Oven-Baked Citrus Candy (Sugar Free!)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
An all natural orange citrus candy that is oven-baked and sugar free with a crispy exterior and chewy interior - irresistible!
Author:
Serves: 1 baking sheet of slices
Ingredients
  • 6-8 small to medium sized seasonal oranges (highly recommend organic) -- enough to fill a baking sheet once sliced (i'm using satsuma mandarins) -- you can also double the batch if you like
  • THAT'S IT
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300F
  2. Thoroughly wash oranges and cut about ⅛" thick slices (I do this by hand but if you have a mandoline that can cut this size, that great too) -- you want them thick enough so that they don't burn but not too thick otherwise they won't dry out or crisp up. Don't worry if your slices aren't precisely the same width - mine aren't.
  3. I like to further cut some of the slices in half - this creates variations in shapes and sizes and can also create some curling around the edges of the smaller pieces which I love.
  4. Arrange the oranges on a parchment lined baking sheet such that they are not overlapping.
  5. Place in oven at 300F for 40 minutes and then remove from oven, lower the oven temp to 200F, flip the segments over and return to oven for approximately 2 + ½ hours (the precise time will vary depending on size and thickness of your slices as well as your particular oven - you can start checking at 2 hours) -- you want the pieces to be mostly dry but not overdone -- there should still be a little stickiness to them especially towards the center. They will continue to dry up a bit and set once out of oven. If you prefer them crispier just cook them a little longer or slice a little thinner keeping a close eye on them so they don't burn.
  6. Remove from oven and set the tray on a cooling rack to allow segments to fully cool before enjoying - about 20 minutes (I keep them on the tray for this). Tip: if there are a few slices that still feel overly wet on the underbelly, just slide those back into the oven to bake them longer to desired dryness. Sample to your hearts content and store whatever remains in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. The dryer these slices are, the longer they will last; when fully dry to use as a decoration etc. they can last years. As an edible, I suggest upwards of 1 month when properly stored, then it's time to make a new batch!
Recipe by Inspired Edibles at https://www.inspirededibles.ca/2021/11/oven-baked-citrus-candy-sugar-free.html