Candied Citrus Peel

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Easy

Strips of citrus rind simmered until tender, then candied in sugar syrup until glossy and translucent. Use for baking, fruitcakes, or dip half in chocolate. Makes 40 strips in about 14 hr 25 min.

Prep 25 min

Cook 120 min

Cooling 12 hr

Total 14 hr 25 min

Yield 40 strips

Diet Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

strips

4thick-skinned oranges or lemons, scrubbed
2 cups (400 g)sugar, for the syrup
1 ½ cups (350 ml)water
1 ½ tbsp (30 g)light corn syrup
½ cup (100 g)sugar, for coating, for the to finish

Fresh ingredient guides

Baking tools for this recipe

Convert to grams Scale it Change the pan

Instructions

Cut off the top and bottom of each fruit, score the peel in quarters and peel it off in large pieces; trim away most of the white pith if very thick, then cut into 1/4-inch (6 mm) strips.
Cover the strips with cold water, bring to a boil and drain. Repeat twice more to remove bitterness.
Combine the 400 g sugar, water and corn syrup, bring to a boil to dissolve and add the blanched peel.
Simmer gently, not stirring, for 45 to 60 minutes until the peel looks translucent and the syrup is thick.
Lift the strips out with a fork onto a wire rack set over a tray and let them drain 30 minutes.
Toss in the 100 g coating sugar while still tacky, shake off extra, and dry on the rack 12 hours or overnight.

Tips

Do not skip the three blanchings; they remove bitterness.
Keep the simmer gentle so the syrup does not caramelize.
Save the leftover syrup for sweetening tea or cocktails.
Good with dark chocolate.

Made this?

Log it to keep your bakes, ratings and notes together in My Kitchen.

Be the first to share one.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make candied citrus peel?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 2 hours of cooking, plus 12 hours to chill. The recipe makes 40 strips.

How should I store candied citrus peel?

Store airtight at room temperature up to 3 weeks, or refrigerate up to 3 months.

Can I make candied citrus peel ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Serve it with dark chocolate.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 40 servings this recipe makes.

52 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

13.6g Carbs

0.1g Protein

12.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (40 servings): ~2080 cal · 0g fat · 544g carbs · 4g protein · 516g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.