Spiced Candied Orange Peel

Step 1

Cut the orange into quarters. Use a spoon to scoop out the fruit but be sure to leave as much of the white pith attached as possible. Slice the peel into thin slices about 1/4 inch thick or smaller.

Step 2

Place the orange peels in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Drain and repeat this process 2 more times using fresh water each time (do not skip this step because it removes the bitterness from the peel).

Step 3

Clean the saucepan with soap and water. Add the water, sugar, vanilla bean, peppercorns, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Reduce to a simmer and add the orange peels. Simmer on low heat, stirring every 10-15 minutes, until the fruit becomes slightly translucent, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Step 4

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and a cooling rack. Using tongs, remove the orange peels from the syrup, shake off any excess liquid and move to the rack to finish draining. Don't discard the syrup, it's wonderful in drinks. Allow the candied orange peels to dry overnight.

Step 5

Toss with sugar before serving.