Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

A totally foolproof, wonderfully easyCandied Orange Peel recipethat makes sweet and brightorangepeel candy – perfect for theholidays!

Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (1)

Candied Orange Peels

The holidays call for a bit offlourish, don’t they?

Candied Orange Peelsare a terrificallyvibrant and deliciousway to add festive pizazz to Christmas co*cktails and desserts. Bright golden slivers of sugar-coated orange peels taste as wonderful as they look, and bring some impressive flair to nearly any drink or dish.

Most recipes for making candied orange peels from scratch seem trickier than necessary. They often use candy thermometers, and include watching (and watching… And more watching) for crystallization. No, thank you.

This easy recipe makes the BEST, sweetest orange peel candy, without all the fuss. The pieces aresoft and perky, with just the right hint of chewiness and light, sugary crunch.

Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (2)

What Ingredients You Need

Our uncomplicated recipe for tangy Citrus Peel Candy includes only 5 simple ingredients:

Navel Oranges–just the peels so feel free to use the juice of the orange to make other holiday recipes, likeHoliday Wine Punch co*cktails(You can also use Valencia or Cara Cara oranges.)
Water–for simmering the peels
Granulated sugar–to create perfectly sweet candied orange peels
Vanilla– adds a deep earthy flavor to balance out the sweetness
Salt–essential for the candying process

You can also use this same recipe for making candied grapefruit,lemon peel, or limepeels! Orange you glad to know? *wink*

Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (3)

How to Make the Easiest Candied Orange Peels

Instructions…

This effortless recipe is great to make as a relaxing weekend or weekday evening project. Just follow these few basic steps for making cheery, citrusy-good orange peel candyfrom scratch at home in less than an hour!

First, prep the oranges by trimming off the tops and bottoms with a paring knife. Then use a vegetable peeler tocarefully peel the orangesfrom top to bottom, into 2-4 inch long segments. It helps to press the peelervery firmlyagainst the orange to collect a nice even layer of peel, omitting as much white pith as possible.

Once you’ve peeled all of the oranges into wide strips, cut the slices into thinner ¼ inch strips.

Next, place theorange peel segmentsinto a medium saucepan and turn the heat on to medium or medium-low. Add water, sugar, and salt. Stir and bring to a simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, set a timer for 20 minutes. You want to cook the peels until they arejust soft, but still have their lovely vibrant color. (Using medium to medium-high heat will burn your peels quickly.)

Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (4)

Meanwhile, prepare for the next steps: Add the remaining ½ cup sugar to a bowl and set aside, and set out a drying rack with a piece of wax paper or parchment paper under it.

Once the orange peels have simmered for 20 minutes, stir in the vanilla extract. Turn off the heat andlet the peels rest in the sugar syrupfor several minutes.

How Can I Enjoy Candied Orange Peel?

Eat these homemade candies right out of the container as a special treat, or serve Candied Orange Peels as agarnish on desserts and drinks.

Add a few toHomemade Chocolate Puddingfor a delicious chocolate and orange dish, or top thisYogurt Cheesecake with Orange Shortbread Crustto add an extra burst of citrus flavor.

Use pieces of orange peels to finish festive co*cktails, like anAperol Spritzor in aSpiced Manhattan co*cktail.

However, you choose to include, these homemade candies are sure to add some joy to your holiday celebrations!

Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (8)

Looking for More Easy Candy Recipes?

Vanilla Orange Candied Cranberries
Bourbon Salted Caramel Candy Recipe
The Tastiest Turkish Delight Recipe (Lokum)
Bourbon Candied Bacon Bites
Chocolate Toffee Christmas Crack Recipe

Check this candy’s printable recipe card below for the prep time, total time, and nutrition information including calories, protein, sodium, potassium, vitamin c, and calcium percentages.

Print Recipe

4.78 stars (35 reviews)

The Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe

Prep Time: 35 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

A totally foolproof, wonderfully easy Candied Orange Peel recipe that makes sweet and bright orange peel candy – perfect for the holidays!

Servings: 20 servings

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

4 large navel oranges or 5 small
2 cups water
1 ½ cups granulated sugar divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Trim the tops and bottoms of the oranges. Then use a vegetables peeler to peel the oranges from top to bottom, into 2-4 inch segments. Press the peeler firmly against the orange to collect a nice even layer of peel. Be careful to trim off just the peel, not the white bitter pith. Then cut the wide strips into ¼ inch thin strips.
Place the orange peel segments into a medium saucepot. Set over medium to medium-low heat. Add the water, 1 cup of sugar, and the salt. Bring to a simmer. Once simmering, set the timer and simmer approximately 20 minutes, or until the peels look soft, but still retain their vibrant color. (You don’t want them to turn brown, so set the stove just hot enough to hold the simmer.)
Meanwhile, place the remaining ½ cup sugar in a bowl and set aside. Set out a drying rack and place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper under it.
Once the orange peels have simmered 20 minutes, stir in the vanilla extract. Turn off the heat and let the peels rest in the sugar syrup for another 5-10 minutes.
Use tongs to move the orange peels to the cooling rack. Allow the orange peels to rest at least 15 minutes to dry and cool. Then toss them in the sugar to coat. Let the peels dry completely at room temperature. Then store in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

You can candy lemon and lime peels as well!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 71kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 59mg, Potassium: 47mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 59IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Candy, Dessert, Drinks, Snack

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

This site contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission.

FAQs

Easiest Candied Orange Peel Recipe | A Spicy Perspective? ›

Add the water, 1 cup of sugar, and the salt. Bring to a simmer. Once simmering, set the timer and simmer approximately 20 minutes, or until the peels look soft, but still retain their vibrant color. (You don't want them to turn brown, so set the stove just hot enough to hold the simmer.)

See Details ›

How do you make candied orange peels less bitter? ›

The process of blanching the peels might seem like overkill, but it's necessary to diminish the bitterness of the pith—the white, spongy portion under the peel—and to give the final product an appealingly soft and chewy texture.

Find Out More ›

What is orange peel spice? ›

The outer peel of the orange, commonly referred to as orange zest, holds the highest amount of essential oils. To get the best flavor, and avoid bitter undertones, we only use the thin outer layer of tree-ripened oranges for our Spice Islands® orange peel.

Learn More ›

How long do candied orange peels last? ›

Pack the peel into an airtight storage jar or rigid container lined with baking parchment. Will keep for 6-8 weeks in a cool, dry place. To make into a delicious gift, melt the chocolate in a small bowl. Dip the candied orange peel into the chocolate to half-coat them, shaking off the excess.

Explore More ›

What makes orange peel bitter? ›

What makes citrus bitter? A substance called naringin, that imparts the bitter flavor, is present in the peel, pith, membranes and sometimes the juice. The white pith just under the peel is especially bitter. If you juice any citrus and drink it immediately, you won't notice the bitterness.

Tell Me More ›

What makes orange skin bitter? ›

Bitterness is mainly caused by the accumulation of two different chemical compounds: limonin from the limonoid terpine group and naringin from the flavonoid phenolic group in the fruit tissues.

Discover More ›

What is the orange spice that is spicy? ›

Turmeric, which is a root, is orange and highly used in curries and soup. That could also be something called galangal ( in Thai) that is a dense, orange, tough root- kind of like ginger. If it is a paste, it could have other ingredients added, like habanero peppers or orange Chiles.

View Details ›

Is orange peel spice the same as orange zest? ›

Orange zest is not the same thing as orange peel, which is also known as orange rind or orange skin. Orange zest is only the outer layer of the orange peel, while the orange peel is both the zest and the pith, or the bitter-tasting white part beneath the outer layer.

Know More ›

How do you make a fancy orange peel garnish? ›

Orange peel twist

Sheer off the edges for straightness and cut the ends at acute angles. Twist between your fingers and place it on the edge of the tumbler. You can drape it on the edge or wind it onto a coloured toothpick and balance across the centre of the glass.

Know More ›

Why are my candied orange slices bitter? ›

A: You may not have boiled your orange slices long enough in plain water to pull out the bitterness from the peel. To make it less bitter next time, boil a few minutes longer and maybe a couple additional cycles (boil-rinse).

Learn More ›

How do you make citrus peels less bitter? ›

Add the peels to a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for about 25 minutes. The water turns very orange almost immediately. This step eliminates bitterness (in the peels that is, although the resulting intense citrus scent might improve one's attitude as well). Drain peels.

Are candied orange slices bitter? ›

The orange slices get preboiled twice, to remove any of the bitterness that may be present. What you are left with is an intense orange flavour that is sweet and not unpleasant at all. The proportion of sugar and water is perfect. Your candied orange slices will be sweet and will have a nice texture when dried.

Get More Info ›

How do you fix bitter orange jam? ›

Soak the citrus peel: Soaking the citrus peel in water overnight can help to reduce the bitterness. Change the water a few times to remove any bitter compounds. Add sugar: Sugar can help to balance out the bitterness in the marmalade.

Read The Full Story ›