Candied Citrus Peels
Photo: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Kelli Ronci
Blanching the peels three times helps remove their bitterness. The peels are delicious on their own, but dipping them in chocolate makes them extra-special.
How to Make It
Step 1
Score grapefruit, oranges, and lemons through peel from top to bottom in 6 sections for grapefruit and 4 for oranges and lemons (don't cut into fruit.) Pull off strips of peel with your fingers. Slide a small, sharp knife along inside of peels to remove excess membrane so peels are about 1/4 in. thick. Cut peels lengthwise into strips about 1/2 in. wide in center and tapered on ends.
Step 2
Put peels in a 3- to 4-qt. saucepan and add cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, then drain. Repeat twice more.
Step 3
Refill pan with 2 1/2 cups water and 2 1/2 cups sugar; bring to a boil, making sure that sugar dissolves. Add peels and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until peels turn translucent and syrup begins to form bigger bubbles, about 1 1/2 hours.
Step 4
Drain peels, saving syrup for other uses (such as topping pancakes) if you like. Spread peels on a nonreactive cooling rack set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let peels dry overnight.
Step 5
Put remaining 1 cup sugar in a bowl and toss peels in sugar by the handful, shaking off excess. Put peels on a clean baking sheet and let them dry 1 more day.
Step 6
Serve peels plain or dipped in chocolate.*
Step 7
*Melt 10 oz. chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate in a small pan over barely simmering water. Dip peels halfway into chocolate; set on baking sheets lined with waxed paper. Chill until set, about 30 minutes.
Step 8
Make ahead: Up to 3 months, chilled airtight.
Step 9
Box it: Crystal clear boxes, from $2 5/25; clearbags.com
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2013sowhat's Review
This is a terrific amount of work & a horrid failure. The end product was a variety of disappointments -- some had the consistency of jerky, some just chewed like gum, some were too tough to even bother with. How did such a horrid recipe make it past the test kitchen? A rhetorical question
Tallassie's Review
One of the few disappointments I've had with a Sunset recipe. Though I followed the instructions religiously, the peels are still a tad bitter. They're not so bad that I can't give them as gifts, but I don't expect people to beg for them next year. And it's a time-consuming project with messy clean-up. Not a keeper.
Great recipe, great gift