Candied Orange Peel Finish

Oct 13, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Vanilla: Extract Easy

Strips of orange peel simmered in vanilla syrup until translucent and rolled in sugar: a finish that keeps for weeks and suits chocolate, almond and cream cheese desserts.

Prep 20 min

Cook 55 min

Total 1 hr 15 min

Servings 12

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 (300.0 g)navel oranges
1.0 cup (200.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)water
2.0 tsp (10.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
¼ cup (50.0 g)granulated sugar, for rolling

Baking tools for this recipe

Convert to grams Scale it Change the pan

Dessert Builder

Put this finish in a dessert

Choose the base and the rest of the parts from our recipes; the builder scales this one to fit and writes the shopping list.

In a layer cake In cupcakes In a cheesecake In doughnuts In a pie

Instructions

Cut the peel from the oranges in quarters, trim away most of the white pith and slice into 1/4-inch strips.
Cover the strips with cold water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and drain; repeat once to take out the bitterness.
Bring the 1 cup sugar, water and vanilla to a simmer, add the peel and simmer gently 40 to 45 minutes until translucent. Lift out onto a rack and dry 1 hour.
Roll the strips in the remaining sugar and chop or leave whole to finish the dessert.

Tips

Save the vanilla-orange syrup for drinks or to brush on cake layers.
Lemon and grapefruit peel work the same way.

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 orange peel finish?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 55 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes tops one cake, 12 cupcakes or doughnuts, or a cheesecake.

How should I store candied orange peel finish?

Store airtight at room temperature up to 3 weeks.

Can I make candied orange peel finish ahead?

Make a batch a week ahead; it only gets better.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (10 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Is this recipe vegan?

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

Strips of orange peel simmered in vanilla syrup until translucent and rolled in sugar: a finish that keeps for weeks and suits chocolate, almond and cream cheese desserts.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

78 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

19.8g Carbs

0.2g Protein

19.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~936 cal · 0g fat · 238g carbs · 2g protein · 229g sugar

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