How To Make Candied Orange Peels

Peel skin of 6 oranges, remove white pith.

My granddaughter, Angelina, got this recipe from a book about the early American colonies and my daughter, Shilah, gave me a copy.  Angelina learned about the children of the colonists and how they didn't have many sweet treats to enjoy as children of today do.  Sugar was expensive and hard to come by in those days.  Candied treats were called 'Sweet Meats' back then.

This is one candy treat that children long ago looked forward to.  Make orange juice with the oranges and candy from the peel.  Nothing goes to waste. 

The first time I made this yesterday, I peeled the orange peels with a knife and removed the pith by scraping it off.  I found out today while making some candied lemon peels it's much, much easier to use a good handheld vegetable peeler.  Takes the peel right off with very little pith attached and they are already cut into the perfect size and somewhat longer strips as you peel away.

Boiling the peels in sugar water.

Letting them cool off.

Candied orange peels.  Yum, yum, yum!!!

Candied Peels or 'Sweet Meats'

6 Oranges, washed and peeled into strips, no pith

Fresh Water

1 Tbsp. salt

2 Cups sugar

Extra sugar to roll peels in

Place the peels in a large bowl.  Add enough water to cover and add the salt.  Cover with a small plate to hold them under the water.  Let them soak overnight.  (This removes the bitterness)

Drain the salt water and rinse the peels in fresh water.  Place the peels in a saucepan and cover with water.  Heat to boil and cook for 20 minutes.  Drain the hot water off and cover with fresh water.  Boil and drain again.

Place the peels in the saucepan.  Add 3/4 cup water and 2 cups sugar.  Stir often and cook slowly over low heat for 30 minutes.

Remove the strips and spread out on a towel, cutting board or plate to cool off.

Put approx. 1 cup sugar into a medium sized bowl.  Put about 1/2 of the cooled peels into the sugar and toss gently using your fingers.  Place on a waxed paper to dry.  Depending on how much sugar is left in the bowl, you might need to add a bit more sugar to toss the other 1/2 of the peels.

You can use lemons or grapefruit, too.  I've got some limes soaking in the salt water right now and will make those tomorrow.  I'll let you know if they're any good or not.