In an effort to make my mother in law’s miniature fruit cake, I was on the hunt for candied lemon and orange peel. After we went to three stores, my husband said, “why don’t you just make it yourself?” and he proceeded to suggest how. (I think he is a secret chef.) I based this on my husband’s suggestions and a recipe that I saw at Whole Foods.
1 organic lemon
1 organic orange
1 cup sugar + 1/2 cup vegan cane sugar (approximate)
3/4 cup of water + extra water for boiling
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the off pieces of the skin. Place the peels in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for one minute. Drain and repeat 2 more times.
Combine 1 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of water in a pot and bring to a boil. Add the peels and simmer for about 45 minutes.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread the 1/2 cup sugar on the tray. Using a slotted spoon, drop the peels onto the sugar pile and coat them. Leave them there to dry for a while and then store them in a container to use them in a fruit cake, as decoration or as straight up candy. Enjoy!
