a syrup with notes of smoke, caramel and rum. Mmmm.
If you can’t find piloncillo, you can substitute it by weight with dark brown sugar and molasses (1 cup dark brown sugar + 2 teaspoons of molasses).
You’ll also see it called panela, and it’s sometimes misspelled poncillo.
The spices in this syrup are the same ones in the Café de Olla blend I sell at the St. Paul Farmers Market, and a tablespoon of it can replace the whole spices.
Spices & Flavoring
Orange and cinnamon and a bit of salt are the key flavors added to the syrup. Different cooks will also add cloves, star anise and/or allspice.
The oranges can be zested ahead of time or just sliced and added to the simmering syrup. Some cooks will add their favorite spices (mine is cardamom), but it is not necessarily traditional.
An added benefit to the flavor here is the sweet and spicy aroma that fills the house while it is simmering!
How to Serve
The classic Mexican way: a bowl of candied pumpkin with Mexican crema, either drizzled over the top or used as a bed in a bowl with the pumpkin sitting on top.
Sometimes the candied pumpkin is served without crema in a bowl of syrup with more syrup drizzled on top.
My favorite is to cook the pumpkin seeds along with the pumpkin in the syrup and then drizzle crema on top of the pumpkin and add a few roasted pumpkin seeds for crunch. Here are a few more variations:
- Pour a little liquid crema or evaporated milk over each portion.
- Sprinkle a few roasted, spiced pepitas over the top (or use store-bought toasted pepitas).
- Top dried cranberries.
Perfect Pairings with Calabaza for Day of the Dead:
Every year my daughter has a party celebrating the Day of the Dead. Her foster teen is from Mexico and insists that these two classic dishes are served along with the candied pumpkin:
- She loves this recipe for champurrado, the traditional Mexican hot chocolate thickened with masa
- Also a classic is this pork tamale recipe with red chile sauce, made with my Enchilada spice blend.
Calabaza en Tacha is one of the most beloved dishes on the Day of the Dead table. For more Day of the Dead recipes and traditions, see my Dia de los Muertos food guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Calabaza” means pumpkin or squash. A “tacha” is the large pot used in sugar mills to boil cane juice down to syrup, so “calabaza en tacha” is pumpkin cooked the way sugar is made.
Any dense winter squash with good flavor works. In Mexico, calabaza de Castilla is traditional. In the US, butternut squash, Long Island Cheese pumpkin, or Cinderella pumpkin are excellent choices. Avoid carving pumpkins, which are watery and bland.
In Mexico, it’s most often enjoyed as a dessert, a snack, or even breakfast drizzled with crema and a glass of cold milk. It’s not typically served as a side dish the way American candied yams might be at Thanksgiving, though it occupies a similar flavor space.
About a week refrigerated in an airtight container. The sugar acts as a preservative. The texture is best the day it’s made. When reheating, add a splash of water to thin the syrup before warming on the stovetop.
No. The piloncillo syrup makes this a high-sugar holiday treat. For a lower-sugar pumpkin dessert, try my low carb pumpkin cheesecake, and see my slow carb food list for everyday options.
What is Mexican candied fruit called?
Fruta cristalizada (crystallized fruit). Calabaza cristalizada is a firm, crystallized version of candied pumpkin: the squash soaks in cal (pickling lime) before candying so it stays firm. Calabaza en tacha is the softer, syrupy version.
Mexican Candied Pumpkin (Calabaza en Tacha)
Equipment
- sharp knife Or cleaver to cut through the squash
- measuring cups Or scale
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 8 ounces piloncillo or 1 cup packed dark brown sugar plus 2 teaspoons molasses
- 2 6” cinnamon sticks
- 1 orange sliced (with rind left on)
- 6 cloves
- 1 star anise
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup pepitas
- 3 pounds Winter squash with hard rind
- Mexican crema and fresh pepitas for serving additions
Instructions
- Make the syrup: add water, sugar, spices, pumpkin seeds and orange slices to a large pot or dutch oven. Bring the heat up to medium high to dissolve the sugar (stirring), and when sugar is dissolved turn heat down to maintain a simmer.Simmer for about 20 minutes or until liquid releases the aromas and becomes a little syrupy.4 cups water, 8 ounces piloncillo, 2 6” cinnamon sticks, 1 orange, 6 cloves, 1 star anise, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 cup pepitas
- While the syrup is cooking, slice the pumpkin into wedges or a shape that will fit into the pot you are using. I sliced mine into slices about 1 1/2” thick and about 5” long for a large dutch oven.Once sliced, use a sharp knife to carefully poke some holes into the rinds so the syrup can penetrate to the squash flesh.3 pounds Winter squash
- Add the pumpkin slices to the pot of syrup, rind side down. It’s OK if they are not completely covered, as they will release some of their own juice.Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the squash is soft enough that a fork will easily penetrate the flesh.Remove from heat and let it sit for another 10 minutes. Serve with a side of Mexican crema and some fresh pepitas.Mexican crema and fresh pepitas
How long are you able to store it?
Well, it will keep in the fridge for quite a while, due to the sugar being a preservative (at least a week). I have to say howver, that the texture was much better when served the same day. It got a little sticky after storing a week. You could probably add some water to it before reheatin.
This one looks delicious!
It truly is. It’s a great dish to make for Winter holiday eating.