I don’t have a sweet tooth. Sure, I would eat a cookie or two now and then but I have never sat down to devour a cake – or anything sweet for that matter – at once. But that changed today when I made these candied oranges. I had been trying to find edible Christmas gift ideas for a few of my foodie friends and when I stumbled onto this treat, I had to make it.
So I bought about two pounds of oranges and got to work. Alas! I have to make more because what was supposed to be a batch of gifts for friends, I ate all of that. You can’t blame a girl for eating a fruit piece slathered with chocolate now, can you?
These candied oranges are sweet and chewy with a perfect balance of dark chocolate coating. I want to share this easy and effortless candied orange slice recipe with you so you can make some to share or just eat as a snack yourself. So while you read the recipe, I am going to make two more batches – one for me, and one for gifting.
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Total Time: 40 Minutes
Ingredients:
- Choice of oranges 2 lbs (or however much you want)
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 and a half cups water
- 5 oz. Dark Chocolate
Instructions:
- Wash and Slice: Soak the oranges in a solution of water and baking soda to remove any dirt and pesticide residue since you will be using the peels in the recipe. Let the fruits sit in the solution for 10 minutes, then rinse. Next, cut off the navels of the oranges and cut them into thin slices. You can use a mandolin for the task as well. I used a chef’s knife.
- Boil in the Water: Once all the fruit is cut, boil the slices in water for about 10 minutes to get rid of the bitterness of the peel. If you skip this step, you’ll end up with bitter candy, which frankly, no one wants.
- Make Sugar Syrup: Now place a saucepan over medium heat and add in the sugar and water. Let the sugar dissolve and bring it to a gentle boil before adding the orange slices. Let the fruit cook in the sugar syrup for 10 minutes, then flip them over and continue for another 10 minutes, or until the peel has become translucent and the syrup has started to thicken.
- Let it Chill: Take the slices out of the syrup and place them on a wire rack with a baking sheet under it. Let the slices cool overnight. You can store the syrup for other culinary purposes. I am told it makes a great addition to cocktails. Might as well try it this festive season.
- Coat in Chocolate: The next day, melt chocolate using a double boiler and dip the candied orange slices halfway in it. Place them on a parchment-lined tray, sprinkle some minced almonds and chill.
You can eat them yourself or give them as edible holiday gifts to people. Trust me, these are mind-blowing.
Share your thoughts about the recipe in the comments below. Merry Christmas!
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