Somewhere along the line I turned sixty five and started going to bed at nine o’clock, increasing the font size on my kindle and eating chocolate covered orange peel out of tin boxes.
Okay, I’m just kidding about the tin box part. But still! For some very strange reason, I always equated chocolate covered orange peel with “old people”. It seemed like an old fashioned confection to bring out during tea time or something…I don’t know!
But then…I started having this relationship with the big, juicy naval oranges that are everywhere in Northern California right now…
and then I crossed over to the dark side.
My only regret is that it took me this long to make these little gems!
Seriously, they are insanely simple to make and even more addictive than cooler ranch doritos…if you could only imagine! I’ve been eating them all weekend long and am turning a wee bit orange to prove it.
The process is very similar to making candied meyer lemon slices. All you need is fruit, sugar, water and…chocolate, of course!
Methinks they would make wonderful gifts—all wrapped up in tissue paper and cute ribbon—that is, if they last that long! If you like those chocolate oranges, you will LOVE this. Trust me!
The best part: they’re practically a health food!
Chocolate Covered Orange Peel
Ingredients:
1 large naval orange
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Cut the orange in half and then gently cut around to scoop out the segments. You should be left with two empty orange halves that look like little bowls. Smoosh the orange bowls down on the counter and slice into thin pieces–it doesn’t matter how long the pieces are, some will be short and some will be long. Set aside.
Boil together the sugar and water (it will look like wet sand). Once boiling, add the orange peels and reduce the heat to simmer. Let simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the sugar water is very thick and sticky and the orange peels have almost become translucent.
Remove orange peels (this is easiest using a fork) and let dry on wax paper for two hours. After they’ve dried, melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler and dip each peel halfway in.
Let cool completely so the chocolate hardens.
Time:
2 hrs 15 minutes
jessica @ how sweet
February 28, 2011 at 5:11 amThis is one of my favorite treats! Love chocolate orange peel.
Kristen @ That Hoosier Girl
February 28, 2011 at 5:13 amCombining my favorite fruit with chocolate?! Definite win! Can’t wait to try making these on my own!
Hannah (Culture Connoisseur)
February 28, 2011 at 5:20 amTwo things- #1, these would make such classy gifts. If I were to unwrap them I would need to take a moment to respond. #2, that is a beautiful piece of le creuset.
jenna laughs
February 28, 2011 at 5:21 amBeautiful! I love the flavor of citrus with chocolate. But then again, I love pretty much anything with chocolate.
Katrina
February 28, 2011 at 5:52 amMmm this looks like one of those “healthy” snacks that you could devour in seconds. Awesome.
Stacy @ Every Little Thing
February 28, 2011 at 5:55 amWow that actually looks like something I’d make, and plan to do so π
cathyb.@brightbakes
February 28, 2011 at 5:56 ampretty and so yummy looking. Quick question, do you need to stir the oranges at all during the 45 minutes they are simmering, or do you let ’em just do their thing?
thanks!
cathy b.
sofia
February 28, 2011 at 6:02 amwhat a cute, sweet treat! i love that photo of the le creuset pot – my parents had only that color in our home growing up. ah, the memories π
Amanda (Eating Up)
February 28, 2011 at 6:03 amLove the baking dish! It matches the oranges!
Amanda (Eating Up)
February 28, 2011 at 6:03 amLove the baking dish! It matches the oranges!
Megan
February 28, 2011 at 6:03 amBummer! I just can’t get behind citrus and chocolate together. Separate, YES! Never together.
Pretty pictures though!
As someone who’s been moving so much in the last few years, I figured you could appreciate wanting to do this: http://megandyanray.blogspot.com/2011/02/fifty-five-in-february-final-post.html
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
February 28, 2011 at 6:08 amYumm this sounds good! I’ve never actually had orange peel before, but you know those Terry’s Chocolate Oranges that you smack against the wall, and they break into segments? Well this reminds me of those, only I bet yours are better!
Kelly @ Laughter, Strength, and Food
February 28, 2011 at 6:12 amThese look amazing! Can’t wait to try them this week!
megan @ whatmegansmaking
February 28, 2011 at 6:12 amI’ve never had these before! They look wonderful. I’m not sure why I always thought they wouldn’t be that good.
Elaine
February 28, 2011 at 6:18 amCan you make these with a half splenda/half sugar mix?
Kristin
February 28, 2011 at 6:22 amThank you so much for sharing these! I remember being a kid on vacation with my parents and my dad would always want to stop at one of those cute touristy candy shops and buy chocolate covered orange peels as a special vacaiton treat, they were his favorite! Maybe I will make these for him as a birthday gift!
Shannon @ Fresh Year of Life
February 28, 2011 at 6:26 amAnd I bet these don’t leave that stank taste in your mouth that cooler ranch doritos do …
Evan Thomas
February 28, 2011 at 6:29 amThis is something I’ve wanted to make for a while now, but you make it sound much easier than I thought it’d be. Maybe I should give it a go.
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
February 28, 2011 at 6:40 amI’ve never had chocolate covered orange peels, but I have a feeling that I’m going to LOVE them! I even have a bunch of oranges in the fridge right now – can’t wait to try this out!
Ann
February 28, 2011 at 6:45 amI totally agree, we always used to make candied orange and grapefruit peel for my grandmother for Christmas, so I totally associate it with elderly people, too! Also me, because I eat dinner at 5:15. I wish I had thought to do this with the 5 oranges I peeled to freeze for smoothies yesterday!
Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
February 28, 2011 at 6:46 amYum! Nothing like eating healthy. ;-D
Holli
February 28, 2011 at 6:46 amOK…I am so making these today!! Thank-you π
Kathryn
February 28, 2011 at 6:56 amI had a great aunt that always made chocolate covered orange peels and they have always been one of my very very favorite little treats. It’s one of those things that you really have to taste a good batch to fall in love with, but once you do, it’s over. Done and done.
She never gave me the recipe, so thanks so much for sharing yours!
Lauren @ChiGalLauren
February 28, 2011 at 7:06 amI’m glad I read your take on the Kindle, I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not I want one for awhile now for the same reasons you had-I love the look and feel of an actual book on my hand. Your take on it might have finally pushed me to just do it! I’d never thought of making chocolate covered orange peels, but yours look so good (esp in your gorg le creuset) that I might just have to try them!
Natalia - a side of simple
February 28, 2011 at 7:06 amChocolate covered anything is amazing, but since this adds Vitamic C, I think I better overdoes to make sure I don’t get any late winter/early spring colds. What do you think? π
Lauren @ChiGalLauren
February 28, 2011 at 7:12 amI’m really glad I read your thoughts on your new Kindle-I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not I want one for several months now for the same reasons that you were skeptical-I love the look and feel of an actual book in my hands. This might have been the extra little push I needed to just do it! I would have never thought about making my own chocolate covered orange peels but yours look so good (esp in your gorg matching Le Creuset) that I just might have to try them out!
Stephanie @ Live Cook Love
February 28, 2011 at 7:18 amI’ve never had chocolate covered orange peel!!! I think this means I need to make them ASAP!
Cyndie
February 28, 2011 at 7:28 amI so have to try these. I eat orange peels plain anyways….so candied and dipped in chocolate is probably amazing.
notyet100
February 28, 2011 at 7:40 amwow never thought of this,.
Jen@keepitsimplefoods
February 28, 2011 at 7:45 amLove making these. Def one of my favorite treats, and so uncomplicated.
sonia
February 28, 2011 at 7:45 amawesome orange covered peels. It must be a true delight to have it, I just love anything dish with oranges so saving this for sure… !
Mary Catherine
February 28, 2011 at 8:07 amMorning, Jenna! Do you have any experience baking muffin tops? They have always been my favorite part of the muffin π I was at a cute coffee shop in Park City over the weekend and they sold the most amazing muffin tops. Iβm dying to recreate without having to waste the bottom of the muffin!
jenna
February 28, 2011 at 9:41 amI need a muffin top pan! We used to bake them at the bakery I worked at a few years ago and they were yummy. I haven’t attempted them since but you may have inspired me..
Baking 'n' Books
February 28, 2011 at 12:14 pmI have a pan like that! But it make them too small – I want big Muffin Tops like at Bakeries π
…wonder what they do with the bottoms in Park City…pull a Seinfeld and give them to the Homeless π
Mary Catherine
February 28, 2011 at 1:21 pmIt looked like they used muffin pans. I should have asked! I’m afraid of getting flat muffin disks after reading some muffin pan reviews. I want tall crunchy muffins! Wonder what the secret is. Top of the muffin to ya π
Mastering Public Health (@MasPublicHealth)
March 1, 2011 at 7:08 pmThe secret is having non-watery (“just moistened”) batter and MASSIVELY overfilling the tin. Hope that helps!
Briana @ The Triple DIsh
February 28, 2011 at 8:09 amThese look delicious! I have been looking for a way to sneak into some more vitamin C π
Maren
February 28, 2011 at 8:09 amI’ve never been a huge fan of chocolate and orange. But I always love the concept.
mary (what's cookin' with mary)
February 28, 2011 at 8:37 amB loves those chocolate oranges and I happened to buy 2 CA navel oranges on thur… SCORE!
Brooke @ bittersweetb
February 28, 2011 at 8:51 amThose look delightful!
megan @ blackberries for jam
February 28, 2011 at 9:11 amThese look delightful! But you actually just made me crave cooler ranch doritos.
Amy @ ElephantEats
February 28, 2011 at 9:15 amThese are one of my favorite desserts! And I’ve never attempted to try making them because I thought it seemed too complicated and time-consuming. But with your assurance that it’s easy, I’m gonna have to give it a try now π
Jen
February 28, 2011 at 9:22 amVery cool recipe Jenna! I really like where your blog is going – keep it up!
Elaine
February 28, 2011 at 9:26 amOk, I don’t see my comment, so I’ll post again…sorry if this is a repost! My question was: could I use half splenda half sugar to coat the orange peel?
jenna
February 28, 2011 at 9:40 amI really don’t know—I’m not a fan of Splenda at all (it gives me horrible migraines)..I really wouldn’t suggest using it but you could try it and see what happens!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing
February 28, 2011 at 9:33 amTerry’s chocolate oranges totally remind me of being a kid. I’m sure a bite of this little treat would bring me back just the same!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
February 28, 2011 at 9:51 amI’ve never had any kind of peel – I think that should change.
Krystina (Organically Me)
February 28, 2011 at 10:09 amI love orangettes!
Lesley Lifting Life
February 28, 2011 at 10:24 amYum! Old people or not, these look amazing, I can already taste them.
maria
February 28, 2011 at 10:41 amWhat a fun little snack. I love chocolate and orange together!
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
February 28, 2011 at 11:00 amOrange and chocolate are meant to spend the rest of their lives together. I love them.
Heather
February 28, 2011 at 11:03 amI LOVE orange and chocolate. I totally understand what you mean with the “old people” reference. My g-ma had the chocolate candy that was shaped as an orange and when you hit it on the table the slices would break like an orange. Very bizarre, I know, but I always think of that when I think of orange and chocolate!
Emily @ Savory and Savage
February 28, 2011 at 11:07 amlol, I have the same association with chocolate covered orange rinds.
But yours look very modern, yum!
Val @ Balancing Val
February 28, 2011 at 11:08 amLove this flavor combination.
They complement each other so well.
Id venture to say I like chocolate and orange better than chocolate and strawberry π
Danielle @ InDeesKitchen
February 28, 2011 at 11:15 amWhoa sugar overload! They look so pretty.
Katie @ peacebeme
February 28, 2011 at 11:30 amI have NEVER in my life heard of chocolate-covered orange peel!
Anneline
February 28, 2011 at 11:52 amI love making those! In France, they’re called “orangettes” ;o)
You should try doing the same thing with lemon peel, or my personal favorite, grapefruit peel!!!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
February 28, 2011 at 11:59 am“even more addictive than cooler ranch doritos”—that would be hard to do b/c those suckers are like crack. lol.
The recipe looks wonderful. I peel an orange a day most days in the winter especially. Now, I know what to do with the peels.
Sugar/water/look like wet sand….love it π
Parita @ myinnershakti
February 28, 2011 at 12:15 pmI’ve always assumed that the peel isn’t all that tasty unless used in small quantities – you changed my mind! Very creative and delicious!
Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down)
February 28, 2011 at 12:27 pmA new way to use an orange peel that might otherwise get tossed. Love it! π
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
February 28, 2011 at 1:08 pmmmm these look absolutely delicious! & fun to make too. I always like dipping fruit in chocolate π You’re totally right though – old people food. But that makes it extra tasty! Have them with a cup of tea π
Heidi xo
val @ lots of dishes
February 28, 2011 at 1:41 pmI do not like the combo of orange + chocolate together, but your first picture was so enticing I had to read on! This would be a great hors d’Εuvre w/ wine. Or dessert:)
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
February 28, 2011 at 1:45 pmI bet these would be just divine on top of cupcakes or a brownie, or even delicious just by themselves! Great recipe! You have a beautiful blog and Iβm so glad to have found it. Iβm looking forward to exploring your recipes and seeing more! π – Georgia
Sabrina @ Radioactive Runner
February 28, 2011 at 2:07 pmDoes cooking the orange peel suck some of the strong flavor out?
These look gooood!!
kate@ahealthypassion
February 28, 2011 at 3:51 pmooh yes this sounds amazing, I love orange peel and chocolate I cant imagine why I wouldnt like these!
Kayla @ Fitter Than Choc
February 28, 2011 at 4:32 pmI made some chocolate candied orange, and though I enjoyed it, it was a lot more time consuming as compared to yours! My cookbook recommended soaking the orange peel for 24 hours, and I still don’t know the reason behind it. (http://fitterthanchoc.blogspot.com/2011/01/recipe-chocolate-candied-orange.html) Wonder if you know the reason? Your recipe is so much simpler; I’d certainly love to try this recipe of yours:)
Jessica
February 28, 2011 at 5:45 pmI never used to like these and then somewhere in my late 20s, I totally fell for them! Maybe there is something to associating candied citrus peel with getting older (although I realize that late 20s is hardly old age).
Kay, The Church Cook
February 28, 2011 at 6:44 pmOh…Jenna! Hilton Head Island’s Chocolate Canopy has something similar like these which I adore! But I can make my own now! π Beautiful!
Heather (Heather's Dish)
February 28, 2011 at 7:34 pmthey’re TOTALLY a health food!
Baking Serendipity
February 28, 2011 at 8:29 pmI’m all about early bedtimes and health foods that involve chocolate π These are perfect!
Kim @ Wallet Friendly Wellness
March 1, 2011 at 12:17 pmLOVE this idea. Once again you have inspired me! π
Heide M.
March 10, 2011 at 4:27 pmCan’t wait to try this.
macsnafu
April 28, 2011 at 9:14 amSounds like a good use for orange peel. But I wonder what they would be like if you used almond bark instead of the chocolate?
macsnafu
June 2, 2011 at 9:37 amYes, this totally works with vanilla almond bark instead of chocolate chips! Tastes great.
Healthy Halloween Candy!!
October 16, 2012 at 7:54 am[…] Chocolate Covered Orange Peel from EatLiveRun […]
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October 20, 2012 at 9:08 pm[…] I am craving chocolate covered orange peels. Β You can find a recipe here. Β Chocolate covered orange peels were my grandmother’s favorite treat. Β I remember snacking […]
Melinda
December 21, 2012 at 8:15 amI know this is well over a year old, but… I was surprised to read that you associated these with old people – I’m only 34, so I don’t think of myself as old just yet (though I feel more so every day…), but I’ve actually loved candied orange peel since I was a kid. Thinking about it, though, it made sense to me. I think the reason it might be typically more of an adult thing could be the bitter factor. Citrus peel has a really quite lovely bitter element to it – but kids aren’t exactly known for loving bitter flavors. Same reason most kids don’t care for coffee (which I also liked when I was a kid – go figure). Anyway, just my guess. π Now, those lavender and violet pastilles that come in a tin? Those I will always and forever associate with elderly folks. Still can’t appreciate those – they’re so… well, flowery!