Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Candied Orange Peel


I love citrus. I love citrus more than chocolate. I go weeks and months without eating anything chocolate (chocolate Easter candy lasts until Thanksgiving, gasp!), but show me something with citrus and I get all weak-kneed and weak-willed.

In this house, holiday breakfasts usually are often comprised of eggs Benedict and mimosas. I like freshly squeezed orange juice and it such a small extra effort that it's no bother to me. The nice thing is, I have the peels of half a dozen oranges just beckoning to be used, and the candied orange peel is the way I make frugal use of the entire orange.

So why has it taken me so long to discover my new favorite sweet, the candied orange peel? I cannot begin to fathom the reason, but now that I have, I am in orange heaven. If you like those jellied orange slices so often sold in drug stores, or occasionally seen in boxes of better candies, I can virtually guarantee that you will love these. The pungent, tart orange flavor is sweetened with a sugar coating, a little chewy bite that explodes with flavor. If you can boil water and make a simple syrup, you will have no problem making these delicious orange slices that look so fancy but are so easy. And what to do with the orange flavored simple syrup after you've boiled your orange peels in it, use it for sweetening tea, of course. Nothing gets wasted!

I found my recipe on the Foodnetwork, and I really like it. The entire peel is used, pith and all. In the past I peeled the orange using a vegetable peeler, but I've decided I like this method better. I prefer the thicker slices and the more assertive orange flavor. If one wanted to, these slices could be dipped in melted chocolate, a beautiful and delicious presentation. These candies last quite a while, about two months or more if tightly covered and refrigerated, but I attest to it; they don't last that long here.

Candied Orange Peel

6 thick-skinned Valencia or navel oranges
4 1/2 cups of sugar plus extra for rolling
1 1/2 cups water
Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces (preserving orange for another recipe). Cut the peel into strips about 1/4-inch wide. Put the orange peel in a large saucepan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Once it starts to boil, pour off the water. Repeat 1 or 2 more times depending up how assertive you want the orange flavor to be. Drain. Remove the orange peels from the pan.
Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minute, or until it reaches 230 to 234 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer. Add back the peels and simmer gently. Cook until the peels get translucent, about 45 minutes. Resist the urge to stir the peels or sugar crystals may form. If necessary, swirl the pan to move the peels around. Drain the peels, reserving the syrup for tea, if you wish.
Add maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 cup in a medium bowl and add the orange peels. Roll the peels about in the sugar, coating them thoroughly. Dry on a rack for several hours. Store in a tightly covered container.

47 comments:

  1. These are so vibrant and beautiful. Like sunshine! My Mom would love these. I'll have to make her some for Xmas!

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  2. These are beautiful, Katy, and a great way to use those peels that I usually throw away! These will be a great addition to my Christmas candies and cookie (many will be chocolate).Tasty citrus will be a yummy contrast!

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  3. What a great, creative way to use the whole orange. My kids would be fascinated!

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  4. these look very pretty... wonderful color... would look great on a holiday snack table

    great post

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  5. Katy, I love citrus too! I had to ask my mum to TNT me some preserved tangerine peels all the way from China!
    I always thought the candied orange peels are difficult to make! I think I can use grapefruit instead, can't I?

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  6. Grapefruit peels would be perfectly acceptable and delicious. Some folks also use lemon peels. YUMYUMYUM

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  7. You candy your own fruit? You're incredible, Katy!

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  8. Good Morning Katy

    I am keeping this short and "sweet" YUMMY!! I am going to try these. You might find mine dipped in Chocolate so I am asking what kind of Chocolate do you think would be best for these and how would I do it? Sorry to be such a pain today with all these questions....

    Gin

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  9. Oh Katy, what a great gift idea this is! You are always finding such wonderful ways with food! These are so beautiful and I can see them lovingly bundled up in a glass gift jar! Wonderful again!

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  10. Thanks for finding and sharing this recipe. It's a good one that I will make soon.

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  11. What a delight Katy! I am loving this..hubby won't but then so much more for me right? smile
    And if you eat the orange you get some wonderful vitamin C! It's a win-win situation..

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  12. Oh gorgeous! I make these every December. Sometimes they adorn cakes and sometimes my college-age kids just go in the fridge and swipe some. Love this!

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  13. Lov candied fruits...looks cute and delish...

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  14. Ginger, I've never done the chocolate coating myself, but here's a couple of links that might prove helpful. There don't seem to be a lot of recipes for this on the web. Now I'm going to have to go to my cookbooks. Love this question. And of course, because I do really like orange and chocolate together, I'll have to try it myself.

    http://kitchen-dining.hsn.com/chocolate-covered-orange-peel-Recipe_ct-9_us-4348_xu.aspx

    http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/CHOCOLATE-COVERED-CANDIED-ORANGE-PEEL-50017847

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  15. Katy, I do candied peel at this time of year as well. It is wonderful to have a homemade supply on hand for holiday baking. Your peel looks wonderful.

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  16. I bet they would look lovely dipped into dark chocolate or as a yummy garnish.
    ~ingrid

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  17. Looks delicious Katy! Who could possibly resist these???

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  18. WOW! Just looking at the picture makes me drooling~~~

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  19. Such a good idea! This time of year the oranges are so lovely - I will look out for some with some good looking skins!

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  20. I made candied orange peel for the first time last year and you are right, it is easier than one would expect. Yours look so vibrant. I'm catching up on all my favorite blogs. Your Thanksgiving sounded challenging but you pulled it off beautifully.

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  21. Katy, Katy, Katy! You've evoked happy memories for me... you see, my French grandfather used to make candied Orange peel and Grapefruit peel for us every Christmas--- I've been thinking about it for days now, as we approach the holiday.

    And now I came to your blog, and here you've featured it! :) That brought a huge smile to my face.

    BTW, yours looks perfect (wish I could pull one of those treats right through the screen.) xo

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  22. Oooooh I am in heaven! I LOVE those candy slices from back home but they dont sell those here. I had no idea that these would taste like that! Im so bookmarking this..oh thank you thank you!!

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  23. YUM! They're so pretty and I can imagine how sweet and orange-y they taste. Fresh squeezed juice sounds really good right now too...

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  24. my mouth is just watering looking at these, they look soooo good!

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  25. Oh yum. I made these once and they were great. Thanks for the reminder that it's time to make 'em again :)

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  26. These look so pretty and festive! I think I'd like to dip them in chocolate though :)

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  27. You are amazing. Is there anything you can't do?

    These are gorgeous.

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  28. VERY nice Katie, I can see many, many uses for candied orange peel over the holidays. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. I'm with Ingrid....lets dip it in dark chocolate! Yummy!

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  30. The color on these is absolutely gorgeous! I wouldn't know whether to just stare at them or eat them. Both are so appetizing.

    I love candied fruit, so I'm sure I would love this. And I am with you on the citrus. I crave it way more than chocolate.

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  31. I love citrus too. Orange just seems so Christmasy to me. you did a terrific jog, the color is so vibrant and the sugar glistens. i bet your home smelled heavenly while you were making these!

    Make a ganache and dip the orange stick in just about halfway and let the ganache set....orange and chocolate - YUM!

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  32. Oh now wouldn't these make perfect little gifts Katy! I love your idea of covering them in chocolate!

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  33. I don't have much of a sweet tooth either. Whenever I make sweets the kids usually eat the majority of it. I'm with you, I like citrus better! This sounds and looks so delicious! I love the idea of putting them into tea.

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  34. I love the colour! Makes such a great snack!

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  35. So beautiful and festive, love it!

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  36. I love anything citrus too, but have never made candied peel. After reading this post though I really need to!

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  37. Love the photo....They look delicious... I have not ever made candied peel...thinking maybe I should try it as well... :)

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  38. One of my favorites. It always reminds me of Christmas.

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  39. They're like little gems! I've always wanted to make my own...and now I'm definitley going to. Bookmarking and hopefully making soon.

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  40. Katy, you have a way of always coming up with really neat ideas for just when i need em the most...i was looking at my x'mas cake recipe that calls for dried fruits and well..i think candied orange peel would be amazing as an addition to it...i will definitely give this a try... thank you so much for the neat idea...also i love candied fruit, and ginger too...so this will be an all time favorite no doubt...!

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  41. Katy, I am just like you. I like chocolate but it would not phase me for months, if I did not eat it. Now, fruity, citrusy and creamy I crave. I love the texture and the sweet tang of the candied fruit.
    Your candied orange slices look so good. They would make perfect holiday gifts too.

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  42. I think I could live on chocolate to Katy!!! These peels look beautiful. I've never eaten them.

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  43. Good day Katy,
    I'm sure this was enjoyed by the entire family! I love the shiny look.
    I 'll never bin orange peels again.
    Awesome recipe!
    Have a great day darling,
    Mamatkamal

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  44. I love, LOVE candied orange peel. Absolutely love it. When the prices of oranges come down I will be making some.

    I also love candied ginger.... A LOT!

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  45. WOW what a way to use the Orange Peel. Looks so mouthwatering.

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  46. Hi katy. I was just backtracking on some of your posts and they all caught my eye, but this one landed in my lap. I love oranges and we have tons of oranges and lemons and tangerines in our garden. I am going to make this recipe for the orange peel. It's been a long time since I made candied orange peel. Did you know you can put a habanero in the sugar when its boiling. What I do is prick holes in the habanero and just let the sugar engulf all that feiry taste. Then of course the rinds get the taste and you have
    Candied Habanero Orange Peel. It is good. Thanks for the inspiration. Take care.

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