Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (2024)

by Julia | Appetizer Addiction / 11 Comments

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Chocolate covered orange peels are the perfect treat for any occasion! Great for gifting, snacking or as a healthier treat. This recipe is naturally gluten-free.

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (1)

Chocolate covered orange peel is altogether with peanut butter stuffed chocolate covered dates my favorite treats this winter. Not only they taste delicious but they also look pretty and when packaged nicely, they are the perfect gifts for your friends or family.

There is no doubt that they would also disappear fast from your Holiday table. Now when it comes to Holidays we all love the dinner and cookies but we also need something that keeps us going until the dinner is served.

Appetizers always come to rescue and one of my favorites are bacon wrapped dates and roasted garlic jalapeno dip. Parmesan asparagus twists are also a popular appetizer in my family. What about yours? What is your favorite appetizer?

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (2)
Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (3)

How to make chocolate covered orange peel – step by step

So how do you make candied orange peel easy you ask? The whole process is simple and easy. First you wash the oranges well. Second, you peel the orange. To do it, cut of the top and bottom.

Then run your knife from top to bottom (make about 4-5 incisions into the peel). This will help you remove the peel without any flesh.

Then all you have to do is slowly peel the orange. Cut each peel into thin strips. I like the strips thin so I get about 30 strips out of one orange.

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (4)

The peel is pretty bitter which some people like but I don’t. That is why I boil them for 5 minutes, drain them, change the water and boil for a further 5 minutes. You can boil them longer, especially when the peels are very bitter.

Then place the drained orange peels in a pot where you have already prepared simple syrup. Simmer them for 45–60 minutes or until they are translucent.

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (5)

Transfer them onto a wire rack so they can cool down and more importantly the excess syrup can drip off.

The last step to making chocolate-covered orange peels is dipping them in melted chocolate and placing them onto a sheet of baking parchment or aluminum foil. I place them in the fridge so the chocolate sets faster.

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (6)
Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (7)

How can I store candied orange peel?

The cooled candied orange peel can be stored in a glass jar covered with a lid. Store it in the refrigerator and it will last up to 2-3 weeks.

Chocolate covered orange peel does not last that long in my house as I keep on “snacking” on it throughout the day once it’s been made. However, it will last for at least a week, if stored in the fridge in an air-tight container.

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (8)

What you should know before making chocolate covered orange peel

  • The most important thing for me here is to make sure that I buy organic oranges for this recipe so I am not using peels with a possible pesticide residue on them. Now there are ways how to get rid of the chemicals from fruits and vegetables so if you follow them before you cut your fruits, I’d say you should be fine.
  • I am using dark chocolate (70% cocoa content) which makes it a healthy snack as well.
  • You can use candied orange peel in baking. It adds great flavor to quick breads or muffins.
  • The chocolate will set in the fridge already after 15 minutes but to make sure it is set on the inside as well, leave it in for at least an hour.
  • Do not skip the boiling. This will help reduce the bitterness that is “present” in the peels. It will not remove it completely though. Now some orange peels might be more bitter than others that is why I prefer dipping them fully in chocolate. The chocolate balances the bitterness.
Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (9)

More chocolate covered treats:

  • Chocolate covered cranberries
  • Chocolate dipped mandarin slices
  • Frozen chocolate banana bites

Yield: about 60 pcs

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (10)

Chocolate covered orange peels are the perfect treat for any occasion! Great for gifting, snacking or as a healthier treat. This recipe is naturally gluten-free.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 large oranges
  • 1 cup water (250 milliliters)
  • 1 cup sugar (250 milliliters)
  • 3 ounces dark chocolate, 70% cocoa content (90 grams)

Instructions

  1. Wash the oranges thoroughly under running hot water.
  2. Cut the top and bottom off. Make 4 or 5 vertical incisions running all the way from top to bottom of the peel and into the flesh.
  3. With your hands, remove the peel carefully. Cut each piece into thin strips and transfer them into a pot. Pour over about 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, then drain. Pour fresh water (2 cups) in the same pot and add the peels in. Repeat the same process. This will remove some of the peel’s bitterness.
  4. In a small saucepan, dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1 cup water, add the peels and simmer for about 45 minutes or until the peels are translucent.
  5. When done, spread them out on a wire rack so the syrup can drip off and the peels can cool completely.
  6. Melt the chocolate over a pot of simmering water. Dip the peel in chocolate and using a fork, transfer it onto a baking parchment or aluminum foil. Let them set completely in the fridge (for about an hour) before serving/enjoying them.

Notes

  • Count one orange per person if you want to give this as a gift.
  • These keep in the fridge for at least a week.
  • The overall time does not include time needed for the chocolate to set (about 1 hour) nor the time needed for the peels to cool (time may vary but count with 30 minutes).
  • You will get about 30 strips out of 1 large orange.
  • In 15 mins already hardened but slightly soft on the inside. Depending on the thickness of the peels this time can vary. I recommend 1 hour in the fridge.
  • I recommend reading the post for more tips and detailed instructions.
  • Optional: Sprinkle the chocolate covered peels with salt.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

60

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 25Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 0g

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paula

    Thank you

    Reply

  2. RitaB

    Julia, thank you so much for this recipe, the photos and the detailed instructions!! I made theses today and they were perfect!! I probably could have cut the strips a little wider (next time) but other than that these were absolutely delicious and easy to make. This is definitely a keeper!!!
    PS-I have loved these for as long as I can remember and I would always have to buy these by the piece as a treat if I happened to be at a candy store that had them. Thank you, thank you!!

    Reply

    • Julia | Appetizer Addiction

      You are welcome and thanks so much for your feedback! Hope you find more tasty recipes here, even though most of them are savory 🙂

      Reply

  3. Mariamalia

    Hi
    I have a question sometimes my sugar crystallizes , I am using 1:1 water/sugar. Maybe I am cooking it too long? Until the syrups evaporates? Should I just take out the orange peels when they are translucent? And save the syrup?? What can I do, the peels get dry and hard and I can’t coat them with sugar when this happens .
    Thanks my husband loves this recipe !!!

    Reply

    • Julia | Appetizer Addiction

      Hi Mariamalia. The syrup should not evaporate. You only simmer (on low heat) the peels until they are translucent. Yes, you can save the syrup if you like.

      Reply

  4. linda sudimack

    could you use a 1:1 sugar sub unstead of real sugar here?

    Reply

    • Julia | Appetizer Addiction

      Hi Linda, I have never worked with sugar substitutes so I am afraid I won’t be able to help.

      Reply

  5. anoush

    Thanks a lot for the great recipe .i have made it and the flavor of chocolate and orange together is awesome, but i have faced a problem and that is they are good as long as long as they are kept in the freezer, When i bring them out the chocolate cover starts melting. Any suggestions?

    Reply

    • Julia | Appetizer Addiction

      Hi Anoush. Yes, this can happen if the chocolate has not been tempered properly or tempered at all.

      Reply

  6. Carol Hall

    How long will they keep?

    Reply

    • Julia | Appetizer Addiction

      Hi Carol. They don’t last long in our household so not sure. I also like to freeze them and take a few whenever I feel I need a little snack. They should keep well for at least a week (make sure to cover them completely with chocolate – it will preserve them for longer). Hope this helps!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Chocolate Covered Orange Peels Recipe - Appetizer Addiction (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with lots of orange peels? ›

12 Simple Ideas to Use All the Citrus Peels
  1. 1 Candy the peels. Remove as much pith as possible from the peels of 4 to 6 citrus fruits. ...
  2. 2 Freeze citrus zest. ...
  3. 3 Make citrus salt. ...
  4. 4 Clean your home. ...
  5. 5 Clean your sink. ...
  6. 6 Repel garden pests. ...
  7. 7 Toss on compost. ...
  8. 8 Make orange essential oil.
Jan 28, 2016

Why does orange work with chocolate? ›

These two flavors go so great together because of the contrast between the citrusy, tart fruit and the sweet, rich chocolate.

How many calories are in a chocolate covered orange peel? ›

Kilwin's
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 1 serving (42.53g)
How many calories are in Dark Chocolate Orange Peel? Amount of calories in Dark Chocolate Orange Peel: Calories 180Calories from Fat 72 (40%)
% Daily Value *
13 more rows

What does eating orange peels do to your body? ›

Orange peels contain flavonoids – like poly methoxy flavones (PMFs) and hesperidin – and other phytochemicals that are highly beneficial for your health. Flavonoids are antioxidant compounds that help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer and heart diseases. It also contains higher amounts of certain nutrients.

Can you eat too much orange peel? ›

For some people, orange peels can cause an upset tummy, so start with small amounts first,” VenHuizen said. The chewiness of orange peel could pose some problems of its own. “The texture and flavor of orange peels may be difficult to tolerate or aggravate any jaw or chewing issues,” Brownstein said.

What is a chocolate orange called? ›

Chocolate navel orange, also called chocolate orange, is a type of Navel orange, a mutation that was first discovered in 2006 in Valencia, Spain. The name "chocolate orange" is based on the brown color of the peel.

Is chocolate and orange a good combination? ›

Chocolate and orange bring out the best in each other. The natural sweetness in orange complements the bitterness of chocolate, and the darker the chocolate, the better the flavor. Try out one of these chocolate and orange desserts and indulge in the distinct combination of tastes.

Has chocolate orange recipe changed? ›

Vanoye said the new flavours had helped it nearly triple sales in the US. 'It's amazing – when we bought this brand we knew we had something iconic, but we couldn't believe that it would have been such a great success​,' he told ConfectioneryNews. He also confirmed there had been no changes to the original recipe.

How much orange peel should I eat? ›

Beneficial nutrients and plant compounds

In fact, just 1 tablespoon (6 grams) of orange peel provides 14% of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin C — nearly 3 times more than the inner fruit. The same serving also packs about 4 times more fiber ( 1 , 2 ).

Is orange peel high in sugar? ›

The literature indicates that the orange peel contains 23% sugar, 22% cellulose, 25% pectins and 11% hemicellulose [3,4,5].

Is candied orange peel good for you? ›

Candied Orange Peels are beautiful, festive, and are full of nutrients. The orange peel has more vitamin C than the actual fruit of the orange. Likewise, the fruit peel also has about three times as much the amount of Vitamin A, B-Complex, and minerals such as manganese, calcium, and zinc.

Can you freeze orange peels for later use? ›

Use a vegetable peeler to peel the citrus fruit. Don't press too hard while peeling, to avoid taking too much of the bitter white pith along with the peels. Store the peels in a tightly-sealed container and place them in the freezer! Voila, you'll always have fresh citrus peels when you need them.

What does soaking orange peels in water do? ›

When you put an orange peel in water, it can release various compounds into the water that can give it a distinct flavor and aroma. The peel of the orange contains essential oils, which are composed of a variety of volatile compounds such as limonene, linalool, and myrcene.

How do you preserve fresh orange peels? ›

Unless you plan to use the zest right away, stashing large slivers of citrus peel in your freezer is a great way to preserve their flavor until the day it's needed. As I pulled a few slivers of frozen grapefruit peel from my freezer, I knew I'd made a smart move.

Can you boil orange peels and drink it? ›

To make orange peel tea, just combine fresh or dried orange peels and water in a pot with a lid, bring to a boil, and then remove from the heat. Allow the orange peels to steep for an hour or more before straining and discarding the used peels,” she said, sharing another method of making this tea.

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