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Candied Orange Peel is an acquired taste but once you get the taste you love it. The girls and I love them in many forms. Sometimes we make them soft and chewier. Sometimes we make them crunchy. Other times we go all out and dip them in chocolate afterward. They are super yummy, they make the house smell great, and they use something you would otherwise just throw away. You can also use other citrus fruits and make a colorful mix. Just be sure to make them in separate batches so the flavors do not mix.

Instructions

I make this with 4 or 5 oranges. If you do not normally eat that many oranges in your family you can freeze the peels in a ziplock until you have enough.

1. Cut the oranges in half across the middle. Then cut each half in an X to make four pieces. This makes it easier to peel off the skin and make the strips.

2. Pull out the fruit and cut the peel into strips. You do not need to remove the white part.

3. Blanch the strips by boiling for 5 minutes and then running them under cold water in a strainer. Repeat this step until you have blanched them 3 times. This will remove most of the bitterness from the white part.

4. While the oranges are in the strainer the final time, bring 1 cup of water and 2 cups of sugar to a simmer. Stir until all the sugar is dissolved and then place the orange peels back into the pan to simmer.

*note - If you are doing a larger batch you need to be sure that you have enough liquid to cover the orange peels. Just keep to twice as much sugar as water.

5. Let simmer for around 1 hour

Variations

Crunchy - Let the orange peels simmer until all of the water is gone. You will see it all of a sudden crystallize. Place on waxed paper to cool. Save the sugar for tea.

Chewy - Pull the orange peels out of the syrup before it all dries out and toss in sugar before placing on waxed paper. Have the syrup for your tea.

Chocolate Covered Oranges - Pull the oranges out of the syrup before it dries out but do not toss in sugar. Just place on a rack to dry and cool. Again save syrup. When the orange peels are cool dip them in melted chocolate. I prefer to just use chocolate chips. Place in a bowl and microwave at 15 second intervals stirring in between. It will become smooth chocolate very fast and there is no worry about it burning. After you dip the orange peels place them on waxed paper to cool.