Don't toss your orange peels, candy them instead! Make this bright and tasty treat any time of the year by swapping out our the orange for any of your favorite citrus varieties. Enjoy these sweet treats!
Begin by slicing and removing peels from your oranges, be sure to save oranges for eating. It’s best to remove as much of the pith as possible before boiling. Cut peels into large strips first, score with a fork, and then lastly, scrape with a spoon down to the peel. This will take a bit of elbow grease but it’s worth it! Once you have all your peels scraped, slice the peels into ¼ inch strips or your desired size.
Place peels in medium sized sauce pot and cover with water completely. Place on stovetop and bring the water to a rolling boil. Allow to boil for three minutes and then drain the peels. You will need to repeat this boiling process an additional two times to help remove any remaining pith and bitterness. Once you have boiled the peels in water three times (for three minutes each time), drain the peels, return them to the sauce pot and fill pot with 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water, and vanilla extract. Place the pot on the stovetop on medium high heat and bring to a low simmer. You will simmer this mixture for 35 – 40 minutes, stirring regularly. Be sure to keep an eye on the sugar as it can easily burn if not watched. Once the peels have boiled in the simple syrup mixture for about 40 minutes, remove from heat, and allow the peels to sit in the syrup for an additional 5 minutes.
After the peels have rested in the syrup, remove them carefully from the syrup using a fork or tongs, draining the syrup from the peels into the pot. Place peels well spread out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Be sure to save the simple syrup mixture it’s fabulous in coffees and teas and other uses! Once all the peels have been drained and placed on the parchment baking sheet, leave on the countertop overnight for the peels to dry and harden.
The following day, sprinkle a heaping amount of granulated sugar over the peels and toss to coat. You can also dip them in chocolate if you so desire! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for the best flavor. Enjoy alone, with coffee, or chopped and tossed into your favorite baked good recipe!
Ingredients
Directions
Begin by slicing and removing peels from your oranges, be sure to save oranges for eating. It’s best to remove as much of the pith as possible before boiling. Cut peels into large strips first, score with a fork, and then lastly, scrape with a spoon down to the peel. This will take a bit of elbow grease but it’s worth it! Once you have all your peels scraped, slice the peels into ¼ inch strips or your desired size.
Place peels in medium sized sauce pot and cover with water completely. Place on stovetop and bring the water to a rolling boil. Allow to boil for three minutes and then drain the peels. You will need to repeat this boiling process an additional two times to help remove any remaining pith and bitterness. Once you have boiled the peels in water three times (for three minutes each time), drain the peels, return them to the sauce pot and fill pot with 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water, and vanilla extract. Place the pot on the stovetop on medium high heat and bring to a low simmer. You will simmer this mixture for 35 – 40 minutes, stirring regularly. Be sure to keep an eye on the sugar as it can easily burn if not watched. Once the peels have boiled in the simple syrup mixture for about 40 minutes, remove from heat, and allow the peels to sit in the syrup for an additional 5 minutes.
After the peels have rested in the syrup, remove them carefully from the syrup using a fork or tongs, draining the syrup from the peels into the pot. Place peels well spread out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Be sure to save the simple syrup mixture it’s fabulous in coffees and teas and other uses! Once all the peels have been drained and placed on the parchment baking sheet, leave on the countertop overnight for the peels to dry and harden.
The following day, sprinkle a heaping amount of granulated sugar over the peels and toss to coat. You can also dip them in chocolate if you so desire! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for the best flavor. Enjoy alone, with coffee, or chopped and tossed into your favorite baked good recipe!