How to Make Your Own Dried Fruits and Candied Peels for Christmas

Moving on from the smells and scents of Christmas, we look at making your own dried fruits and candied peels for the festive season. 

Christmas is a time for indulgence, and nothing captures the festive spirit better than homemade dried fruits and candied peels. 

These treats are not only perfect for adding to cakes, puddings, and biscuits but also make lovely edible gifts or decorations for your Christmas tree. 

Best of all, making them at home is much simpler than you might think, and the results are far superior to anything you’ll find in the shops.

In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of making your own dried fruits and candied peels at home, using British measurements and ingredients. Let’s fill your kitchen with the sweet, citrusy scents of the festive season!

Part 1: How to Make Dried Fruits

Dried fruits are a staple of Christmas baking, whether it’s for a classic Christmas cake, mince pies, or a festive fruit loaf. You can dry a wide range of fruits at home, such as oranges, apples, pears, and cranberries, using your oven or a dehydrator.

What You’ll Need:

Fresh fruits of your choice (e.g., oranges, lemons, apples, pears)

1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Water

Method:

Prepare the Fruits:

Wash the fruits thoroughly.

For citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, slice them into thin rounds (around 5mm thick).

For apples and pears, core them (if preferred) and slice them into thin rings.

If drying cranberries, pierce each berry with a pin to allow them to dry more effectively.

Soak in Lemon Water:

Mix a bowl of water with a few tablespoons of lemon juice to prevent the fruits from browning.

Soak the slices in the lemon water for about 5 minutes, then pat them dry with a clean towel.

Dry the Fruits:

In the Oven: Preheat your oven to 100°C (210°F, Gas Mark 1/4). Place the fruit slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, ensuring they don’t overlap. Bake for 2-4 hours, turning them over halfway through. The exact time will depend on the fruit type and thickness. The fruits should be dry but still slightly flexible when done.

In a Dehydrator: Arrange the fruit slices on the dehydrator trays. Set the dehydrator to 60°C (140°F) and let them dry for 6-8 hours, checking periodically.

Store:

Once completely dried, store the fruits in airtight containers. They’ll last for several months, making them perfect for use throughout the festive season.

Part 2: How to Make Candied Citrus Peels

Candied peels are a traditional Christmas treat that adds a burst of flavour to cakes, cookies, and even cocktails. The combination of zesty citrus and sweet sugar makes them an irresistible festive snack.

What You’ll Need:

4-5 large oranges, lemons, or a mix of citrus fruits

200g granulated sugar

200ml water

Extra sugar for coating

Method:

Prepare the Peels:

Wash the citrus fruits thoroughly to remove any wax.

Using a knife, carefully peel the fruits, trying to keep the peels in large strips. Avoid cutting too deep—you want to include the white pith, but not too much of it.

Slice the peels into thin strips, approximately 1cm wide.

Boil the Peels:

Place the citrus peels in a saucepan and cover them with cold water. Bring to a boil, then drain the water. Repeat this process two more times. This helps to soften the peels and removes their bitterness.

Candy the Peels:

In a clean saucepan, combine 200g sugar with 200ml water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely, creating a syrup.

Add the boiled peels to the syrup. Let them simmer on low heat for 45-60 minutes, or until the peels turn translucent.

Stir occasionally to ensure the peels are well coated in the syrup and don’t burn.

Dry and Coat:

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the candied peels onto a wire rack lined with parchment paper. Allow them to dry for 2-3 hours.

Once slightly tacky, roll the peels in granulated sugar for a sparkly finish. Let them dry completely before storing.

Store:

Store the candied peels in an airtight container. They can last for several weeks, making them perfect for gifting or adding to your festive bakes.

Part 3: How to Make Candied Fruits

If you want to take your Christmas treats to the next level, try making candied fruits like cherries, pineapple, or even ginger. These are ideal for adding to rich fruitcakes or simply enjoying as a sweet treat.

What You’ll Need:

500g of fresh fruits (e.g., cherries, pineapple, ginger)

400g granulated sugar

300ml water

Optional: a few tablespoons of honey or golden syrup for extra richness

Method:

Prepare the Fruits:

Wash and cut the fruits into bite-sized pieces. If using cherries, remove the stones; if using pineapple, peel and core it before cutting into chunks.

For ginger, peel and slice it into thin pieces.

Make the Syrup:

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and honey or golden syrup (if using). Heat gently until the sugar dissolves.

Add the prepared fruits and bring to a gentle simmer. Let them cook for 30-60 minutes, depending on the fruit, until they become tender and glossy.

Dry the Fruits:

Remove the candied fruits from the syrup using a slotted spoon. Spread them out on a wire rack lined with parchment paper.

Allow them to dry at room temperature for 24 hours, or place them in an oven preheated to 90°C (200°F, Gas Mark 1/4) for 1-2 hours.

Store:

Store the candied fruits in airtight containers, where they’ll stay fresh for several weeks.

Ways to Use Your Homemade Dried Fruits and Candied Peels:

In Baking: Add to Christmas cakes, stollen, or mince pies for bursts of festive flavour.

Decorating: Use dried citrus slices to decorate your Christmas tree or festive wreaths.

Gifting: Pack candied peels and fruits into pretty jars, tie with a festive ribbon, and give them as homemade Christmas gifts.

Festive Drinks: Add dried fruits or a slice of candied peel to mulled wine or a hot toddy for an aromatic twist.

Conclusion: A Homemade Christmas to Remember

Making your own dried fruits and candied peels is a wonderful way to embrace the spirit of Christmas. The process is simple, the results are delicious, and the scents that fill your home will instantly put you in the festive mood. Plus, these homemade goodies make thoughtful, personal gifts for friends and family.

This Christmas, skip the shop-bought versions and enjoy the satisfaction of crafting these traditional treats yourself. Happy Christmas, and may your home be filled with the sweet scents of the season!

Opies Offer Inspiring Christmas food gifts: for avid home cooks, secret Santa surprises or superb stocking fillers

Opies Fruits with Alcohol are absolutely vital kitchen cupboard ingredients, which pack a punch in home styled puddings. Presented in NEW Kilner jars.

Add next-level flavours to meringues, roulades, sparkling cocktails and more.

Inspirational on-pack recipes for flavour-filled puddings and desserts to make at home.

They are the ideal Christmas gift solution: an attractive, classy yet affordable stocking filler gift, addition to a home-made food hamper or a festive treat for hard-to-buy for family and friends who love food and who love to cook.

Giving a foodie gift at Christmas is guaranteed to be well received. It’s a sure-fire success and a guaranteed top choice. 

With Opies' help, you just can’t go wrong! This year, family flavour-maker Opies has four new fruity creations that will reign supreme whether you’re buying for budding chefs who are seeking out luxurious ingredients, shopping for that hard-to-buy-for relative or friend or selecting a secret Santa surprise for a co-worker you don’t know that well. 

Or, perhaps for a co-worker you know very well and are certain Opies will be a very welcome gift for them.

And if you want to be a little more opulent, then they will also make a welcome addition to your own, personally selected, self-styled hamper. Or a great luxury Christmas hamper for your spouse, parent or grandparent. 

Opies new range of four popular fruits which are generously preserved in exceptional quality Luxardo® liqueur are presented in sleek and stylish Kilner jars. 

Choose from succulent, delicious peaches lovingly steeped in a 12-year old Luxardo® brandy, indulgent and luxurious black cherries soaked in Luxardo® Kirsch, rich and opulent baby pears drenched in Luxardo® Amaretto and sharp and intense Forest Fruits covered in a Luxardo® mulled gin.

My personal favourite is the baby peaches in Kirsch,but my wife and I love all of them very much indeed.

This affordable Christmas food gift is just £14.95 and is great to keep in reserve for that last-minute forgotten gift and will be deemed much more thoughtful than a 'recycled’ bottle of wine!

Besides making an attractive, popular and thoughtful gift, these boozy fruits can single-handedly revolutionise your festive menus. 

Not only making an ideal, convenient, standby dessert served with a dollop of double cream or clotted cream, or perhaps generous scoop of luxury ice cream, they can replace fresh or canned fruits to significantly increase the flavour intensity of a dessert. 

You can use them to boost up an otherwise humble crumbles captivating, titivate trifles or more besides. 

There is an on-pack recipe plus a veritable of interesting and inspirational ideas at www.bennettopie.com 

And as these are from Opies, you can be certain all the fruits are packed by hand and specially paired with exceptional Luxardo® spirits, which is internationally respected and loved and whose legacy has been appreciated by royalty and the world’s top bartenders alike.

To make the absolute most of the jar and to avoid any waste, once you have used the first-rate fruits there are lots of ways to use the leftover precious Luxardo® syrup too. For carefully curated cocktails, mix the syrup with a little water to make boozy ice cubes, or for parties warm and combine with gelatine and champagne to create grown-up jellies. 

For a savoury twist, mix with a little cornflour to thicken then drizzle over meats like roast duck or pork to make an extraordinary glaze. (To be perfectly honest, I'm always tempted to just glug them down, so I'll take this advice to make the most of them in our Christmas time cooking and drinking!)

The stylish Kilner jars are reusable and have a whole multiplicity of onward uses. Once cleaned and dried out they are perfect for safely storing herbs, spices, nuts and dried fruits as well as making a wonderful able decoration filled with tea lights or fairy lights.

Buy from speciality food shops or online at www.bennettopie.com

Run, run Rudolph all the way to Morrisons for your free carrots!

Rudolph and all the other hard-working reindeer who haul Santa's sleigh should visit Morrisons stores to pick up their free carrots. Or if they are too busy they can send a human friend to collect them on their behalf.

Morrisons is spreading the festive cheer by giving away over 175,000 wonky carrots across all its supermarkets to help customers prepare for Rudolph’s visit. 

British wonky carrots are oversized or misshapen but still taste absolutely delicious, and these free, festive favourites are available to collect for free from the front of all 496 Morrisons stores between tomorrow, the 22nd until 24th December. 

By giving the carrots away, Morrisons hopes to encourage families to choose wonky vegetables more often to help cur down on food waste as this produce would have otherwise been discarded.

During the festive period, Morrisons carrot sales more than double in the week before Christmas compared to the previous week, showing the Norse tradition of leaving food and drink out for Father Christmas and his reindeer is still as popular as ever.

Andy Todd, Carrot Buyer at Morrisons said: “The spirit of giving is what Christmas is all about, and we’re thrilled to help add a little bit of magic to our customers’ celebrations by giving them a delicious wonky carrot to leave out for Rudolph. Our tasty wonky range helps our British farmers reduce waste and offer customers a delicious alternative at a fraction of the cost, too"

Launched back in 2015, Morrisons Naturally Wonky fruit and vegetables helps to minimise food waste and offers affordable produce to customers. The range includes 24 wonky varieties including potatoes, carrots and parsnips. In the last 12 months, nearly 27,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were sold this way. (I have admit my wife and I are partial to their wonky grapes!)

Mixologist's Garden launches range of fruit garnishes to boost your Christmas home bartending

An innovative new range of exciting ready-to-use fruit garnishes, which is designed to help create eye-catching drinks infused with natural fruit flavours and colours at home, has been launched by Mixologist’s Garden.  

The five delicious fruity options, Lemon, Lime, and Strawberry slices, plus whole Raspberries and Blueberries, act as bar-ready condiments, instantly transforming the appearance and taste of any drink, without having to buy, store, prepare and potentially waste, fresh fruit ingredients.  

Hand selected for their superior quality and freeze-dried to capture 100% of the fruits’ flavour and appearance, Mixologist’s Garden garnishes are convenient and easy to use. The fruits quickly rehydrate on contact with liquid, providing the ultimate at-home bar hack for creating classic and experimental cocktails, plus enhancing fizz, spirits and soft drinks.  

And there's no need to refrigerate as the fruit garnishes have a long shelf life and are available in handy 10g resealable pouches, each one containing the equivalent of approximately 100g of fresh fruit, meaning the perfect serve is always at hand with no slicing or prep needed.  (So no need to keep plasters handy as there are no sharp knives required!)

When faced with a party full of thirsty guests or you simply fancy a tasty aperitif, Mixologist’s Garden provides an effortlessly quick and inexpensive way to elevate any drink at hand. 

Even more versatile than fresh fruit, the garnishes can also be used as a sweet and sour swizzle, a powder for stencilling and a crunch for the glass rim, meaning Instagrammable pours are only a shake or stir away. They can also be mixed with spirits to create bespoke liqueurs. 

For those looking for ways to make their drinks a little ‘extra’, Mixologist’s Garden has a range of serve suggestions to enjoy at home, including a cosmo updated for Autumn/Winter 2023, a party punch perfect for entertaining and even luxury winter truffles.   

Mixologist’s Garden Lemon, Lime and Strawberry slices and whole Raspberries are now available in selected Asda stores nationwide. RRP £2.75 per 10g pouch.  

Mixologist’s Garden Strawberry slices, whole Raspberries and Blueberries are now available in East of England Co-op stores. RRP £2.75 per 10g pouch.  

For more information, please visit them at www.mixologistsgarden.com 

New Year's Resolution? Get it 50% cheaper! With Fruit For the Office!

Fruit For The Office are offering all new customers the chance to get 50% off their first fruit delivery until the end of January. All you need to do is sign up or call 0800 019 4037 and quote the code NEWYEAR when placing their first order.

With the New Year well under way, thousands of people across the UK are attempting to kick start a healthy eating plan for 2012. But as the nation heads back to work this week, trying to stay away from sugary, fatty snacks could get really difficult.

Fruit For The Office are on hand to help office workers to make a few small changes for 2012.

“It can be hard to start the New Year with a total overhaul of all bad habits. From past experience, we think it’s better to take your time, and make small changes that you’ll be able to maintain all year long" points out the firm's director Daniel Ox.

“That’s why we’re keeping our NEWYEAR discount code open for the whole month. Whenever office workers are ready to embark on a healthy eating plan in January, we’ll be here to help them on their way.” Continues Daniel.

Having a regular fruit delivery to the office can help you to achieve a number of popular New Year's resolutions this year:

BETTER HEALTH – A fruit filled diet will give the body more vitamins and nutrients, therefore improving over all health.

WEIGHT LOSS – Replacing unhealthy snacks with fruit will cut down on calories consumed which will aid healthy weight loss.

PROMOTION – A better diet will help to boost energy levels and motivation which is great for employers who want a more productive work force. It’s also brilliant for employees with their eye on a promotion for 2012!

With 50% off all first orders available, it is worth seeing what benefits more fruit could have for you and your office in the New Year.


(NOTE: To check on terms and conditions, please check with Fruit For the Office.)