Candied Citrus Peel: Make Your Own Lemon, Orange or Grapefruit Candy and Garnish
Candied citrus peel is simple to make and is a great addition for holiday baking, to decorate desserts or even to give as a homemade gift.
As promised when I posted my Orange Boodle recipe, I’m now sharing how to make the candied peel you saw adorning the desserts.
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You can use the candy as decoration on any dessert, as I did on the Boodle’s Orange Fool, dip the ends in chocolate for a even tastier treat, or just eat it as candy on its own.
If at all possible, get your hands on organic fruit. The last thing you want to do is make candy from pesticide laden peel. Not to mention, the organic fruit just tastes better. I’m lucky as I have my own orange tree so I used fresh oranges from my own tree. You can use any citrus peel you like: lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc.
If you’re like me and have a lot of citrus, you can dehydrate the rind, too! It’s another great way to save those beautiful, aromatic peels to use in cooking and baking all year long.
Don’t miss out on my most popular cake: Sicilian whole orange cake, which uses the entire fruit, peel, and pulp! I also make a Sicilian whole lemon cake!
Candied Citrus Peel
slightly adapted from a BBC Good Food recipe makes 36 servings
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- 2 large, organic (unwaxed) oranges, lemons or grapefruit
- sugar
- water
- (optional – chocolate for dipping)
Cut each piece of fruit into 8 wedges, then remove the flesh from the skin. Cut each peel into strips.
Put the strips into a small pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Drain the liquid then repeat with fresh water, however this time, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Now, drain the liquid again, but reserve it in a measuring jug. Put the strips of peel in a bowl. Add 100g (1/2 cup) sugar to each 100ml (3 1/2 ounces) of water, then pour into a pan over low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the strips and simmer for 30 mins until the peel is translucent and soft.
Allow to cool in the syrup, then remove with a fork and arrange in a single layer on a wire rack to dry. You can place the rack in a warm oven for half an hour, but I didn’t do this.
Now dip the strips of peel into a bowl of sugar, a few at a time, then place on parchment or waxed paper and allow to dry for at least an hour.
Keep the candied peel in an airtight tin or container lined with baking parchment. The peel will keep for 6-8 weeks in a cool, dry place.
You can dip the ends of the candied citrus peel in melted chocolate if desired. This makes a lovely gift.
Candied Citrus Peel: Make Your Own Lemon, Orange or Grapefruit Candy and Garnish
Sweet candied citrus rind is so easy to make and adds a lovely touch and decoration to lots of desserts and baked goods.
Ingredients
- 2 large, organic (unwaxed) oranges, lemons or grapefruit
- sugar
- water
- (optional - chocolate for dipping)
Instructions
- Cut each piece of fruit into 8 wedges, then remove the flesh from the skin. Cut each peel into strips.
- Put the strips into a small pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Drain the liquid then repeat with fresh water, however this time, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Now, drain the liquid again, but reserve it in a measuring jug. Put the strips of peel in a bowl. Add 100g (1/2 cup) sugar to each 100ml (3 1/2 ounces) of water, then pour into a pan over low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the strips and simmer for 30 mins until the peel is translucent and soft. Allow to cool in the syrup, then remove with a fork and arrange in a single layer on a wire rack to dry. You can place the rack in a warm oven for half an hour, but I didn't do this.
- Next, dip the strips of peel into a bowl of sugar, a few at a time, then place on parchment or waxed paper and allow to dry for at least an hour.
- Keep the candied peel in an airtight tin or container lined with baking parchment. It will keep for 6-8 weeks in a cool, dry place.
Notes
Dip in chocolate for a delicious candy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 2 stripsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 10Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
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What a great use for rind! I think these would make a great edible garnish alongside a fresh espresso from a Bialetti Mocha Pot, perhaps with your recommendation to dip in chocolate as well! Wish I would have seen this recipe sooner I think these would have been a hit at the inlaws Christmas dinner, post meal espresso fix!
I just made these today. So yummy and very easy.
Fantastic, Pamela! Thanks so much for letting me know :)
This looks so easy and delicious Christina, can I ask do you take some of the white pith off the peel before boiling it or do you leave it?
Hi Pauline, these are my homegrown oranges and don’t have a lot of pith, but if you have one with a lot, I’d say you could remove some. Let me know how it turns out. CC :)
I make the original Christmas fruit cakes every year, complete with Marzipan etc. can your recipe for candied peel & cherries be used in those or would it be too sweet?
Hi Daphne, I think both would be totally fine, but if you think the candied peel would be too sweet, just dip them in water to remove some excess sugar first. What a wonderful cake that would be! Completely homemade!! :)
Does anyone have any thought about uses forthe syrup strained off the peels? The lemon has such a wonderful citrusy sweet flavor, I would hate to just toss it. I’m thinking tea sweetener.. but that’s all I got. Any ideas?
I love that you don’t want to waste anything! Are you talking about the last syrup once the peel are put on the rack? There honestly isn’t much left at the end, and it’s like candy, so I’m not sure you’d be able to put it into tea when it cools. If you do save it, let me know how it goes! :) CC
You shared a recipe using your homemade Candied Citrus Peel in a recent post that that included the recipe for the citrus peeIs. it possible to send me that recipe. I erased it by accident and I can’t even remember the name of the recipe. It was a baked desert is all I remember.
Hi Paul, not sure if you’re asking for the dessert recipe or the citrus peel recipe? You can always use the search bar on my page, so if you search “citrus peel” you can look at everything that pops up and hopefully see what you’re looking for. Lmk, thanks!