Try This Candied Orange Peel Once And You'll Never Throw Out Another Peel Again

We love finding cool ways to use the whole piece of produce so we can cut down on food waste. Enter, our newest foodie crush, candied orange peels. We’ll walk you through what they are, how to make a homemade version, and how to use them. These candies are one a”peel”ing treat you won’t want to miss out on!

orange cut into slices — Photo provided by Pexels

So What Is A Candied Orange Peel?

In culinary terms, to “candy” something means to sweeten with crystallized sugar. Common items that are candied include nuts, fruits, and citrus peels. Usually, a sweet crust of sugar forms during the candying process. Consider us sold!

basket of fresh oranges — Oksana Mizina/Shutterstock

How To Make Candied Orange Peels

Enjoy our easy step-by-step guide to this delectable treat.

What You’ll Need:

Parchment paper
Sheet pan
Cooling rack
Paring knife
Peeler
Cutting board
Colander
Fruit & veggie wash
Measuring cups
Medium sauce pan
Spatula
Thermometer
Tongs

Ingredients:

4 medium-sized oranges
2 cups white sugar
4 cups water

fresh sliced oranges — Photo provided by Pexels

Instructions:

Step #1: Prep Step

Rinse the oranges in fruit and veggie wash (we recommend Rebel Green Fruit & Veggie Clean, available at Target, Walmart, and local health food stores). Then, line a sheet pan with parchment paper, and place a cooling rack into that pan; set on counter.

Step #2: Get To Peeling

Using peeler, slowly peel the orange in as long of strips as possible. Next, using a paring knife, scrape as much of the white pith off the inside of the peel as you can. This helps to decrease the natural bitterness of the peel and allows the sugar to stick better.

woman cutting orange with knife — Jevanto Productions/Shutterstock

Step #3: The Heat Is On

Heat saucepan over medium-high heat. Add two cups water and the sliced peels. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer for about 15 minutes.

Step #4: Repeat With Sweet

Drain the water. Add two other cups of water and sugar. Then, boil over medium-heat, stirring occasionally.

Step #5: Simmer Time

After the syrup boils, reduce the heat and simmer for about an hour. Stir often, rotating the peels with the spatula to evenly coat.

candied orange peels drying on rack — Flickr / grongar

Step #6: Temp Check

Once the syrup starts to get a gritty feel to it with lots of bubbles, check the temperature. At the point it reaches 250 degrees, immediately remove from heat and transfer to cooling rack.

Step #7: Separate And Cool

Using a fork or tongs, separate the candied peels and let dry on rack for an hour or so. Once completely cooled, store in a glass jar for at least a couple months at room temperature.

flat lay of sliced oranges with paring knife on black background — Photo provided by Pexels

How To Use Candied Orange Peels

Now that we have a foolproof recipe for candied peels, what should we do with them? These homemade snacks are perfect in many baked recipes or would be an inventive addition to homemade trail mix. They could even be enjoyed solo as a sweet snack. Candied orange peels are also a cool garnish to top cocktails.