Candied Orange Slices are just as delicious as they are gorgeous and so easy to make at home! With a few oranges and some sugar, you're just a few steps away from the prettiest, chewiest little orange gems that will seriously level up your snack, drink, or dessert game.
I love these candied orange slices so much. I'm not typically a sweet person, but these just hit the mark for me. These are sweet, chewy, and just the right amount of tart-sort of like a grown-up gummy candy with real fruit flavor.
Plus, you can use them in so many ways! So far I've added them to cakes and cocktails to make them look fancy, jazzed up a simple snack board, and munched on them all on their own since they're so delicious. The best part? These require no special ingredients or equipment - just a little bit of time (which is honestly mostly hands-off).
This candied citrus is a great addition to many holiday dishes or treats, but to be honest, you can use these any time of year. (I'm dreaming of a delicious spice cake with light vanilla icing and a few of these babies carefully placed on the top! Maybe soon!)
In This Post
Key Ingredients
Just a few simple ingredients are all you need to make these chewy candied orange slices.
- Oranges. You'll need three medium-sized oranges. Any variety works and you can even use a combination of different kinds of oranges. Navel oranges are classic, but Cara Cara oranges or blood oranges give a gorgeous color and slightly different flavor.
- Sugar. Three cups of plain old granulated sugar is what we need for that caramelized magic. It's the secret to that sweet, chewy texture.
- Cinnamon stick (not pictured). This is totally optional, but I love adding them since it gives this sweet treat a cozy hint of spice, which is really nice if you want that warm vibe!
How To Make Candied Orange Slices
This is an incredibly easy recipe and takes just a little patience. Here's how we get from fresh oranges to perfect little candied beauties in just a few simple steps.
- Slice the oranges. Start by washing and scrubbing the oranges well (don't skip this part, since we're keeping the orange peels on!). Slice the oranges into about ¼-inch rounds. A sharp knife or mandolin works great here. You don't want to slice the oranges too thin as they'll sort of disintegrate in the sugar bath. But thicker slices can take a long time to dry. I've played around with the thickness of these and have found that ¼ inch is pretty much perfect. If your oranges have seeds, carefully pop them out of the slices as you go.
- Make the sugar mixture. Add three cups of water to a large pot, bring it to a boil, and add the sugar. Stir until it's completely dissolved to make a simple syrup.
- Candy the oranges. Add your orange slices to the pot. Let them simmer over medium heat for around an hour, stirring occasionally to keep them from sticking. You'll know they're ready when the oranges turn translucent and the syrup is thick and shiny. (Bonus - this recipe also produces the best orange simple syrup to use in cocktails and other desserts!)
- Dry the oranges. The drying process is the longest step in this recipe, but luckily it's all hands off. Use a slotted spoon to carefully transfer the slices onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, topped with a wire cooling rack. Let them dry overnight - 48 hours (I like to just pop the trays of orange slices in the oven to dry so they're out of the way). If you're in a hurry, you can bake the orange slices at 180°F for about an hour.
- Dust with sugar. Once they're dry, you can dust them with a little additional sugar if you want (they look so pretty with that sugar coating). I like to just sprinkle some sugar on a pan and then swirl the slices around to coat them.
- Store. Store the candied orange slices in an airtight container. They'll stay fresh at room temperature for 2-3 weeks, but good luck keeping them around that long!
Pro Tip: Save that leftover orange syrup! It's AMAZING in cocktails, over pancakes, or drizzled on top of yogurt or ice cream.
Variations And Substitutions
- Try a different type of orange. Different oranges will taste differently. I've had the best results with naval, Cara Cara oranges, and blood oranges. Use whatever is in season.
- Try a different kind of citrus fruit. Oranges are my favorites, but you can also candy lemon slices or lime slices too. They'll each bring their own unique taste and look.
- Add some spice. Just like the cinnamon sticks, tossing in a few cardamom pods, a vanilla bean, or even a bit of ginger to the syrup to give the sliced oranges some extra flavor.
- Dip them in chocolate. Dipping the dried slices halfway in melted dark chocolate takes these to the next level. Like a homemade chocolate orange. Perfect for gift-giving or just… because!
Frequently Asked Questions
It's important to use enough sugar for the candying process, but you can reduce it slightly if needed. Just know they won't be quite as chewy!
Store the candied orange slices in a single layer (or layered between sheets of parchment paper) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two or three weeks.
Yes - you can use the whole orange in this recipe! The candied orange peel is delicious and has a chewy, gummy consistency.
How To Use Candied Orange Slices
Here are a few favorite ways I use these beauties:
- Cocktail garnishes. Pop one in a cocktail, and instantly feel fancy. (They go great with an Old-Fashioned or Manhattan.)
- Baking decoration. These look great on top of cakes or cupcakes.
- Sweet snack. Yep, just grab a few and munch away-they're kind of like gummy candy but with real orange flavor.
- Charcuterie board. These candied oranges are a great way to jazz up a charcuterie board. I love adding these to a cheese, snack, or dessert board, especially during the holiday season. They add such a fun pop of color and sweetness.
- Give them as gifts. Wrap this tender caramelized orange treat in parchment paper or a little tin for a homemade treat.
These candied orange slices are one of those things that look fancy but couldn't be easier to make.
If you make these simple chewy orange treats, let me know what you think in the comments below. And please tag me with a pic @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- Puff Pastry Cinnamon Twists
- Chocolate-Dipped Orange Shortbread
- No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
- Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chewy Snickerdoodle Bars
- Easy Lemon Biscotti
- Dutch Apple Pie With Graham Cracker Crust
- Dark Chocolate-Covered Cranberries
Recipe
Easy Homemade Candied Orange Slices
Ingredients
- 3 medium oranges any variety
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks (optional)
Instructions
- Wash and scrub the oranges well, then pat dry.
- Using a very sharp knife or a mandolin, slice oranges into about ¼ inch slices. Remove any seeds from the orange slices.
- Bring a pot of 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the sugar and continue boiling until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Add the orange slices to the sugar water and boil on medium-high heat for roughly 1 hour, or until the water starts to turn syrupy and slightly thick.
- Carefully remove the oranges from the orange sugar syrup and place them onto a baking sheet lined with a wire rack (tip: line the baking sheet with parchment paper first before adding the wire rack to make clean up easier.) Save that leftover syrup syrup for other uses! Orange simple syrup works great in cocktails!
- Allow the oranges to dry overnight, or for up to 48 hours. (Alternatively, you can bake them for 1 hour in the oven at 200 degrees.) Thicker sliced oranges may require a slightly longer drying time.
- Dust the oranges with sugar. Store the orange slice candy for 2-3 weeks in an airtight container.
Aimee says
Made these with my daughter to go on top of a vanilla cake we were making. So easy and such a yummy treat. Like candy!
Sarah Jenkins says
Thank you Aimee!!