Method for drying confection pieces

A method of drying a plurality of confection pieces, the outer surfaces of which are adhesive at elevated temperatures and elevated moisture contents, comprising:

• providing a plurality of confection pieces at an elevated moisture content and at a temperature below said elevated temperature;
• providing a first zone for treating said confection pieces;
• introducing said confection pieces into said first zone;
• heating said confection pieces to said elevated temperature in said first zone;
• contacting said confection pieces in said first zone with a vibrating surface as said pieces are heated so as to impart a repetitive bouncing motion thereto;
• confining a fluidized bed of said confection pieces in said first zone with an air flow as said pieces are heated and repetitively bounced with said vibrating surface;
• maintaining said pieces in said first zone at an elevated temperature for a first preselected time period while repetitively bouncing said pieces with said vibrating surface and confining said pieces to the fluidized bed until said moisture content thereof is reduced at least one-half;
• providing a second zone for treating said confection pieces;
• transferring said confection pieces from said first zone to said second zone;
• cooling said confection pieces in said second zone;
• contacting said confection pieces in said second zone with said vibrating surface as said pieces are cooled so as to impart a repetitive bouncing motion thereto;
• forming a fluidized bed of said confection pieces in said second zone with an air flow as said pieces are cooled and repetitively bounced with said vibrating surface;
• and
• maintaining said confection pieces in said second zone for another preselected time period while repetitively bouncing said pieces with said vibrating surface and confining said pieces to the fluidized bed until the temperature of said confection pieces is substantially reduced below that of said elevated temperature.