Recipes

candied meyer lemons

Help.

I made these candied meyer lemons the other day and for the life of me, I just cannot stop eating them! It all started when Anna brought me four plump, juicy lemons from her tree last week. After staring at them for about forty eight hours, I stumbled upon a lovely new blog that showed them all beautiful, bright and candied.

And then I thought to myself:

Self, you could do this! It appears to only take fifteen minutes and while I know you’re extremely busy eating honey wheat pretzels and staring at Facebook right now, the end result might just be worth it.

And then I immediately stopped what I was doing and got to it!

And guess what? The end result WAS worth it! After candying, the lemon slices become wonderfully sweet and chewy, the perfect little bite after a meal or just when you need a little sugar in your day.

The options are really endless for these little guys. You could use them to top lemon bars or lemon meringue pie, serve them as part of cheese or chocolate plate (and really impress your friends), or do as I do and just eat them plain.

The candying process really does only take fifteen minutes, and then after they cool you can stick them in the fridge where they will turn ridiculously chewy.

I may or may not have been eating a candied meyer lemon slice after every meal, including breakfast, for the past three days straight.

If you’ve never tried a meyer lemon before, you really should. They aren’t as sour as regular lemons and just happen to be in season right now!

Make these. And then prepare to be addicted.

Candied Meyer Lemons

from Biscuits and Such

Print this recipe!

4 meyer lemons, sliced thin

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup water

Bring the sugar and water to a boil on the stove. Reduce heat to simmer and drop in the lemon slices. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until slices turn translucent. Drain and cool on wax paper before storing in the fridge.

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  • Stacy @ Every Little Thing
    January 29, 2011 at 7:08 am

    Those look fab but I don’t think I like lemons enough to do that! Now oranges, maybe…

    • Tamra Wilson
      April 24, 2020 at 11:12 pm

      Meijer and lemons are not ordinary lemons. If you haven’t tried them yet you should give them a try!

  • Val @ Balancing Val
    January 29, 2011 at 7:10 am

    These make EXCELLENT palate cleansers too!

    I had no idea it was that easy.

    I may try this with kumquats πŸ˜€

  • Marie-JourneytoBodyZen
    January 29, 2011 at 7:14 am

    Wow, I’ve never even heard of these candied lemon slices! They are so pretty ;). I must try them. Oh, and I tried Nutella yesterday. I’m addicted.

  • Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes
    January 29, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Well, those look easy, fresh, and super yummy! I can imagine how fancy and pretty they would look on top of a lemon meringue pie — or even something berry-flavored, as a brightener.

  • Baking 'n' Books
    January 29, 2011 at 7:19 am

    That’s something different! Do you spend much time perusing other blogs? Or how do you find the ones you do!?

  • stacey-healthylife
    January 29, 2011 at 7:23 am

    The possibilities for candied lemons are endless.

  • Jessica @ How Sweet
    January 29, 2011 at 7:30 am

    Oh how I love meyer lemons…

  • Michelle
    January 29, 2011 at 8:00 am

    Wow, I’ve never actually seen a recipe for candied lemons! It’s very intriguing. I also have a bunch of lemons I got in my CSA box that need to go to good use!

  • Kelly
    January 29, 2011 at 8:07 am

    I love how your mind works….

  • Catie
    January 29, 2011 at 8:24 am

    I may. . . okay I do sound dumb right now but are you supposed to eat the peel? Or do you just kind of stick your tongue in and eat the middle?

    • Lindsey
      January 29, 2011 at 8:34 am

      I was wondering the same thing!

      • Michelle
        January 30, 2011 at 7:32 am

        You eat the peel. Much like chocolate covered orange peel the candying process takes out the bitterness and they are delicious!

  • Kristin
    January 29, 2011 at 8:29 am

    I highly recommend roasted lemons. Perfect for brightening up a salad, pasta, fish, fowl. No sugar needed.

  • Lindsey
    January 29, 2011 at 8:35 am

    I can’t wait to try this with grapefruit!

  • kate
    January 29, 2011 at 8:46 am

    These look gorgeous. How beautiful would an assortment of citrus be?

    • Angela
      January 30, 2011 at 1:29 pm

      I was thinking the same thing!

  • The Blue-Eyed Bakers
    January 29, 2011 at 8:47 am

    Sooo jealous you have a neighbor with a gorgeous lemon tree full of lemons to candy up! We have neighbors with yappy dogs. Sigh.

  • MaryBe
    January 29, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Just reading made my lips pucker…they look good but…?
    The recipe is simple enough to be intriguing, and you SAY they aren’t as sour as regular lemons. You’ve never lied to us before, so I’ll try it!

  • Natalia - a side of simple
    January 29, 2011 at 8:54 am

    This is the perfect contrast for when I’ve (almost) had too much nutella + chocolate. Simply cleanse my palate with these…then start all over πŸ˜‰

  • Victoria (District Chocoholic)
    January 29, 2011 at 9:29 am

    I do believe that some of these need to be dipped in milk chocolate. It’s necessary.

  • Raya
    January 29, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Mmmmm. My neighbors have a lemon tree that keeps dropping lemons into our yard. I might have to try this!!!

  • Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles
    January 29, 2011 at 10:24 am

    Brilliant. I LOVE citrus. This is the most amazing thing I have seen in quite some time!

  • Joanne
    January 29, 2011 at 10:33 am

    The process of candying always seems to me like it should be super long and super complicated…but I guess maybe not? These sound like the perfect middle of the day…or mid morning…or mid afternoon…or wake up in the middle of the night hungry snack!

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape
    January 29, 2011 at 11:03 am

    They look so good!!!

  • Moni'sMeals
    January 29, 2011 at 11:11 am

    Now this is fresh and fantastic and I have about 12 meyers! woohoo! This is great and I have done this with oranges just not lemons. πŸ™‚

  • Emma
    January 29, 2011 at 11:13 am

    Jenna that first picture is just amazing!

  • Jordan
    January 29, 2011 at 11:23 am

    I love lemons! I’m going to have to try this immediately.

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
    January 29, 2011 at 11:45 am

    I live in San Diego and last week I was out running in my neighborhood and came upon a HUGE crate of lemons with a sign: Free, Take Some! And I used to have a huge lemon tree in my backyard with like 200 lemons at any given time. More lemons than I know what to do with….

    I shall be trying your recipe! B/c Sugar and the word “candied” make me happy!

    πŸ™‚

  • Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef
    January 29, 2011 at 11:58 am

    beautifuL!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    January 29, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    these might just be the easiest things in the world…and so vibrant!

  • Melomeals: Vegan for $3.33 a Day
    January 29, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    Have you tried candied grapefruit? oy.. even more addictive!

  • LindseyAnn
    January 29, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    OooooOOOooooh, this looks like it could be fun. And, I just had a major candy craving hit me, so this could hit the spot.

  • Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary)
    January 29, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    One of my most favorite things to photograph is lemons… I love how the tiny juce filled cells capture the light. I dunno… something about the color of them just makes me smile!

  • Justeen @ Blissful Baking
    January 29, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    Ohh these look super good! I love lemons!

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
    January 29, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    I love anything—*anything!*—that involves lemons. This sounds spectacular. And I think adding them on top of lemon squares would be an adorable accent. πŸ˜€

    Thanks for sharing such a delightful treat! πŸ˜€

  • Rasa
    January 29, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    Wow, those WERE easy to make! I also made some candied blood oranges (they were about the same size as the meyer lemons). I couldn’t wait until they were cool to taste, and boy are they yummy!

    I’m thinking that the leftover simple syrup (bright red and citrus-infused) will be great for a sangria!

    Thanks for inspiring me this morning.

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
    January 29, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    My sister has a meyer lemon tree that is just begging to be made into this recipe πŸ™‚

  • Lisa
    January 29, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    I’ve never heard of this!! Oh my god I love everything lemon. I want to try this recipe!

  • Alyssa
    January 29, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    Those look awesome! I love Meyer Lemons, I could eat one like an orange πŸ™‚

  • Stacy
    January 29, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    Hi Jenna, Not as knowledgable as you with cooking…can you tell me would you be able to do this with oranges? My Dad LOVES chocolate covered orange slices and maybe this could be the beginning of me making them for him.
    Thanks

  • Kayla
    January 29, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    Hi Jenna, thanks for sharing this awfully simple candying technique. I tried making chocolate candied orange for the first time recently, and it was awesome. The only problem was that the method that I followed took me AGES – probably a total of 3 hours. I think this should work with oranges too! Will make some candied citrus fruit be using your method next time:)

  • Rochel @ barefootandcooking
    January 29, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    I have a few meyer lemons in my fridge that I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with. Will have to give it a try. Thanks!

  • Christie {Abundant Self Care}
    January 30, 2011 at 4:41 am

    Yum. I am sipping hot water with a meyer lemon wedge, like, right now. I have only ever had candied oranges before but candied lemons sounds delightful.

  • Emily @ Savory and Savage
    January 30, 2011 at 9:07 am

    My sister makes an amazing lemon tart – the candied lemons would be a perfect addition. The first picture on the post? Stunning!

  • Katherine: Unemployed
    January 30, 2011 at 9:25 am

    this is totally something my grandmom makes with grapefruit peels

  • Lacey @ Lake Life
    January 30, 2011 at 10:17 am

    My mom is a lemon addict! I’m thinking these would make a lovely Mother’s Day present πŸ™‚

  • A Teenage Gourmet (Sami)
    January 30, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    Oh my God, Jenna. I laugh like a hyena at every post. You top yourself every time.

  • Liz
    January 30, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    Tiny Urban Kitchen is also featuring them, as is Sunset magazine! I had never heard of them until recently… I guess since they’re not native to my region.

  • C.
    January 31, 2011 at 9:45 am

    oh I want to make these!
    they sound so good!!

  • samantha gagnon
    January 31, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Hello Jenna, so I’m not sure I’ve ever posted any comments but I religiously read your blog everyday after my best friend steph reusch who blogs on http://www.rosebites.com sent me to you. Let me just say that on many occasions I have run out and done the recipe you put up for the day. Even this one which I am about to attempt. Let me just say, I realllly appreciate the recipes with ingredients that can be found in a college kids pantry or one’s that don’t cost $50 to go out and try to create!!! You do a wonderful job feeding me. Thank you =)

    • jenna
      January 31, 2011 at 2:05 pm

      thank YOU! πŸ™‚

  • kristin
    March 6, 2011 at 7:56 am

    Can you use “regular” lemons or are meyer lemons a special and necessary part?

    • jenna
      March 6, 2011 at 8:15 am

      you could use regular! They just might be a little more tart πŸ™‚ but yummy!

  • Dominique
    March 6, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    I just made this recipe and the candied meyer lemon slices are fabulous! I’m also addicted to anything citrus so that could mean I was a little biased to begin with but really, they are that great. And I’m totally jealous of your friend with a lemon tree!

  • juliebean
    April 30, 2011 at 2:00 pm

    I love drinking endless cups of hot water with lemon wedges and subsequently eating the raw lemon wedges, peels and all; they’re lovely…

  • Melanie
    May 30, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    FINALLY had a chance to make these today. I just want to sit and drink the lemon sugar water that’s left over! πŸ˜› I didn’t realize that meyer was a TYPE of lemon… I just thought candied meyer lemons was the name of the recipe. πŸ˜› (Obviously I don’t cook much. hehe) So I just used regular lemons. They were good, but I’m anxious to try these with the meyer lemons now. Thank for sharing! A fun little treat and the kids love them.

  • Danielle
    July 11, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    Hmmm…I made these exactly as directed, but they came out very, very bitter! HELP!!!!!

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