In this Instructable, I will show you how to make candied orange peel or citrus peel. This easy candied citrus peel recipe is awesome and it's a great way to use those leftover peels that you most likely just throw away. Don't throw away the citrus peels, make candy with them! If I can do it, you can do it. Let's get started!

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Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial or do both!

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients:

3 medium oranges (or whatever citrus you want to use)
3 cups of water (710ml) (for boiling) done 2 or 3 times until bitterness is gone. (6 to 9 cups in total or 1420 to 2130ml)
1 cup white granulated sugar (may add up to 2 cups of sugar) (200 to 400g)
1 cup of water for simple syrup (247ml)
Sugar for rolling the peels in

Tools:

Pot
Spoon
Collander
Knife or peeler
Wire rack
Parchment paper
Sheet pan

Step 2: Wash and Peel

Begin by washing the oranges really well with water. Then peel them use a knife to cut slits, or use a specific citrus peeler. Then cut the peels into long strips roughly 1/8th of an inch wide to 1/4th inch. It doesn't have to be exact.

Step 3: Boil, Strain, Repeat

Now add the orange peels to a 3 quart or larger pot. Then add in 3 cups of water. Set the heat on the burner to high and bring the water to a boil. Boil the peels for about 8 to 10 minutes. Then pour them through a strainer and repeat the process a few more times, until they are no longer bitter tasting. You can even just let them boil a little longer, so you don't have to repeat it as many times. Make sure to blow on it to cool it before tasting it, it will be hot of course.

TIP: If you save the water, it makes a great base for drinks. :)

Step 4: Candy Them

Now after the peels are no longer bitter. Add the cup of sugar to the pot along with 1 cup of water as well as the peels. Turn the heat down to medium. Time to make a simple syrup, 1 to 1 ratio, sugar to water. Bring the water to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Allow it to boil for about a minute, then turn the heat down to low, and add in the orange peels to the simple syrup.

Bring it to a simmer and allow it to simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. What will happen is the syrup will turn the orange peel translucent, and that is how you know it will be done. Stir occasionally, but you don't have to babysit and constantly stir the whole time while it is simmering.

Step 5: Dry, Roll, Eat

Remove the candied peel from the pot with a slotted spoon or tongs and place them on a wire rack with parchment paper under it, to catch the drippings.

TIP: Don't throw out the remaining orange-flavored simple syrup, it can be used to make yummy drinks.

Allow the candied orange peel to dry for about an hour on the rack. Then you can take them, with clean hands, and roll them in granulated sugar. They should be a bit tacky. Once rolled in sugar, place them back on the wire rack.

TIP: You don't have to roll them in sugar, you can dip them in chocolate, or leave them plain.

Allow them to dry on the rack for 4 to 6 hours, until no longer tacky. Enjoy!

NOTE: Store the candied orange peel in a bag or an airtight container in a cool dry place, like a pantry, and they will last a few weeks up to a month.

You can print the recipe here if you like.