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National Candied Orange Peel Day

Food · May 4

A day for candied orange peel, the sweet, chewy strips made by simmering citrus rind in sugar syrup until it turns glossy and tender.

National Candied Orange Peel Day falls on Tuesday, May 4, 2027. That is 189 days away.

Candied orange peel starts as the part of the fruit most people throw away. The rind is cut into strips, blanched to soften its bitterness, then simmered slowly in sugar syrup until it turns translucent. Once dried, it is often rolled in sugar or dipped in dark chocolate.

The result is chewy and bright, sweet at first and a little bitter underneath. That bitterness comes from the white pith, and cooks argue happily about how much of it to leave on. More pith means a softer, more tender piece. Less pith means a cleaner, sharper orange flavor.

Bakers use it chopped into fruitcakes, sweet breads, scones and biscotti, where it adds little bursts of citrus. Plenty of people skip the recipe entirely and eat it straight from the jar, which is a perfectly respectable use.

Making it at home takes patience more than skill. The peel needs time in the syrup and then a day or so to dry on a rack. The leftover syrup keeps its orange flavor and can sweeten tea or drizzle over pancakes.

A batch made from a few oranges goes further than you might expect, since the strips are small and rich enough that one or two at a time is usually plenty.

Ways to celebrate

• Try candying the peels from a few oranges at home.
• Dip strips of candied peel halfway into melted dark chocolate.
• Chop some into scone or muffin batter.
• Save the leftover orange syrup to sweeten tea.

Dates

All national days on May 4

Also on May 4

• Star Wars Day
• National Orange Juice Day
• National Teacher Day
• National Weather Observers Day
• Yom HaShoah

Categories: Food days