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A popular holiday treat, candied orange peels are ideal to munch on as a sweet treat or to use as a co*cktail garnish!
A friend of mine was absolutely shocked to learn that people actually like to eat orange peels.
And these Candied Orange Peels are not only a scrumptious way to enjoy them, they also make a great homemade gift!
These orange peels make an excellent co*cktail garnish, but you can also eat them like candy.
And it’s a recipe with a bonus!
When you make them, you end up with some delicious orange flavored simple syrup as a by product to use in other drinks too! Winner!
Candied Orange Peels make great co*cktail garnish gifts!
It’s that time of year again – the season of celebrating with those that we love.
Traditionally, we gather around decorated trees, games of dreidel, and feasts of all kinds.
And we exchange gifts – so many gifts – and often quite elaborate and expensive gifts, as well.
To say that 2020 and 2021 has brought us many challenges is an understatement.
From wildfires to hurricanes to murder hornets, we have been through our own version of Jumanji.
And because of the global crisis, we will have to find new and safer ways of celebrating the holidays together.
Less expensive, too.
Candied orange peels are delightful diy gifts
I love homemade gifts.
They are unique and meaningful and PERSONAL.
They are also often less expensive than store-bought gifts – especially when you give gifts of food.
But food gifts can feel so predictable sometimes, right?
We think of cookies, fudge, and other yummy treats like that.
Just imagine the fun you’ll have surprising someone with a pretty container filled with these Candied Orange Peels!
They are bright orange and sparkly, since you coat them in sugar.
These orange peels are a great gift for your co*cktail aficionado friends – especially for those who enjoy old fashioned and even Tiki drinks.
You can even dip some of them in chocolate if you’d like!
And these tasty treats are as yummy as they are beautiful.
They are a little taste of sweet sunshine on a cold winter day.
The recipe for candied orange peels also makes a batch of orange simple syrup!
Another perk – when you make Candied Orange Peels, you also get the bonus of making Orange Simple Syrup, as well.
You can use Orange Simple Syrup as a flavor addition to water, soda, co*cktails, and more.
You can even drizzle it over a nice cup of vanilla ice cream or as a drizzle on cake!
Candied Orange Peels and Orange Simple Syrup are so easy to make, you might be tempted to make some for every adult on your holiday list.
And why not?
One thing we all could use right now is some sweet sunshine on a cold winter day.
Ingredients to make candied orange peels & orange simple syrup
- Organic Oranges
- Water
- White Granulated sugar
To make the co*cktail garnish and simple syrup, you will also need: a cutting board, knife, large saucepan, measuring cup, spoon, bottle of jar, baking sheet, wire rack, zipper bag, and air tight container(s).
How to make candied orange peel co*cktail garnishes
This recipe makes two things in one – a yummy batch of candied orange peels and a bottle of orange simple syrup.
The steps below outline how to make both of these at the same time.
Prepare the oranges
To begin, we recommend using organic oranges.
Start by thoroughly washing and drying the oranges.
Then cut off the tops and bottoms and peel them into sections.
4 or 5 sections should do just fine.
Then separate the sections and cut them into smaller sections that are about a quarter inch wide.
You can set them aside.
Bring the water to a boil in a large sauce pan.
Once it’s boiling, add the orange peels and boil them for 15 minutes.
Afterwards, drain the peels and rinse them thoroughly.
Shake out any excess liquid.
Again, set them aside.
Boiling the orange peels also makes the orange simple syrup
Add a cup of water and two cups of sugar to the same saucepan over medium heat.
This makes the base for the orange simple syrup.
Stir the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Raise the heat to medium high and bring the water to a boil.
You’ll add the boiled orange peels to the mixture.
That may drop the temperature a bit, so bring it back to boiling again.
Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat again to medium – low.
You’ll simmer the sugar water and orange peels uncovered for 40-45 minutes.
Remove the peels from the heat and drain them carefully.
Transfer the peels to a wire rack placed over a baking sheet.
You’ll set them aside for 12-24 hours to dry.
Be sure to reserve the orange simple syrup as the simple syrup part of the recipe is now complete.
You’ll simply want to transfer the syrup to a sealable bottle or jar after it has cooled.
It will keep longer if you store it in the refrigerator and add a teaspoon of vodka.
Dry and sugar the orange peels
When the peels are almost dry – still a bit sticky, add the rest of the sugar to a zipper bag and add a few peels to it at a time.
Seal the bag and shake the peels until they are well-coated with sugar.
You’ll repeat that step until you’ve coated all of the orange peels with sugar.
The candied orange peels will last about a week in an airtight container.
Candied orange peels make a great homemade gift!
You can use them for a co*cktail garnish, or eat them like candy.
They are a fun snack too. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that they are great used on desserts, ice cream, or even to stuff other goodies like cannoli!
If you’re giving the orange peels as gifts, we recommend timing your recipe so that you’ll be doing the cooking the day before giving them, and sugaring them the day of gifting.
You can also gift the simple syrup too, especially if the recipient is a co*cktail afficionado.
If you love oranges, you may love these drink recipes too:
Cranberry and Orange Vodka Fizz
Orange Cranberry Punch
Cara Cara Orange Margarita Recipe
Sparkling Blood Orange Gimlet
Blood Orange and Bourbon Witches Brew
Blood Orange Punch
Orange Mango Mimosas
Sunrise Mimosas
Sparkling Tequila Sunrise
Try it and share!
Please let us know how you enjoy our Candied Orange Peels and Orange Simple Syrup recipe.
If you make it yourself, please let us know on Pinterest that you tried it and tag us with #champagneandcoconuts on your Instagram photo.
If you haven’t had a chance to make it yet, be sure to save the recipe on Pinterest so you’ll remember where you found it.
Candied Orange Peels and Orange Simple Syrup
Jennifer Quisenberry
A delicious holiday treat as well as a tasty co*cktail garnish, these candied orange peels are so easy to make. And the recipe also makes a batch of orange simple syrup too! It's such a winner for co*cktail lovers since you get a garnish and a syrup in one!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 21 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Drying 1 day d
Total Time 1 day d 1 hour hr 21 minutes mins
Course co*cktail Garnish
Cuisine American
Servings 40
Calories 46 kcal
Equipment
Cutting Board
Knife
Saucepan
Measuring Cup
Spoon
Bottle or Jar
Baking Sheet
Wire Rack
Zipper Bag
Airtight Container
Ingredients
- 4 large organic oranges
- 6 c. water divided
- 2½ c. white granulated sugar divided
Instructions
Thoroughly wash and dry the oranges, then cut off the tops and bottoms of each. Score the orange peel from top to bottom with a sharp knife to create 4 or 5 large sections.
Carefully remove each section with some of the pith and cut into ¼-inch sections. Set aside.
Bring five cups water to a rapid boil in a large saucepan. Add the orange peels and return to a boil for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse the peels thoroughly before shaking out the excess liquid. Set aside.
Add one cup water and two cups sugar to the same saucepan and set the heat to medium. Stir the mixture occasionally until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved.
Add the boiled orange peels and increase heat to medium-high to boil. Once boiling, immediately reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes.
Remove from heat and drain, reserving both the orange-flavored syrup and the orange peels. Transfer the peels to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Set aside to dry for 12 hours to overnight.
In a bottle or jar you can seal, store the reserved orange syrup in the refrigerator to add flavor to your favorite beverages and co*cktails, such as iced tea, club soda, or mixed drinks.
Once the peels are mostly dry, but still a bit tacky, add the remaining sugar to a large Ziploc storage bag and add the peels a few at a time. Seal and shake the bag carefully until the peels are uniformly coated in sugar. Repeat this process with the remaining peels until all are uniformly coated in sugar.
Serve the candied peels immediately as a co*cktail garnish, snack, or use as a delicious garnish for ice cream, cupcakes, or cakes. They also make a wonderful addition to homemade cannoli filling. Unused orange peels can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. Enjoy!
Notes
Please note that nutrition facts are subject to change based on your choice of ingredients.
For best results, leave some of the white pith on each orange peel. If the pith is too thick, carefully remove some of the excess with a sharp knife prior to boiling.
To make the orange simple syrup last longer, add a teaspoon of vodka to the syrup before sealing the bottle.
We calculated the calories based on using 2 peels to make one co*cktail garnish.
Nutrition
Calories: 46kcal
Keyword Candied Orange Peels, Orange Peel co*cktail Garnish, Orange Simple Syrup
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Jennifer Quisenberry
Hi, I’m Jennifer. I love to cook and entertain. I have a lot of fun sharing traditional food and drink recipes as well as putting a new spin on the classics. I strive to provide easy to make recipes that are perfect for the home cook, bartender and entertainer.
