How to Make Candied Orange Peels

I had my doubts about candied peels.  Store bought varieties are bitter and unpleasant and all in all they have always seemed like something that would always be too 'old' for me. 

However I was very very wrong. Like most things, the store bought version does not represent how these taste when they are homemade.  The candied peels are not bitter, instead they are intensely orange flavored and pleasantly sweet.  When dipped in dark chocolate they taste like a gourmet chocolate orange and were snatched up quickly at the party I took them to.

 

 

The peels don't require any fancy ingredients or difficult steps, but they do take a bit of time because they need to cook in the sugar-water syrup.  All you need is some oranges (or orange peels that you have saved) and some sugar.

 

Having an orange cat helps too, but this is optional.

 

 

First you cut the oranges in half and juice them.  mmmm freshly squeezed orange juice.

 

Then, using your thumb or a spoon scoop out the flesh inside.....

 

.... so that you're left with just the peel.

 

Chop up the peel into strips, I made mine long so that I could dip them in chocolate.

 

 

Next the peels get blanched in boiling water three times and then simmered in syrup until translucent. Mine took almost an hour before the white changed completely.

 

I stirred mine a little bit too much towards the end which made the syrup crystallize. It didn't affect the taste or the end product but it did mean that I missed out on having left over orange syrup to add to drinks.

 

Dipping the peels in chocolate makes them delicious enough to wrap up and give away as gifts or bring to parties. I melted dark chocolate chips in one bowl and milk chocolate in another because I'm not really a dark chocolate person.

But I have to say, forget about the milk chocolate. It pales in comparison to the dark chocolate/ orange combo.

 

I'll be saving my orange peels in a ziplock bag in the fridge to make these again!

 

Candied Orange Peels

From Use Real Butter

4 oranges (or the peel from 4 oranges)
3 cups sugar
1 cup water

Chocolate of choice (choose dark!) for dipping

 

1. Juice the oranges

2. Scoop out insides, chop peel into strips

3. Place the peels in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and drain. Repeat three to four times. This blanching gets rid of the bitterness in the peels so don't skip this step

4. Once you are done blanching the peels mix the cup of water and 3 cups of sugar together in a pot and bring to a boil. Do not stir too much, once the sugar has dissolved try to avoid stirring altogether. Boil until the sugar reaches 230F or just before soft ball stage.

5. Add peels, reduce heat and simmer until the whites turn translucent. This will take 30+ minutes, mine took almost an hour.

6. Remove peels from syrup (save syrup! It is delicious and orange flavored and can be added to drinks and baking) and dry on racks with cookie sheets under them to catch any drips.

7. If using chocolate, wait till orange peels are dry (4-5 hours). Melt chocolate, dip in peels, and let set on a rack or a cookie sheet.

Comments

[Design_kitty]

Ohhh cool. I honestly had no idea such a thing existed... I kinda figured they'd be too bitter as well. Think I could do this with lemon peels?

[Mylifeunderthebus]

These look delicious! Great gift idea too some of these and a few chocolate covered nuts and YUM !!!

[Texts and Textiles]

Bring these next time you come to visit...and the cat too

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkHZkOmiPQFB2Y5MEXNNofnGJbXLQMVs9s]

Those look delicious!
Great photos and tutorial.
Yum!!

[Seb1000]

This looks fantastic, thanks for sharing it!

[Thebeardedfamily.blogspot.com]

Thanks for sharing! I bought oranges from my nieces school and I have so many that I don't know what to do with. These look great!

[Kirsten H.]

Your cat is soooo cute. We would love to own one again, but at the moment we adopted three Guinea pigs. So the cat has to wait.
My husband would love these beautiful treats! Thanks for sharing.

[Zamipoo]

I am Wondering how long these will last for in the fridge/pantry?

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[Lozerette]

I find myself wondering if this would work with other citrus fruits, as well. Lime peel and white chocolate sounds heavenly...