These candied orange slices dipped in dark chocolate are one of those pretty little treats that look like they came from a specialty candy shop. Made with fresh oranges, sugar, and chocolate, they’re surprisingly easy to prepare and make a beautiful addition to holiday dessert trays, homemade gifts, or your favorite desserts.
I especially love using the smaller orange slices to decorate my Mini Orange Cheesecakes. They’re just the right size for individual desserts! And if you’re not a chocolate lover, leave a few slices plain. They’re just as pretty and have a wonderful sweet citrus flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only four ingredients: Small oranges, sugar, water, and dark chocolate.
- Two delicious variations: Enjoy them plain or dipped halfway in chocolate.
- Perfect for gifting: Package them in food-safe treat bags or small decorative boxes.
- Beautiful dessert garnish: Use them on mini cheesecakes, cakes, cupcakes, or other desserts.
- Make ahead: Prepare them in advance for holiday entertaining.
The best part is that you can make one batch and use it several different ways. That’s my kind of recipe!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Small oranges or mandarins: Choose small, firm oranges with smooth, thin skins. Smaller oranges make bite-sized treats and are especially pretty on mini cheesecakes. Seedless varieties are easiest to work with.
Granulated sugar: Creates the sweet syrup that candies the orange slices and helps preserve their beautiful citrus color.
Water: Combines with the sugar to make the syrup.
Dark chocolate: Adds a rich chocolate finish that balances the sweetness of the candied oranges. Semisweet chocolate also works well.
See the printable recipe card below for exact measurements and instructions.
How to Make Candied Orange Slices
Making candied orange slices takes a little patience, but most of the time is spent waiting for the oranges to simmer and dry.
Step 1: Prepare the oranges
Wash and dry the oranges thoroughly, since you’ll be eating the peel. Slice them into thin, even rounds, about ⅛–3/16 inch thick, and remove any seeds.
Step 2: Blanch the slices
Briefly boil the orange slices in plain water, then transfer them to ice water. This helps soften the peel and reduce bitterness.
Step 3: Make the sugar syrup
Combine the sugar and water in a wide saucepan. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
Step 4: Candy the oranges
Add the orange slices and simmer gently until the peel is tender and the slices become slightly translucent.
Step 5: Dry the oranges
Transfer the slices to a wire rack and allow them to dry until they’re no longer wet but remain slightly tacky.
Step 6: Dip some in chocolate
Melt the dark chocolate until smooth. Dip half of each orange slice into the chocolate, then place it on parchment paper to set.
Candiland Tip: I like to leave some of the slices plain. The combination of bright orange slices and chocolate-dipped oranges makes a beautiful presentation on a holiday tray.
Three Ways to Serve Candied Orange Slices
1. Decorate Mini Orange Cheesecakes
These little citrus slices are a lovely finishing touch for my Mini Orange Cheesecakes.
Choose the smallest slices so they fit neatly on top of each cheesecake. You can use chocolate-dipped oranges for a richer flavor or plain candied slices for a brighter citrus finish.
Add the slices shortly before serving to keep the presentation fresh and beautiful.
2. Add Them to a Holiday Dessert Tray
If you’re putting together a Christmas cookie or dessert tray, these candied oranges add a pop of color alongside your favorite homemade treats.
Arrange both plain and chocolate-dipped slices on a platter with cookies, chocolates, and other bite-sized desserts.
They’re especially pretty alongside Christmas Snowball Cookies.
3. Package Them as Homemade Gifts
Homemade food gifts are always a thoughtful way to share something sweet during the holidays.
Once the candied orange slices are completely dry and the chocolate has set, layer them between pieces of parchment paper in a small food-safe gift box or container.
Add a pretty ribbon and a handwritten gift tag with storage instructions.
For gifting, I recommend using smaller orange slices because they’re easier to package and make lovely bite-sized treats.
Keep the gifts refrigerated until you’re ready to give them away, and let the recipient know they should refrigerate them too.
Serve Candied Orange Slices at Afternoon Tea
If you love Afternoon Tea as much as I do, you’ll appreciate having another pretty little treat to add to your tea table.
These candied orange slices are just the right size for the dessert tier of your tea tray. I like the idea of arranging a few plain slices alongside the chocolate-dipped ones, giving everyone a choice.
And if you’re serving Earl Grey tea, you’re in for a treat! The citrus notes in Earl Grey pair beautifully with the sweet orange and dark chocolate.
You could even add a few slices to a small plate of Earl Grey Scones and serve them with your favorite pot of tea.
For a special occasion, tuck two or three candied orange slices into a small food-safe gift box with a pretty ribbon. They make a lovely little favor for guests to take home. Just be sure to include a note to keep them refrigerated.
Sometimes it’s those little extra touches that make an Afternoon Tea feel special, don’t you think?
Tips for the Best Candied Orange Slices
Choose smaller oranges. Small, seedless oranges or mandarins are ideal for this recipe. They make attractive individual treats and fit nicely on desserts.
Keep your slices even. Thin slices candy more evenly, but avoid cutting them so thin that they fall apart during simmering.
Use a gentle simmer. A rapid boil can break apart the delicate orange slices.
Don’t rush the drying process. The oranges need time to dry before dipping them in chocolate or packaging them as gifts.
Use good-quality chocolate. Dark chocolate balances the sweet citrus flavor beautifully.
Leave some plain. Not every slice needs chocolate! Plain candied oranges are delicious and give you more serving options.
Variations
Plain Candied Orange Slices
Skip the chocolate completely and enjoy the sweet citrus flavor on its own. These are especially nice for decorating cakes, cheesecakes, and other desserts.
Half-Dipped Dark Chocolate Oranges
Dip one half of each dried orange slice into melted dark chocolate. This is my favorite version for holiday gift boxes and dessert trays.
White Chocolate Candied Oranges
For something different, dip the orange slices in melted white chocolate. The white and orange combination looks especially pretty during the holidays.
Chocolate Drizzle
Instead of dipping, arrange the dried slices on parchment paper and drizzle melted chocolate over the tops. This gives you a lighter chocolate coating while still making a beautiful presentation.
How to Store Candied Orange Slices
Allow the orange slices to dry thoroughly before storing.
Place the finished slices in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Store in the refrigerator and keep away from excess moisture. Homemade candied oranges can vary in moisture content, so check them before serving or gifting.
For the prettiest chocolate finish, allow the chocolate to set completely before packaging.
FAQs for Candied Orange Slices
Yes! The peel is edible and is part of what makes candied orange slices special. Simmering the oranges in sugar syrup softens the peel and helps mellow its bitterness.
Orange peel naturally contains bitter compounds. Blanching the slices before candying them helps reduce bitterness. Some orange varieties also have more bitter peels than others.
The slices should look somewhat translucent, and the peels should be tender. They will still need time to dry after simmering.
Yes. Milk chocolate makes a sweeter treat, while dark chocolate provides a stronger contrast to the candied oranges. White chocolate is another pretty option for holiday gifts.
Small oranges, such as mandarins or small navel oranges, are great choices. Look for firm fruit with smooth skin and preferably few or no seeds.
Candied oranges naturally retain some stickiness, but excessive moisture usually means they need more drying time. Allow them to dry thoroughly before dipping or packaging.
More Sweet Treats and Afternoon Tea Favorites
If you enjoyed making these candied orange slices, here are a few more recipes and ideas to try:
- Tea Party Cookies – Pretty little cookies that look wonderful alongside chocolate-dipped oranges.
- Christmas Snowball Cookies – A holiday favorite for Christmas dessert trays and homemade cookie boxes.
- Tea Scones with Clotted Cream – A traditional Afternoon Tea favorite that’s wonderful with a pot of tea.
- 37 Afternoon Tea Party Ideas & Recipes – Find more inspiration for planning your next tea gathering.
A Little Sweet Ending
I love a recipe that can do double duty, and these candied orange slices definitely fit the bill. One batch can decorate a cheesecake, brighten up a holiday dessert tray, and even become a thoughtful homemade gift.
Whether you dip them in dark chocolate or leave them plain, they’re a beautiful little treat to share.
Which would you choose—plain candied oranges or chocolate-dipped? Leave me a comment below and let me know!
If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a five-star rating and share how you served them.
If you loved this recipe and made it, please give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review! Leave a comment about your experience in the recipe comment section below. That will help get more eyes on it. You can also pin it to Pinterest or share it on Facebook.
Candied Orange Slices
Ingredients
- 3-4 Oranges Sliced 1/8" thick – Small Naval Oranges
- 2 cups Water
- 2 cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Dark Chocolate Morsels
Instructions
- Wash and slice the oranges. Thoroughly wash and dry the oranges. Cut into even rounds approximately ⅛–3/16 inch thick. Remove any seeds, leaving the peel intact.
- Blanch the slices. Bring a saucepan of plain water to a boil. Add the orange slices and boil for 1–2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, then drain. This helps reduce bitterness in the peel.
- Simmer the orange slices. Carefully add the oranges to the syrup, keeping them in a single layer when possible. Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 45–60 minutes, turning occasionally, until the peels soften and the slices look translucent. Work in batches if necessary..
- Dry the slices. Remove the oranges with tongs and place them on a wire rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet. Allow them to dry at room temperature for 12–24 hours, until no longer wet but still slightly tacky.
- Prepare the chocolate. If making chocolate-dipped oranges, melt the dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval until smooth.
- Dip the oranges. Dip half of each dried orange slice into the melted chocolate. Place on clean parchment paper and allow the chocolate to set completely. Leave some slices plain for variety.
- Serve or package. Use the finished orange slices to decorate chilled mini orange cheesecakes, arrange both varieties on a holiday dessert tray, or layer them between parchment paper in a food-safe gift box.
Notes
- Orange size: Small oranges or mandarins work best for bite-sized treats and individual cheesecake garnishes.
- Plain variation: Skip the chocolate for a bright, sweet citrus treat.
- Chocolate variation: Dip half of each slice in dark or semisweet chocolate.
- Cheesecake garnish: Choose smaller slices and add them shortly before serving.
- Holiday trays: Arrange plain and chocolate-dipped slices together for color and variety.
- Homemade gifts: Allow the slices to dry completely, package in food-safe containers, and include refrigeration instructions.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator, with parchment paper between layers. Make close to the intended serving or gifting date for best quality.
- Yield: Varies depending on orange size and slice thickness.
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