Homemade candied orange peels make the perfect sweet snack or light dessert! Tender orange peel slices coated in a crunchy sugar coating, this easy candied orange peel recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan too! Perfect for the holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s), or whenever you feel like something sweet.
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Jump to:
- Holiday Season is Here!
- The Perfect Holiday Sweet Treat
- Why This Recipe Works:
- Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Recipes Notes + Substitutions:
- How to Make Candied Oranges Peels (Step by Step):
- Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Recipe FAQs:
- Homemade Candy to Enjoy:
- Other Gluten-Free Desserts to Indulge In:
- Holiday Recipes to Love:
- Homemade Candied Orange Peels (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Holiday Season is Here!
It’s officially holiday season and it’s time for gatherings with family and friends!
This is my absolute favorite time of year, and one thing I enjoy very much is having endless conversations with my loved ones over long meals and just chilling by the dinner table, catching up after a long period away.
The Perfect Holiday Sweet Treat
One of my favorite parts of long meals is the fact that when conversation flows freely, you can start off dinner, and end up with coffee and extend the meal with a dessert.
Or, if you’re too full for a full-on dessert, but still want to satisfy your sweet tooth, we can always have a plateful of these delicious candied citrus peel to nibble on.
(Plus, holiday season also coincides with citrus season in the US, which tends to run from November to March, which is the perfect time to take advantage of the abundance in citrus fruits to make this orange candy!)
Why This Recipe Works:
- Simple Ingredients: The ingredients required for this homemade candied orange peel recipe are easily accessible at the local grocery stores (nothing fancy required!).
- Easy to Make: While it does take a little bit of patience to make these candied orange peels, the steps involved are not complicated at all.
- Prevents Food Waste: Since orange peels are usually not eaten and thrown away, this orange peels recipe is a great way to prevent food waste.
- Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Vegan: The good news is that these candied treats are 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy it without issues.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this candied orange peel recipe.
(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post).
Recipes Notes + Substitutions:
- Oranges: You can use any type of oranges you have available (navel oranges, Valencia oranges, blood oranges etc). Alternatively, if you don’t have oranges, you may also use the peels of other citrus fruits (such as grapefruit peel or even lemon peel or lime peels) instead.
- Salt: I used normal table salt, but you can also use Himalayan sea salt if you prefer.
- Sugar: I use granulated white sugar, but you may also use light brown sugar if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend that you use Lakanto monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic-index and will not raise your blood sugar).
How to Make Candied Oranges Peels (Step by Step):
1. Cut off Tops and Bottoms
Rinse the oranges and use a sharp paring knife to cut off the top and bottom ends of the orange.
2. Remove and Cut Peels into Strips
Then remove the orange skin and cut the peels into ⅓-inch wide strips. Make sure to remove as much of the white pith as possible (that’s what makes the peels bitter).
You can set the orange flesh aside for another use.
(Alternatively, you may also use a vegetable peeler to peel the oranges if you find it easier that way).
3. Wash and Boil the Peels
In a medium pot or large saucepan, place the fresh orange peel together with the salt and cover them with water. Bring to a boil. After boiling, wash the peels.
Repeat this boiling and washing process at least 2 times or more until the peels are tender and have lost their bitterness.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the peels once this process is done.
4. Bring Sugar and Water Mixture to a Boil
In a medium or large saucepan combine 1 pound of the sugar with equal parts water to make the simple syrup. Bring it to a boil.
5. Add Peels to Syrup Mixture
When the syrup is boiling, add the peels and reduce the heat. Bring it to a boil before lowering heat and let the mixture simmer until the peels are tender and soft (this process could take about 40 to 45 minutes). Take the saucepan off the heat and let it cool.
(TIP: Once sugar syrup mixture starts boiling, avoid stirring as stirring will cause the syrup to crystalize.)
6. Remove Peels
Using chopsticks or kitchen tongs, remove the peels and place them in a single layer on a wire rack to cool slightly (as well as to let any excess syrup drip down).
7. Coat Peels with Sugar
Place the remaining sugar in a bowl and toss the peels in the sugar a few times until they are fully coated.
8. Let Dry and Cool Before Storing
Let the coated orange peels dry and cool completely at room temperature on a cooling rack or parchment paper lined baking sheet for at least 1 hour before enjoying or storing.
Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Types of Oranges: You can use any type of oranges you have available (naval oranges, blood oranges etc). Alternatively, if you don’t have oranges, you may also use grapefruit instead. Since we are using the peels of the oranges, I suggest using organic oranges, or make sure that you wash the oranges very well before slicing the peels.
- Dip in Melted Chocolate: If you want to make dark chocolate orange peels (orange and chocolate is an amazing combination!), simply dip the finished candy in melted dark chocolate and then let it cool completely on a drying rack before storing or eating.
- How to Use Candied Citrus Peels: While I love eating this orange peel candy on its own, you can also use this tasty treat as garnish on top of a chocolate cake!
Recipe FAQs:
The candied orange peels will keep up to 3 months. To store, placed the cooled candied peels in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 3 months.
If your orange peels are still bitter, it means that you did not boil the peels long enough in the water-salt mixture. You will need to repeat the boiling process for at least 4 times (or more depending on the type of oranges as some oranges have thicker peels and require more boiling to get rid of the bitterness).
Other Gluten-Free Desserts to Indulge In:
Holiday Recipes to Love:
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PrintHomemade Candied Orange Peels (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Homemade candied orange peels make the perfect sweet snack or light dessert! Tender orange peel slices coated in a crunchy sugar coating, this easy candied orange peel recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan too! Perfect for the holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s), or whenever you feel like something sweet.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds oranges
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 pound + 1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
Instructions
- Cut off Tops and Bottoms: Rinse the oranges and use a sharp knife to cut off the top and bottom of the oranges.
- Remove and Cut Peels into Strips: Then remove the peel and cut it into ⅓ inch strips.
- Boil the Peels: in a medium saucepan place the orange peels, and the salt and cover them with water. Bring to a boil. After boiling, wash the peels. Repeat this boiling and washing process at least 4 times or until the peels are tender and have lost their bitterness.
- Bring Sugar and Water Mixture to a Boil: In a medium or large saucepan combine 1 pound of the sugar with equal parts water to make the simple syrup. Bring it to a boil.
- Add the Peels: When the syrup is boiling, add the peels and reduce the heat. Bring it to a boil before lowering heat and let the mixture simmer until the peels are tender and soft (this process could take about 40 to 45 minutes). Take the saucepan off the heat and let it cool. Avoid stirring.
- Remove Peels: Using chopsticks or kitchen tongs, remove the peels and place them on a wire rack to cool slightly.
- Coat Peels with Sugar and Dry: coat them in the remaining sugar a few times and let them dry in a wire rack at least for 1 hour before enjoying or storing.
Notes
Oranges: You can use any type of oranges you have available (naval oranges, blood oranges etc). Alternatively, if you don’t have oranges, you may also use grapefruit peel or lemon peel instead.
Salt: I used normal table salt, but you can also use Himalayan sea salt if you prefer.
Sugar: I use granulated white sugar, but you may also use cane sugar or light brown sugar if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend that you use granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic-index and will not raise your blood sugar).
Storing: To store, placed the cooled candied orange peels in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cooling Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Stovetop
Grace Lim says
Good morning Felicia!
I really like your advice on how to thoroughly remove the bitterness of the peel so that the candied peels can be well-enjoyed as a great snack to share with friends and family!
Cheers!
Mum
Felicia Lim says
Thanks mummy!! These candied orange peels are really delicious 😉