I love giving out edible gifts over the holiday season. There’s something so comforting and timeless about a homemade present that you can’t really put a price tag on. It may cost very little to make yet it feels much more personalized and heartfelt than a pricier gift certificate or trinket. Candied orange peel is one of my favorite homemade holiday treats. I serve it at parties or seal it in a decorative mason jar and place it under the Christmas tree as a gift. It’s a crowd pleaser and people always want the recipe. Candied citrus is easy to make at home and also very customizable. In fact, there’s a good chance you already have everything you need to make it right now! <br /> <br />It does take a few hours to prepare this recipe but you can break it up over two days. The orange peel needs to be blanched in water to remove bitterness and then simmered for a few hours in a simple syrup, which I like to do in the evening while watching a movie. Once the peel has been candied, you simply let it dry overnight on a cooling rack and then toss it in granulated sugar the next morning. Sugar preserves the orange peel so that it will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for two weeks. But I can pretty much guarantee it won’t last that long! These are very addictive. <br /> <br />For variations, try swapping out the orange peel for another citrus such as grapefruit or meyer lemon. You can also dip the finished candied orange peel in melted bittersweet chocolate for a more decadent treat!

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