Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Candied Orange Slices Recipe (2024)

By Christina | Food Apparel 36 Comments

For a fancy-schmancy holiday treat that looks too pretty to eat, go for these Chocolate Dipped Candied Orange Slices!

Growing up, my dad had two Christmas treats that were sure to show up in the stocking every year: Cordial Cherries and Orange Slices. Yep, those were his trademark items. So, you can bet how excited I was when I walked into the Amano Chocolate Factory Storeand discovered that they hadsuperbly gourmet versions of each of these! Like, I’m talking top of the line deliciousness. And I didn’t even like cordial cherries, and was on the fence about orange slices until this encounter….. (of course I’m talking the bulk processed packaged kind of each, so they really aren’t comparable at all.)

I wondered how Amanoachieved their final outcome with their oranges. Because so many candied oranges just seem and look sticky and icky to me. But their oranges were perfectly dried yet pliable. And they tasted fabulous. Luckily, Amano shared their little secret with us that makes all the difference. Instead of boiling the oranges in syrup to candy them, theysoak/macerate them in a cooled simple syrup (I make a rich simple syrup) overnight and then dry them out. They said they used a food dehydrator. We’re actually still figuring that one out for timing and temp, but have had fabulous results in an oven.

These candied orange slices are really so simple, yet so sophisticated. They are the perfect adult Christmas treat gift that’s a little different than all of the peppermint bark and fudge that seem to be everywhere this time of year (although those sweet treats still hold a dear place in my taste buds! In fact we’ll be sharing our yummy versions this weekend). And my kids actually love them, too! This can still count as fruit for the day, right? Ummmmm…..maybe not. But, I’ll try to stretch the rules for you.

CourseCandy

Author Christina Lakey

Ingredients

  • 2cupsgranulated sugar
  • 1cupwater
  • 2large navel oranges, sliced into 1/8 inch slicesleave on rind, zest, and all
  • 1-2cupsdark chocolate morsels or chunkswe like Ghirardelli, Guittard, or Amano - Morobe or Dos Rios are excellent pairings with this, for dipping

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water.

  2. Heat mixture until sugar dissolves completely and mixture starts to boil.

  3. Remove from heat, pour into wide, shallow Tupperware, and cool completely.

  4. When syrup has cooled completely layer your sliced oranges in the syrup, pushing them down until all are mostly covered.

  5. Cover container to seal and place in refrigerator overnight (I've left them for as long as two days before candying.)

  6. Preheat oven to 170 degrees F. (You can have some variation here - please see notes.)

  7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Nest a wire cooling rack on top of the parchment.

  8. Place your oranges on the wire rack. (The wire rack allows the drying to come from top and bottom so that they oranges can dry evenly).

  9. Place oranges in oven. If you have a convection feature on your oven, turn it on. Leave the oven cracked open about 2 inches.

  10. Dry oranges for 2 to 2 and 1/2 hours, rotating pan every 30 minutes, and flipping oranges every hour to maintain uniform drying.

  11. You will know that the oranges are done when they are pliable and dry to the touch.

  12. Let oranges cool completely.

  13. Temper your chocolate over a double boiler (here are some handy tempering instructions) or heat chocolate morsels in microwave in 15-30 second increments at 50% power until melted.

  14. Dip 1/2 of orange into chocolate and place on waxed paper.

  15. If desired, sprinkle fleur de sel (or other coarse salt) over top of chocolate.

  16. Let cool until set.

Recipe Notes

Tips for drying:
Convection in the oven is a wonderful thing! It helps create an airflow around the oranges for drying. However, if you don't have it, don't fret. Cracking the door open and using the wire rack also assist really well with drying. You may just need to leave them in a little longer.
You may also dry at a lower temperature (down to about 130 degrees) if you desire. Once again, you just want to continue to check the oranges about every 30 minutes, rotating them to avoid hot spots that could end up burning. Depending on how low you go, it could take considerably longer, but low temperature is key to not burning and having perfect chewy results.

Laying out the oranges for baking/drying after the syrup soak

When done, oranges should be dry to the touch and pliable.

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Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Candied Orange Slices Recipe (8)

Christina | Food Apparel

I'm Christina and I'm a self-proclaimed foodie and chocoholic! I am a real estate broker by trade. I have a wonderful husband, 3 girls 4 and under (crazy!!!) and a hyper dog. Want to know my quirks? Go here for a little Q&A.

Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Candied Orange Slices Recipe (9)

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Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Candied Orange Slices Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make candied orange peels less bitter? ›

The process of blanching the peels might seem like overkill, but it's necessary to diminish the bitterness of the pith—the white, spongy portion under the peel—and to give the final product an appealingly soft and chewy texture.

Can you eat the rind of candied orange? ›

That's it! The best part: the candied peels last for up to 3 months eat them candied or dip them in chocolate for an extra decadent treat. Save the orange-scented syrup to elevate pancakes, co*cktails, baked pears, French toast, or even fruit salad.

Why are my candied orange slices bitter? ›

A: You may not have boiled your orange slices long enough in plain water to pull out the bitterness from the peel. To make it less bitter next time, boil a few minutes longer and maybe a couple additional cycles (boil-rinse).

How long do candied oranges last? ›

They get even better after 48 hours. First, you'll want to let them cool at room temperature until no longer warm to the touch, at least 4 hours, then refrigerate them until thoroughly chilled. The oranges last refrigerated for 1 month as long as they are submerged in that syrup.

How long to boil oranges to remove bitterness? ›

The secret to getting rid of the bitterness. is to boil your citrus for 2 minutes. and then toss it in an ice bath to stop the cooking.

What is the difference between bitter and sweet orange peel? ›

sinensis orange variety, sweet orange peel is said to contribute a notably more “orangey” flavor that's widely recognizable, as these types of oranges are commonly consumed. Bitter orange peel comes from the C. aurantium orange variety and is known to lend a more general citrus character with some bitterness.

Do candied oranges have to be refrigerated? ›

Because they've already been cooked once, they might fall apart a bit the second time around, but they will still taste delicious! Do candied orange slices need to be refrigerated? Nope. Candied orange slices can be kept in the refrigerator of course but it's perfectly safe to keep them at room temperature.

Should you refrigerate candied orange? ›

I hope you enjoy these candied oranges! You can store the candied orange slices at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, and in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you store them as layers, you can place parchment paper between them to avoid sticking.

Does candied orange peel need to be refrigerated? ›

Once the peels are cooled and candied, you can store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a month. You can also refrigerate or freeze them for even longer storage.

What is the difference between sweet orange and bitter orange? ›

In contrast, bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.), is termed sour or Seville orange, although resembling sweet orange morphologically, it can be distinguished by its acidic pulp, more bitter albedo and the very characteristic pleasant odor of its fruit and leaf essential oil (Moufida & Marzouk, 2003).

How do you counteract bitterness without sugar? ›

A pinch of salt makes everything better, including bitter foods. The saltiness naturally counteracts the bitterness, so don't be shy about using a bit of salt in meals that are too bitter. This is an especially good trick if you're cooking bitter vegetables, like with roasted broccoli or brussels sprouts.

Are candied oranges supposed to be bitter? ›

Candied orange peels that taste overly bitter can ruin the otherwise delightful treat. They should be tart, sweet, with very subtle bitter undertones to round it out. It helps to understand what parts of the orange are bitter and then how that bitterness can actually be reduced.

How do you know when candied fruit is done? ›

Cook the fruits in the sugar syrup until they are transparent. Depending on the thickness of the slices, this could take a few minutes. To preserve a decent texture, pay close attention and avoid overcooking. Transfer the candied fruits to a wire rack to drain the leftover sugar syrup using a slotted spoon.

How to dry candied orange slices faster? ›

Preheat oven to 175 (or lowest setting). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Gently remove the slices to the cookie sheets, leaving a little space between each slice to help them dry evenly. Bake for 1-2 hours, until dry but still slightly tacky.

Where do you store candied oranges? ›

Store your candied orange slices between layers of parchment paper; they'll keep in a cool, dry place for a few weeks without issue, or refrigerate in an airtight container.

How do you make citrus peels less bitter? ›

Add the peels to a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for about 25 minutes. The water turns very orange almost immediately. This step eliminates bitterness (in the peels that is, although the resulting intense citrus scent might improve one's attitude as well). Drain peels.

How do you fix a bitter orange cake? ›

Solution: boil the oranges. This removes the bitterness as well as softening the oranges to make them “jammy”, which makes the cake damp and sticky inside.

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