Candied orange peel makes a delicious dessert or holiday gift. This version has many spices such as vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves & black pepper.
Can I just take a moment to tell you all how excited I am about Mixed Conference this weekend? Chung-Ah from Damn Delicious is flying into Dulles and on Friday we’re taking a (gulp) 5 hour drive along with friends Jackie and Erin to the Mountain Lake Resort in Pembroke, Va. Dirty Dancing was filmed there and I will gladly carry a watermelon to hang out with some of the amazing guest speakers and talented bloggers in attendance. One of my favorite food photographers, Helene Dujardin, will be teaching a workshop! While I’m packing for the journey, allow me to leave you with these wonderful spiced candied orange peels. They are really addicting. I gave the majority of them away so I would stop shoveling them into my pie hole. I have no control around these little delicacies. Do you see all of those tiny specks of vanilla? Those equal intense flavor. Add to that some cinnamon, cardamom pods, cloves and a bit of black pepper. Spicy holiday decadence to the max. I just know you will love these as much as I do.
Spiced Candied Orange Peel
Ingredients
- 4 medium or large oranges
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar + 1 cup for coating
- 2 cups water
- 1 vanilla bean, split down the middle
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 6 cardamom pods, smashed
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole cloves
Instructions
- Cut the orange into quarters. Use a spoon to scoop out the fruit but be sure to leave as much of the white pith attached as possible. Slice the peel into thin slices about 1/4 inch thick or smaller.
- Place the orange peels in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Drain and repeat this process 2 more times using fresh water each time (do not skip this step because it removes the bitterness from the peel).
- Clean the saucepan with soap and water. Add the water, sugar, vanilla bean, peppercorns, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Reduce to a simmer and add the orange peels. Simmer on low heat, stirring every 10-15 minutes, until the fruit becomes slightly translucent, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and a cooling rack. Using tongs, remove the orange peels from the syrup, shake off any excess liquid and move to the rack to finish draining. Don't discard the syrup, it's wonderful in drinks. Allow the candied orange peels to dry overnight.
- Toss with sugar before serving.
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
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Katie @ Blonde Ambition says
These look great! My BF loves fruit candy…may have to make these for him soon :) I like that you added all the spices and didn’t just make them *only* sweet!
LInda says
Oh boy do these sound like ME! I like Erin’s idea of dipping them in dark chocolate. Pretty sure I’ll have to give away most too or I’ll eat all of them singlehandedly!
Laura says
Have fun!! The orange peels are gorgeous!
Amish Author Sicily Yoder says
I am going to make these for our Thanksgiving dinner this weekend. The kids are coming in, and that si why we waited to have it, plus my elderly mother wanted to wait until then.
Valerie says
oh, *purr* I’d be eating these by the handful too! Have fun this weekend!!
Savory Simple says
I wish you were coming, I want to meet you!
Ashley - Baker by Nature says
Ahhhh I wish I was going to MIXED!!! Have fun ;) And this recipe is awesome – you’re so creative!!!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
You are the best, Jen! Thanks so much for housing me! And these orange peels – AMAZING! I’m sure I’d have to give them away too so I wouldn’t eat every last one of them!
Kay says
My grandmother used to make this. She also used grapefruit peel. Thanks for the reminder of a great treat!
Julie says
These look great. Now, anyone have a recipe for what to do with all the scooped out oranges? And dipping in dark chocolate sounds like a great idea. Def making these for my xmas party.
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I saw some IG photos and seems like you are having a great time! It’s rare that I have all the ingredients for an unique recipe like this and I LOVE candied orange peel but never made my own before. I’m drooling imaging these. Thanks for the recipe, I’d love to give this a try!! Have fun!!!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
I love candied orange peel and yours is so special with the spices. Great photo.
Cathy says
These are beautiful with all those spices. What a cute gift in a sweet jar.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
This is so cool! I have to make a batch too.
Whitney @ The Newlywed Chefs says
I feel like these would make really pretty holiday gifts to give! Yum!
Judy @Savoring Today says
Candies citrus is hard to stop eating! I like the additional spices you have added here — down right dangerous! Love it!