Candied Orange Peels or Slices: Easy Sugar-free Recipe
Homemade sugar-free Candied Orange Peels or Slices are incredibly easy to make. Use these vibrant gems to garnish cocktails and desserts, or indulge in their rich flavour by dipping them in melted chocolate. Don’t wait for the holidays; these citrusy treats can be enjoyed all year round.Additionally, chopped dried candied oranges or peels can transform baked treats like cakes, cookies, and granola bars, adding a zesty low-carb touch. Arrange them on the charcuterie board for a little orange pizzazz—so good!
Ingredients
- 2 Large Navel Oranges (for candied peels) OR 3 Medium Navel Oranges (for candied slices)
- ⅔ cup Water (about 3/4 cup)
- ⅔ cup Sweetener (about 3/4 cup)
- 1 tbsp Natural Date Syrup (optional) I use Liva Brand
- ¼ tsp Xanthan Gum
Instructions
1) WASH AND CLEAN ORANGES
- Wash and scrub the oranges in water or a vinegar solution of three parts water to one part vinegar. This will remove any bacteria and dirt.
- For the peels, use a pairing knife to slice off the ends and score the oranges from top to bottom on four sides along the curve. Peel the oranges and slice them into strips lengthways about 1/4 inches thick. You can keep the peeled orange for another recipe, juice it, eat it, or serve it in a salad.
- For the orange slices, keep the skin intact and slice them whole, less than 1/4 inch thick.
2) SOFTEN THE PEELS OR SLICES
- For this step, you need to briefly boil the peels or oranges in a saucepan or an Instant Pot to soften them and remove the bitterness in the pith. Expert tip: If you are making both peels and slices, soften them separately.
(Stovetop)
- Orange Peels: Add them to a pot and fill them with enough water to cover the oranges. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Strain the peels, but do not rinse them. Add them back to the pan and repeat the boiling process twice. This will help remove the bitter taste in the pith. Then drain them and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Orange Slices: Bring a wide, shallow pan of water to a boil and add the slices. Boil for 2-3 mins, then drain and carefully drown them in iced water to prevent overcooking. You can also pat them dry.
(Instant Pot)
- Place the peels or slices in the Instant Pot and cover with about 2 cups of water, or just enough to cover the surface. Close the lid, and pressure cook on HIGH for 0 minutes, then quick-release. The pressure will take a while to build, so you do not need to cook them longer than 0 minutes.
- Then, as in the steps above, drain the peels or drown the slices in iced cold water, then pat them dry.
3) MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP
- Add water sweetener and the optional date syrup to a pan and boil for about 5 minutes until the sweetener has dissolved and some water has evaporated.
- Sprinkle xanthan gum over the mixture and whisk until blended. Cook for another 5 minutes until the syrup thickens.
4) ADD PEELS OR SLICES TO SYRUP
- Peels: Add the peels to the syrup and gently stir to coat all the peel strips. Bring the syrup to a boil and then simmer for about 5-8 minutes until all the water has evaporated and no mixture runs to the middle when peels are pushed to one side of the pan.
- Slices: Add the orange slices in batches to coat in syrup and cook for 5-8 minutes.Expert tip: If you make both candied peels and slices, coat the peels first. Remove them from the pan, then prepare another batch of syrup in the same pan for the orange slices.
- Once coated thickly in the syrup, carefully remove the peels or slices from the pan and transfer them to a parchment-lined baking tray. Any leftover syrup can be stored in an airtight container to top pancakes or desserts.
5) QUICK BAKE, THEN DRY PEELS OR SLICES
- Bake peels or slices in a preheated oven at 350°F for 15 minutes. Then, turn off the oven and let them dry until hardened and crystallized. Peels typically take 1-2 hours, while slices require about 12-24 hours, often left overnight.
- After they’ve dried in the oven, you can transfer them to a wire rack and continue to dry them on the countertop until fully dried and hardened.
Notes
Tips and Variations for Candied Orange Peels or Slices
- Candy lemons and limes are used similarly for garnishes, add-ins, and snacks.
- Use candied orange peel in recipes that call for orange zest or orange oil.
- Try to use organic Navel oranges, as the skins will be chemical-free.
- Boil the peels 3 times to remove the bitterness from the pith.
- Avoid overboiling the orange slices, and use a spatula to transfer them to the baking tray.
- If you don’t have date syrup, the recipe is just as delicious without it!