Orangettes are elegant chocolate-dipped candied orange peels that feel like something you’d buy from a high-end chocolatier. They smell incredible, look beautiful, and deliver that irresistible combination of citrus freshness and deep chocolate richness. And the best part? You can easily make them at home with just a handful of ingredients.

They do take a little time—boiling, candying, and drying the peels—but the process itself is simple and almost relaxing. It’s a lovely weekend or holiday project, and dipping the peels in chocolate is a fun task to let children help with. (Keep a washcloth nearby, though—little hands + melted chocolate = fun but messy!)

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Why Make Your Own Orangettes?

If you’ve ever bought orangettes from a chocolate shop, you know they’re not cheap. Making them yourself is far more budget-friendly, but that’s just one advantage:

Reduce Food Waste

You use the orange peels—something that usually gets thrown out.

Choose Your Chocolate

Most store-bought orangettes are dipped in dark chocolate only. At home, you can pick exactly the chocolate you prefer.

Your House Will Smell Amazing

The boiling and candying process fills the kitchen with warm, fragrant citrus steam.

You Get Homemade Orange Syrup as a Bonus

Perfect for sweetening tea, drizzling over desserts, or mixing into cocktails.

Beautiful Homemade Gifts

Orangettes are ideal for holiday food baskets, edible Christmas gifts, or hostess gifts.

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Choosing the Right Oranges: Why Organic and Navel Oranges Work Best

Since you’re using the peel, it’s important to choose organic oranges. They contain fewer pesticide residues and are usually less heavily waxed, which helps the peel dry better and makes the chocolate adhere more nicely.

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What Chocolate Should You Use?

You can make orangettes with any type of chocolate:

• Dark chocolate (classic choice, beautifully bitter-sweet)
• Milk chocolate (creamy and softer)
• White chocolate (luxurious, especially with coconut or pistachio topping)
• Extra dark chocolate (70–85%) for an intense flavor

Optional Toppings:

• sea salt flakes
• chopped pistachios
• toasted sesame seeds
• shredded coconut
• crushed candied ginger
• freeze-dried raspberries

A sprinkle on top makes them extra festive and gift-worthy.

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How to Avoid Bitterness in Orangettes

Orange peel has natural bitter compounds, especially in the white pith. To reduce this bitterness, you simply boil the peels twice.

• The first boil removes most of the harsh bitterness.
• The second boil makes the final flavor softer and pleasantly citrusy.

You don’t want all bitterness gone—a little bit is what makes orangettes so good. It keeps the final candy from being overly sweet.

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What Happens During Candying?

Candying is the process of simmering the peel in sugar syrup until it becomes tender, shiny, and slightly translucent.

During this stage:

• the peel absorbs sugar syrup
• the texture becomes chewy and almost jewel-like
• the bitter notes mellow out

I add the freshly squeezed orange juice to the sugar syrup for extra flavor, but you can make the syrup with just water and sugar if you prefer.

Bonus: Save the Syrup!

The leftover orange syrup is liquid gold. Store it in a sterilized bottle and use it for:

• sweetening tea
• flavoring cocktails
• brushing over sponge cake
• drizzling over sorbet or ice cream

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How to Melt Chocolate Perfectly (No Burning, No Graininess!)

Chocolate can misbehave if it overheats. The safest method is a double boiler (bain-marie):
a heatproof bowl placed over a pot of gently simmering water.

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Full Orangettes Recipe (Chocolate-Dipped Candied Orange Peel)

Winter candy • Holiday edible gift • Homemade chocolate treat

⏱ Time Overview

• Prep: 10 minutes
• Cooking: 50 minutes
• Drying: 8 hours or overnight
• Finishing: 30 minutes
• Cooling: 2 hours

🛒 Ingredients

(US measurements included)

• 2 oranges (preferably organic navel oranges)
• Water
• 400 g sugar (about 2 cups)
• 400 g dark chocolate (about 14 oz)

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1. Prepare the Orange Peel

Make four vertical cuts in each orange and carefully remove the peel in large sections.
Slice the peel into strips about ½ cm (¼ inch) wide.

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2. Reduce Bitterness

1. Boil the strips for 10 minutes, then drain.
2. Refill the pot with fresh water and boil the peels again for 10 minutes.
3. Drain and let them cool slightly.

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3. Candy the Peels

Add 400 g sugar (about 2 cups) to 400 ml (1 ¾ cups) water and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Add the orange peels and simmer for 30 minutes until translucent.

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4. Dry the Peels

Remove the peels from the syrup using tongs or a slotted spoon.
Let them drain briefly, then arrange them on a sheet of parchment paper.

Let them dry overnight.

Don’t discard the syrup! Store it and use it as described above.

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5. Melt the Chocolate

Melt the chocolate gently over a double boiler, keeping it within the ideal temperature range.

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6. Dip the Orangettes

Dip each candied peel halfway or completely into the melted chocolate.
Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
If you want toppings, sprinkle them on immediately before the chocolate sets.

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7. Cool and Store

Let the orangettes set in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Store them in an airtight container in a cool place.

They keep for about 2 weeks, though they rarely last that long!

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Variations to Try

• Citronettes: made with lemon peel
• Grapefruit peel orangettes: slightly more bitter but very elegant
• Lime peel strips: thin and boldly aromatic
• Toppings: pistachios, coconut, toasted nuts, sesame seeds, salted caramel pieces, freeze-dried fruit

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Serving Suggestions

Orangettes are delicious:

• in a holiday gift basket
• with coffee or espresso
• served on a dessert platter
• with afternoon tea
• mixed into homemade granola
• as decoration on chocolate cakes or panna cotta

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Final Thoughts

Making orangettes does take patience, but the result is so rewarding. You get a beautiful, natural treat made without artificial colors or additives—just orange, sugar, and chocolate. Serve them with pride during the holidays, give them as thoughtful homemade gifts, or keep them all to yourself and enjoy a little luxury with your coffee.

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