Chocolate Orange Slices

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These chocolate orange slices are a tasty, easy to make dessert. Candied orange slices dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt or chopped nuts.

Chocolate dipped orange slices are the perfect bite sized dessert to snack on during the holidays, just like these chocolate covered strawberries, these maple & chocolate cookies or these rosemary cookies.

Serve them to guests on a dessert platter, while you sip holiday cocktails like this amaretto hot chocolate, baileys espresso martini, rumchata white russian or chocolate old fashioned.

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• Equipment
• Step By Step Instructions
• Storage
• Expert Tips
• Recipe FAQs
• 📖 Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• These chocolate covered orange slices are the perfect Christmas or Thanksgiving dessert to snack on. 
• They make a great gift as part of a holiday edible gift basket. 
• You can use them to decorate cakes or breakfast quickbread loafs. 
• Although you can buy them store bought, these homemade ones are tastier and much less expensive.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Oranges: This recipe works with most types of oranges, such as navel oranges, cara cara oranges or blood oranges. For best results, avoid oranges with thick rinds. As a substitute for oranges, you can make this recipe with lemons instead. 
• Chocolate: Dark chocolate pairs very well with oranges. You can use a dark chocolate bar or dark chocolate chips. Alternatively, use milk chocolate or white chocolate. 
• Sugar & Water: Granulated sugar and water are heated together to form the sugar water that is used to candy the orange slices. Brown sugar won't work for this recipe. Use filtered or bottled water to avoid any unpleasant flavors from tap water. 
• Avocado Oil: A small amount of avocado oil makes the chocolate coating glossy and smooth. You can use coconut oil as a substitute. 

Equipment

You will need the following equipment to make these candied chocolate oranges:

• A pot with a wide bottom to simmer the oranges in. 
• A wire rack or a baking sheet with parchment paper to dry the orange slices on.
• A microwave safe bowl to melt the chocolate in. 
• An airtight container to store the finished chocolate orange slices in.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Wash the oranges well. Cut the oranges into slices ¼ inch thick.

Step 2: Heat the water and sugar over medium to high heat until the sugar has fully dissolved. Add the orange slices, trying not to let them overlap. Gently simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until the slices are translucent. 

Step 3: Remove the orange slices and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Let them dry for at least 2 hours.

Step 4: Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Stir in the avocado oil. Dip each candied orange slice into the melted chocolate. Place on a sheet of parchment paper. Let them set at room temperature for 1 hour.

Storage

Store the orange slices in an airtight container, separated by small pieces of parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. 

The oranges will last at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, or in the fridge for 7 to 10 days.

Candied chocolate oranges won't freeze well.

Expert Tips

• Don’t overlap the orange slices. When simmering the orange slices in the sugar water, try to keep the slices in a flat, single layer. Don't let them overlap or clump together, otherwise they won't cook properly.
• Keep the slices submerged. While the orange slices are cooking, make sure they stay submerged below the water.
• Sprinkle on salt or nuts. As soon as you have dipped the orange slices in chocolate, optionally sprinkle on some coarse sea salt, shredded coconut or some finely chopped nuts, such as almonds, toasted hazelnuts or pistachios.
• Wash the oranges well. Before beginning, scrub the oranges well to remove any waxy residue which could affect the taste.
• Add sweetener to the chocolate. If you are using a very dark chocolate (>80%), you may want to add in a sweetener to the melted chocolate such as maple syrup, honey or sugar to sweeten it up slightly.

Recipe FAQs

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📖 Recipe