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Recipe by becky
An easy recipe for making candied grapefruit peels dipped in dark chocolate. This recipe works with orange, lime, or lemon peels, too!
2 large grapefruit
500 grams granulated sugar (2 1/2 cups, divided)
480 milliliters water (2 cups)
Good-quality dark chocolate couverture, for dipping, optional
Candied Grapefruit Peels:
Thoroughly wash and dry each grapefruit.

With a sharp chef’s knife, remove the ends of each grapefruit.

Carefully remove the peel from each fruit. Try to remove it in halves if possible.

Slice grapefruit peels into 1/2-inch – 1-inch strips, or as wide/narrow as desired.*

Add sliced grapefruit peels to a medium saucepan.

Fill pot with water, completely covering the peels.

Bring to a rolling boil. Boil, without stirring, for 15 minutes.

Pass through a fine mesh strainer. Rinse peels thoroughly with cool water.

In a medium saucepan, bring 400 grams (2 cups) sugar and 480 milliliters (2 cups) water to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.

Add the blanched grapefruit peels. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.


While peels simmer, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.

Pass through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the sugary syrup, or save it for cocktails.

With kitchen tongs, transfer peels to prepared tray.

Toss in remaining sugar.


Allow to sit at room temperature, uncovered, for 1-3 days or until dry.**
Dipping the Dried Peels (optional):
Melt and temper dark chocolate couverture, or melt confectionery coating in a microwave-safe bowl.
Working 1 candied peel at a time, dip tops in tempered chocolate. Arrange on a clean sheet of parchment or a silicone baking mat. Allow to sit, uncovered, until chocolate sets.

Store candied peels in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month. Do not refrigerate.
* You can slice the peels as wide or narrow as you’d like. I’d caution against making them too skinny, however, or they may fall apart during the candying process. Also, remember that the wider the strips, the longer they will take to dry.
**The air-drying portion of this recipe will take 2-3 days. Be sure to plan ahead! To speed the process along, see my candied orange peel recipe for a quick-dry oven method.
All drying times are approximate. Temperature, humidity, slice size, rind thickness, and draining method will all affect the drying time required before your grapefruit peels are ready to eat.

