How To Make Candied Orange Slices

Candied orange slices are a perfect winter and holiday treat. Great on their own, dipped in chocolate, or as delicious decorations on baked goods, candied oranges are a somewhat healthier natural candy you can easily make at home. They make for festive holiday gifts and look beautiful on a holiday spread with other desserts. As you make them your home will be filled with the scent of warm citrus. All you need are oranges and sugar. I’ll show you how.

First, slice your oranges. I also sliced up some clementines. Traditionally, people use the peels of all kinds of citrus fruits to make candy. I prefer oranges the most, but you can make this recipe with lemons, limes, tangerines, and grapefruit too. You can either makes strips of peels or full slices like I have.

Next you will bring a pot of water to boil, turn it down to medium and add your oranges. Only boil them for two minutes. This will remove the bitterness of the peel. Immediately place them into an ice bath to stop them from cooking into mush.

Next you will bring to a boil two cups of water and two cups of sugar. (Or double the recipe if you have a lot of oranges). Once it is to a boil bring it down into a simmer and add your orange slices. You will simmer them for about an hour to an hour and a half, stirring the syrupy mixture occasionally.

You will know that they are ready when they appear translucent like this.

For the final step, lay out your orange slices on a drying tray or a sheet of waxed paper on a cookie sheet to dry. They will take about 24 hours to completely solidify and be ready for eating. The slices will be very sticky. Some people prefer to lightly coat them in sugar to bring down the stickiness and add more sweetness. I happen to prefer them as is.

Sometimes they’re just too syrupy for me. So I like to let them dry longer or put them into a dehydrator to speed up the process. But be careful not to keep them in too long. You do not want them to dry out too much or get hard.

Now you can enjoy your delicious treats! It is still candy, but perhaps a slightly healthier one. As for the syrup this recipe leaves behind, place it into a container and use it as a yummy orange syrup for pancakes and other treats. I love how this recipe does not waste anything.

Will you be trying this recipe this winter or holiday season?