Candied Caramelized Orange Peel with Cinnamon, Cloves and Brandy Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Brandy

by: TheWimpyVegetarian

November6,2009

0 Ratings

  • Serves 15 large oranges yields about 15 cups of candied peel

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Author Notes

I love to make these every November to get me in the mood for holiday baking. I've tried many different recipes and approaches, and this approach - while longer than most - has given me the most reliable, soft peels with a strong orange flavor without the bitterness. The ingredient amounts vary according to how many peels you're candying but I've provided some rough guidelines for this. The most important thing is that you make enough simple syrup to keep the citrus pieces mostly covered during the candying process. The candying process is a wonderful opportunity to add flavors, so feel free to use other flavors than what I chose, or amp it up with the ones that I did. Once candied, you can dip them in chocolate; add them to sweet yeast breads you might bake for the holidays; or use them as cake / tart decorations. For planning purposes, this can be a 4-day process! —TheWimpyVegetarian

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 15 Oranges, preferable thick skinned
  • Water
  • Salt
  • 3 cupsgranulated sugar
  • 3 cupswater
  • 5 Cinnamon sticks
  • 10 Cloves
  • 1/3 cupBrandy
Directions
  1. Day 1: Cut the citrus fruit in half, squeeze out the juice, reserving the juice for other purposes. (Like sorbet!) Put the citrus halves in a very large, non-reactive pot or container and fill it with water, adding 1 Tablespoon salt for every quart of water. A large soup pot can work well for this or large plastic containers. Let sit overnight.
  2. Day 2: Drain the peels and remove all the membranes leaving the pith behind. I have found a grapefruit spoon to be very effective for this.
  3. Put the peels in a large non-reactive pot, cover with water, and the water to a boil. Boil the peels for a couple minutes and drain, discarding the water. Repeat this two more times always using fresh water to start with.
  4. Make a simple syrup with equal amounts of sugar and water. I recommend you start with 3 cups of each. If you don't need it all, you can have it available if you need to add a little more part way through the candying. Boil for 10 minutes to ensure the sugar is completely liquified and the liquid is clear. Now you're ready to start the candy the peels.
  5. Reduce the simple syrup to a simmer and add the cinnamon sticks and cloves. Stir, adding the brandy. Add the peels and cook for four hours at a low simmer.
  6. Test the peel by tasting it after four hours. If it still tastes raw, continue to simmer for at least another hour. To caramelize, increase the heat to a soft boil, and continue to candy the peels for 45 -60 minutes or until the syrup has turned a deep amber color. If the syrup gets too thick, add a little water to thin.
  7. Turn off the heat and let the peels sit in the simple syrup overnight.
  8. Day 3: Remove the peel from simple syup and drain on cooling racks placed over cookie sheets or newspaper until tacky to the touch. This can take anywhere from an hour to a day. I store them in the oven on racks overnight if they don't dry the first day.
  9. When done, either roll in sugar or leave clear. If I roll them in sugar, I keep the sugar afterwards in a special tupperware container for cooking/baking when I want to add an orange or lemon flavor to a dish that calls for sugar.
  10. The candied peel will keep for several months in a jar.

Tags:

  • Candy
  • Fruit
  • Brandy
  • Cinnamon
  • Clove
  • Orange
  • Vegetarian
  • Dessert
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Edible Gift
  • Your Best Holiday Confection

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13 Reviews

Susan April 7, 2014

Maybe I missed it in there, but I assume at some point you slice the halves into strips. Do you do this right after scraping the insides out?

laurel November 13, 2013

I've been doing a lot of citrus candying, and am always curious - to you think the boil/drain/repeat steps cause any loss of flavor? Or do you think it's just the bitter compounds that are released during this process?

In my own experience, it's to release the bitter compounds, and I'm sure some flavor is unavoidably lost. But you can always add a little orange extract to the candying mixture if you want a stronger orange flavor.

laurel November 13, 2013

Never mind - found my answer with Harold McGee. Bitter compounds are water soluble, aromatic/flavorful oils in the skin are not.

laurel November 13, 2013

Oh good idea! (Sorry, didn't see your comment before I added my other one)

Thanks!

TheWimpyVegetarian November 13, 2013

Harold McGee is a fabulous resource! I had thought I was losing some flavor too, so I'm glad you posted this additional information! Thanks!!

FayD December 3, 2012

I have made this 3 times now and just have to write and thank you for submitting the recipe. It is awesome and addicting. I dip mine in chocolate and they are so GOOD! Everyone on my Christmas list is getting some of this. Thanks for sharing!

gingerroot November 2, 2011

These look and sound wonderful, ChezSuzanne!!

TheWimpyVegetarian November 2, 2011

Thanks so much gingerroot!

AntoniaJames December 10, 2009

I'm going to make some and use them in Lebkuchen (the German traditional cookie . . . . . I posted a recipe for a gingery variation), the next time I make a batch. I still have a huge quantity in the fridge from my marathon cookie-bake/truffle-make over the weekend. I grew up in a house with 6 kids, so the only way I know how to make cookies is in huge quantities!!! Do you use navel oranges for this? The only organic oranges I've seen have rather thin skins . . . . .

TheWimpyVegetarian December 11, 2009

I use navel, or anything with a thicker skin. If they have the thin skins - almost like clementines, I would slice the top and bottom off and then make thin horizontal slices, removing the seeds, and candy the entire slice. It would make for a beautiful decorative topping for a tart or cake that could be slightly overlapped. I'll need to look at your gingery version of a Lebkuchen - it sounds great. I'm also getting ready to make some holiday sweet yeast breads - which I only indulge in this time of year - where I'll use some of these candied orange peels. I also make candied lemon peels following the exact same recipe except I put a couple vanilla beans into the simple syrup for flavoring. Have fun!

AntoniaJames December 9, 2009

Lovely . . . . . simply lovely. I've never been a big fan of candied citrus peel, but I think you may have converted me ;o) I'm definitely going to try this one. I think I'll use Drambuie . . . . . Thanks for posting this!

TheWimpyVegetarian December 10, 2009

Thanks. Truthfully, this is the only way I really like them. It's a little time consuming, I admit, but really worth it. I have friends now that put in their requests for these every year.

Candied Caramelized Orange Peel with Cinnamon, Cloves and Brandy Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How do you take the bitterness out of candied oranges? ›

Blanching peels

And those compounds dissolve in hot water, which is why blanching works so well. In fact, blanching reduces bitterness by 50%. Repeat the blanching step until the orange peels taste just slightly bitter. The bitterness won't disappear completely, but it should be tolerable.

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).

Do you refrigerate candied orange peel? ›

Stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, the candied citrus peel will keep for at least a month. They'll keep even longer in the fridge and for a few months frozen. (I usually keep them in a ziplock bag in the freezer and then conveniently grab whatever I need.)

How do you rehydrate candied orange peel? ›

To rehydrate, place desired amount of dried orange peels into a small bowl. Add boiling water to the orange peels. Let sit for about 3 minutes (longer if needed for further softening).

How long to boil orange peels to get rid of bitterness? ›

Place orange peel in a sauce pan cover with a generous amount of water and bring to a boil. Let boil for 10 minutes. Strain in a colander.

What is the difference between bitter and sweet orange peel? ›

sinensis orange variety, sweet orange peel is said to contribute a notably more “orangey” flavor that's widely recognizable, as these types of oranges are commonly consumed. Bitter orange peel comes from the C. aurantium orange variety and is known to lend a more general citrus character with some bitterness.

How long do candied oranges last? ›

They get even better after 48 hours. First, you'll want to let them cool at room temperature until no longer warm to the touch, at least 4 hours, then refrigerate them until thoroughly chilled. The oranges last refrigerated for 1 month as long as they are submerged in that syrup.

How do you counteract bitterness without sugar? ›

A pinch of salt makes everything better, including bitter foods. The saltiness naturally counteracts the bitterness, so don't be shy about using a bit of salt in meals that are too bitter. This is an especially good trick if you're cooking bitter vegetables, like with roasted broccoli or brussels sprouts.

Do candied oranges go bad? ›

If you put them in an airtight container, they will absorb moisture and get stickier. You can also toss the sticky slices with a few coats of granulated sugar to make them less sticky as well. Candied orange slices will keep at room temperature for 2 weeks, refrigerated for up to a month, or frozen for up to 3 months.

Is candied orange peel good for you? ›

Candied Orange Peels are beautiful, festive, and are full of nutrients. The orange peel has more vitamin C than the actual fruit of the orange. Likewise, the fruit peel also has about three times as much the amount of Vitamin A, B-Complex, and minerals such as manganese, calcium, and zinc.

Where do you store candied orange peels? ›

Candied orange peels can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. Larger batches can also be frozen in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Store with silica packets if you have any or homemade desiccants like dry rice to help absorb moisture. Be the first to leave a review!

What are the health benefits of orange peel? ›

Incorporating orange peel into your diet can be a natural way to support your immune system. Citrus fruits, including orange peel, contain natural anti-inflammatory compounds that may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, and certain types of cancer.

What is the name of the candied orange peel? ›

Succade is the candied peel of any of the citrus species, especially from the citron or Citrus medica which is distinct with its extra-thick peel; in addition, the taste of the inner rind of the citron is less bitter than those of the other citrus.

What do you do with candied orange peels? ›

The best part: the candied peels last for up to 3 months eat them candied or dip them in chocolate for an extra decadent treat. Save the orange-scented syrup to elevate pancakes, co*cktails, baked pears, French toast, or even fruit salad.

Can you eat raw orange peel? ›

Orange peels can be enjoyed raw in salads and smoothies, cooked to make orange marmalade, or zested to add a pop of orange color and flavor to foods.

What can I do with bitter oranges? ›

The juice of bitter oranges is a superb acid for adding to savory dishes. And while their sourness is their most notable characteristic, they impart a greater range of flavor than lemons or limes, making them an excellent addition to co*cktail and salad dressing recipes.

What if an orange tastes bitter? ›

Troublesome compounds called limonin and nomilin can make even the freshest citrus fruit taste bitter. Some kinds of citrus trees thwart these natural chemicals by neatly attaching a sugar (glucose) molecule onto them. This simple maneuver converts limonin and nomilin to nonbitter compounds called limonoid glucosides.

Why do my cuties taste bitter? ›

Bitterness can come from underripe fruit (although a lot of times they'll just be sour or less flavorful), lack of juice is usually something that has been stored too long and dried out. A ripe mandarin or clementine should be firm but not hard with a good, bright citrusy fragrance.

How do you take the bitterness out of candied lemons? ›

Since it's nearly impossible to remove the pith completely, the best way to get the bitter out is blanching the zest three times, by dropping it into boiling water to release the bitterness, then shocking it with ice water to stop the cooking (and repeat, and repeat).

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