Candied Citrus Peel — HOUSE of PLENTY

Candied Citrus Peel is a wonderful holiday gift. It's very easy to make, and makes for an extravagant looking gift.

2 Grapefruits

2 Large Navel Oranges

2 Large Lemons

1 1/2 cups of sugar

With a sharp knife, cut off the ends of the fruits. Following the curve of the fruit, cut away the outermost peel, leaving most of the white pith on the fruit if possible. If a lot of pith or flesh comes off the fruit, lay your cut section skin side down, and run your knife parallel to the flesh in a sawing motion, carefully cutting the flesh and pith away from your citrus peel.

Slice the peel lengthwise into 1/8-1/4 inch strips, or whatever size or shape you desire.

In a medium pot of boiling water, cook the citrus peel strips until tender, about 10 minutes. This process will remove a lot of bitterness from the peel. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the peel to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Make sure to spread the peel out in a single layer to allow it dry slightly. 10-15 minutes. Discard this cooking liquid.

In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add your peel to the solution and simmer until it turns translucent and the syrup begins to thicken, 10-15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the candied peel to a wire rack, separating the pieces when necessary.

Allow the peel to dry for a minimum of 1 hour, or up to overnight. Toss with 1/2 cup of sugar to coat and prevent sticking. Store in an airtight container, or package in cello bags for gift giving.

Dip the ends of your candied citrus peel in some melted semi-sweet chocolate to create a variation on this fun candy!

Don't throw your citrus fruit away! After you have removed the peel, feel free to squeeze the fruit to save the juice, use a juicer, or what I do, put the fruit in a food processor with about 2 cups of water, and puree 1-2 minutes, and then pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Freeze for future use, or store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The juice can be drunk as is, used to make a lemonade, or mocktail, or turned into salad dressing.

The syrup that remains in the pot after cooking the peel can be saved as well. It's now a simple syrup that has been infused with all that good citrus flavor! Store in a mason jar, or similar container and use it to flavor drinks like sweet tea or cocktails, or as a glaze over fresh breads, muffins, or cakes. It should last on your counter top for a week or two.

Ready to learn how to make a delicious Homemade Wassail Mix? Click below to learn the recipe!