Candied orange peel is a sweet addition to any type of cookie or dessert plate. They are often dipped in dark chocolate or sugar and served by themselves. They can also be incorporated into a variety of baked goods and cakes. Try experimenting with different dessert dishes that include candied orange peel once you’ve mastered the process.

Recipe for Candied Orange Peel
Ingredients You Will Need:
4 oranges, peel of (or any thick-skinned orange)
3 cups sugar
1 cup water
8 oz chocolate chips or butterscotch chips for dipping (optional)

Start the candied orange peel process by taking the oranges and cutting the tops off at each end. Then remove the peel from the rest of the orange, and place on a cutting board. Cut the peel in small strips, depending on how long or wide you want to make them.

Place the peels into a medium-sized pot, and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil, and then drain the water. Repeat this process twice. By doing this, you are making the peels soft and translucent. Now remove the peel, add the sugar and the cup of water in the pot and boil once more. Add the peels back in, and let simmer for about 30 minutes.

Finally, take the peels out. You can either let them dry out now or roll them in extra sugar. Then let them dry for about 4 to 5 hours. It’s a good idea to place them out on a piece of wax paper or aluminum foil. When they’ve dried out sufficiently, you can melt the 8 ounces of chocolate or butterscotch and dip the tips of the orange peels in them. Place them back onto fresh wax paper or aluminum foil, and let them dry. Now they are ready to be served. If you want to store them, they’ll last several weeks in sealed plastic containers.

Variations
You can try this recipe with other types of citrus fruits. Experiment with grapefruit, lemon or lime peels.