Turn orange citrus peels into delicious sweet-tart candied orange peels using the Instant Pot. Candied Orange Peel is perfect for all your baking recipes and takes less than half the time of stove top Candied Orange Peel recipes.
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I was making cranberry bliss cookies for the holidays and discovered that I did not have a key ingredient –> Candied Orange Peel.
It’s an ingredient commonly used for holiday baking so I checked for a bag at my local grocery store. Four store later I could not find candied orange peel! I was tempted to order some online but it came in large quantities and I was unsure of the quality.
Homemade Candied Orange Peel
I decided to try making homemade candied orange peel instead of waiting days for a delivery and began searching for recipes.
That’s when disappointment set in!
I had never made candied orange peel and did not know that it can takes DAYS! Basically you prepare the orange peels, cook them in boiling water, and then simmer them in sugar syrup for several HOURS to achieve the sweet candied flavor.
Yes, you read that correctly. It usually takes 2-3 hours of stirring to “candy” the orange peels…. and then the peel needs to dry overnight (or for several days) in the refrigerator.
I did not have that kind of time… I wanted cranberry bliss cookies!
The Instant Pot Experiment
What’s an impatient cook to do?
I ditched the stove and made the candied orange peel in my Instant Pot (electric pressure cooker) then used the oven to speed the drying time. The results were amazing!
In less than 2 hours I had a lovely batch of candied orange peel read to bake into my favorite cookies. And, BONUS, most of the cooking time was hands off… no need to babysit a boiling pan on the stove top for hours and hours!
Candied Orange Peel Tips
This quick Instant Pot method makes smaller, thin pieces of candied orange peel that are perfect for cookies, baked goods, and other recipes.
- If you want thick, perfect orange peels to serve rolled in sugar or dipped in chocolate you may want to use the old fashioned stove top recipe.
- A special thanks to Hip Pressure Cooking who tested this method using lemon peels.
How to Make Candied Orange Peel in an Instant Pot (Electric Pressure Cooker)
Making candied orange peel in the pressure cooker is EASY if you follow these simple steps:
- Peel the Oranges – Use a vegetable peeler to peel the orange from end to end.
- Remove the Pith – Use a spoon, paring knife or other metal tool to scrape off as much pith as possible. (The pith is the inner white part of the orange peel, it is bitter so most of it should be removed.)
- Slice the Peels – Slice the peels into long strips about ¼ inch wide.
- Boil the Peels – Add 4 cups of water and the prepared peels to the Instant Pot. Cook on manual high pressure for 10 minutes then use quick release.
- Drain Peels – Drain the boiled peels in a small colander and rinse with cool fresh water. Discard the boiling water and rinse out the Instant Pot inner pan.
- Make the Sugar Syrup – Add 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of fresh water to the clean pressure cooker pan. Stir in peels. Set to “sauté” and stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved. The syrup should be nearly clear and easy to see through.
- Cook the Peels in Sugar Syrup – Place lid on pressure cooker. Cook on manual high pressure for 10 minutes. Wait 20 minutes then quick release.
- Drain the Peels – Strain peels though small colander, saving the orange syrup for cocktails or recipes. Separate the peels into a single flat layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Quick Dry the Peels – Bake peels in a 200 degrees Fahrenheit oven until they are no longer wet and sticky but are still pliable. The peel should not be brittle. This takes approximately 30-40 minutes (check after the first 20 minutes then every 10 minutes to prevent burning or over drying.)
- Store the Peels – Cool peels completely on the parchment paper. Store in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 6 weeks.
Recipe Notes
- This recipe was made in a 6qt/6l Instant Pot
- Since you’ll be eating the orange peel, I recommend using organic oranges and scrubbing them well.
- The cooking time in this recipe is active cooking time. This does not include the time needed to bring the pot to pressure or the time needed for the pressure to drop (this adds approximately 20 minutes to the overall time).
- Use a clean instant pot seal or a seal specifically for sweet recipes to prevent flavor transfer.
Instant Pot Candied Orange Peel
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 65 minutes
- Yield: 4 ounces 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Description
Turn orange citrus peels into delicious sweet-tart candy using the Instant Pot. Easy recipe takes less than half the time of stove top Candied Orange Peel recipes.
Ingredients
- 4 whole oranges (organic)
- 2 cups white sugar
- 5 cups water (divided)
Instructions
- Peel the oranges – Use a vegetable peeler to peel the orange from end to end.
- Remove the pith – Use a spoon, paring knife or other metal tool to scrape off as much pith as possible. (The pith is the inner white part of the orange peel, it is bitter so most of it should be removed.)
- Slice the peels – Slice the peels into long strips about ¼ inch wide.
- Boil the peels – Add 4 cups of water and the prepared peels to the pressure cooker. Cook on manual high pressure for 10 minutes then use quick release.
- Drain peels – Drain the boiled peels in a small colander and rinse with cool fresh water. Discard the boiling water and rinse out the Instant Pot inner pan.
- Make sugar syrup – Add 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of fresh water to the clean pressure cooker pan. Stir in peels. Set to “sauté” and stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved. The syrup should be nearly clear and easy to see through.
- Cook the peels – Place lid on pressure cooker. Cook on manual high pressure for 10 minutes. Wait 20 minutes then quick release.
- Drain the peels – Strain peels though small colander, saving the orange syrup for cocktails or recipes. Separate the peels into a single flat layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Quick dry the peels – Bake peels in a 200 degrees Fahrenheit oven until they are no longer wet and sticky but are still pliable. The peel should not be brittle. This takes approximately 30-40 minutes (check after the first 20 minutes then every 10 minutes to prevent burning or over drying.)
- Store the peels – Cool peels completely on the parchment paper. Store in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 6 weeks.
Notes
- This recipe was made in a 6qt/6l Instant Pot.
- Since you’ll be eating the orange peel, I recommend using organic oranges.
- The cooking time in this recipe is active cooking time. This does not include the time needed to bring the pot to pressure or the time needed for the pressure to drop (this adds approximately 20 minutes to the overall time).
- Use a clean instant pot seal or a seal specifically for sweet recipes to prevent flavor transfer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ounce
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 21
Did you make candied orange peels? Leave a rating in the comments below!
Matthew
Thank you for the recipe. I am going to make lebkuchen and needed candied lemon peel and candied orange peel. The recipe worked well for me although I do recommend keeping a close eye on the peels as they are drying in the oven. Mine dried in about 35 minutes or less at 200 degrees, and were accidentally a little over dry.
Kelli
Thanks for your thoughts, Bren.
I’m interested in making candied citrus slices. I’ve done the stove top method. It heats up the whole house and takes hours. I’m looking for cooler and quicker ways to do it.
Could you share what leads you to suggest stove top over instant pot for “perfect orange peels”? I suppose that same thinking might apply to citrus slices. Do you have any thoughts on using a slow cooker or some other device to candy citrus slices or other fruits?
Thanks for sharing!
Bren
This quick Instant Pot method makes smaller, thin pieces of candied orange peel that are perfect for using as a ingredient in cookies, baked goods, and other recipes.
If you want thick, lovely orange slices to display they may get a little damaged by the instant pot boiling. I’d try a batch and see how you like the results.
Erin
This did not work for me. The syrup cooked to the hard candy stage and I ended up with with a large lump of orange flavored hard candy. I don’t think it needed the 20 minutes natural release.
Cheryl
I was going to add lemon peel to the Orange to save a step. Will that totally ruin the flavor? I’m making fruit cake. Thanks
Bren
I’ve never tried mixing the two, but I am afraid it would make the flavors combine.
D. Polly Pedersen
Love to try this as I have a friend who requested I make them.. Without the IP it is a lot of work.
I’m going to try this method but wondering if at the last stage I could roll in sugar and then dry in the oven. Or finish the process and then roll in sugar when storing?
Thanks ! Merry Christmas!
Bren
I’ve only made them as the recipe describes. You could roll them in sugar while they are still a bit sticky. Let me know how they turn out.
Karen D. Yun-Lutz
This looks like a wonderfully simple way to make candied orange peel. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. Would you consider adding your recipe to the Instant Pot App? I love using the app because I can save my favorite recipes so I can find them when I want them. I’m also not printing recipes that end up getting lost in my kitchen.
Bren
Karen, glad you enjoyed the recipe!
LS
Could this be repeated to candy lime and lemon peel?
Also, if one isn’t planning to use it immediately, could one extend the shelf life by drying it in a food dehydrator?
Bren
Yes, it will work with any citrus. A batch I made last Christmas and stored in a Mason jar still looks great, no dehydrator necessary.
Bren
Yum
Ruth Artes
Thank you for the free printable cootie catchers. My grandsons and I will have a good time
figuring out how to make them with the inked one first.
Then the creative coloring will ensue.
Sharing your creative mind is a gift to the world.
Grateful heart, indeed.
Bren
Thanks, Ruth! I am glad you are enjoying the free printables.