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Chocolate Dipped-Scorze d'Arance Candite-B&T Proofer for tempered chocolate

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Chocolate Dipped-Scorze d'Arance Candite-B&T Proofer for tempered chocolate

These are so delicious, I can't stop snacking on them.  Everyone loves these, make extra because they won't last long and save some for baking.  I also make lemon for baking and eating. 

The peels were dried in my oven, set on Bread Proof mood.  I had a large batch but, I imagine these would also dry very nicely in the B&T proofer, using a dry setting, No water would be added to your proofer and a higher setting of heat would be used for drying.

The proofer tempered my chocolate beautifully.  Once dipped into the fruit it set up nice and firm, with a nice snap and shine to the chocolate, without melting at room temperature.  The instructions for tempering chocolate are included with your proofer.  

I used Valrhona Le Noir Amer 71% Cacao Dark Bittersweet Chocolate, 2 bars.  I can purchase them at my local Trader Joes.

I made a lovely gift package to someone who requested these chocolate dipped from last years Christmas gift of plain candied orange peels.  Everyone loves these candied peels and the chocolate just makes them even more delicious.

Recipe for the Scorze d' Arance Candite - from My Calabria - Rustic Family Cooking from Italy's Undiscovered South - Rosetta Costantino with Janet Fletcher - 

5 large navel oranges with thik peel, unsprayed  -  I used a thinner peel navel orange - organic is  must - I like leaving the pith on the peel.

4 cups (800 grams) sugar, plus more for coating

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Cut the peel of each orange into strips roughly the shape of a marquise diamond, about 1 inch (2 1/2 centimeters) wide at the widest part and pointed at the tips, slicing from stem end to blossom end and cutting all the way throught the peel, but not into the juicy flesh.  Remove each strip as you cut it.  If you wish to remove more pith, do not slice into strips until you have finished boiling your peels.

Place the peels in a 4-quart stainless saucepan and add 2 quarts (2 liters) cold water.  Bring to a boil over high heat and boil for 2 minutes.  Drain and repeat two more times.  

After third blanching, drain the peels and return them to the pot.  Cover with cold water and let stand until cool, then drain again.

At this point you can remove some of the pith is desired.  Keep at least 1/8 inch of pith on for cushion.  At this point I sliced my peels in approximately 1/4 inch slices.

Return them to the pot, and repeat the 2- minute boiling two more times, for a total of 5 times.

Put the sugar in the 4-quart (4-liter) stainless saucepan.  Add the lemon juice and 2 cups (500 milliliters) water.  Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady but not vigoruous boil and cook for 15 minutes to thicken the syrup.  Add the drained peels.  Cook at a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, ntil the peels look glassy and translucent, about one hour.  To test remove and cool a peel.  You should be able to almost see through it.

Remove the peels from the heat and let them cool in the syrup overnight.  They will plump in the syrup, and the syrup will thicken. (Like jam, I wouldn't advise stirring at this point.  It tends to break the syrup and it will not thicken as much.)

The next morning, set a wire rack over a cookie sheet.  I lined mine with wax paper.  Transfer each strip to the rack by hand, letting the excess syrup drip back into the saucepan.  Use your fingers to scrape excess syrup from the peels; they should not be bripping.  Let them dry on the rack until they are not longer tacky, about 24 hours.

Make a bed of sugar in a flat dish and press each strip in the sugar until evenly coated on both sides, patting the sugar into place.  Return the strips to the rack and let stand at room temperature overnight to dry further.  I used my wall oven set in bread proofer mode.

After drying.  Temper your chocolate.  Dip your candied peels.  

I place them onto parchment paper to dry.  This only takes a few minutes.  They tend not to stick to the parchment paper.  If dried on the rack they will stick.

 

 

tested photos from my IPhone 4S...worked pretty good : ) but I had to resize them in shrink photos, the only way I could figure out  how to do it.  Any suggestions are appreciated for resizing IP4S photos for TFL : )

ADDED:  Don't forget to boil and save your simple syrup.  Iced tea addition is nice, pound cake or maybe tonight I might try it on some chicken wings : )

Sylvia   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

thomaschacon's picture
thomaschacon (not verified)

Those look wonderful.

Another peel that surprised me was sugared lime peel, made very similar to the above (just no chocolate). On second thought, the limes are sliced like so.

You need a taste for bitter, however, as they are bitter. Love them.  

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

The lime sounds delicious, I've seen citrus candied with pulp included, looks delicious and so glossy and pretty.  I guess you can candie just about any fruits and peels.  The sweet and sour is a delicious combinatioon.  

Happy Holidays,

Sylvia 

FlourChild's picture
FlourChild

Dark chocolate and orange, sounds wonderful!

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

and Welcome to TFL : )

Sylvia

GSnyde's picture
GSnyde

Oh...and [drool!], too.

Glenn

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Your Yumm's and drool's are always much appreciated : )

Sylvia

varda's picture
varda

Sylvia, Looks beautiful.  What an inspiration!  -Varda

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

They really come in handy during the holidays for gift giving and baking.

Sylvia

Franko's picture
Franko

Hi Sylvia,

Your chocolate dipped, candied orange peels look marvelous! I remember you doing the candied peels from last year and they sounded great, but this certainly takes them up a notch or two, especially being dipped in Valrhona.

I'm glad to see the proofer works well for tempering chocolate as I'm planning some chocolate work myself sometime before Christmas. I might just follow your lead and try the peels in addition to what I already had in mind. Thanks for the great writeup on your procedure for doing these. Very clear and easy to follow. One question...what do you do with the lovely orange scented syrup afterwards? I hope you save it since it would be excellent for brushing on a cake before icing it.

All the best,

Franko

 

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Thank you, Franko!

These are just so delicious..I swear everytime I renew my supply of candied peel, I just about OD on them.  Can't eat just one..I'm not going to have any left for baking if I don't quit snacking on them.  The Valrhona melted so nicely in the proofer and, what a time saver for tempering..not much fuss at all.  I still use my instant thermometer in the bowl to keep check on the temperature.  The proofer keeps the chocolate nice for dipping after it's be tempered.

The recipe I made last year was different and very nice.  This one doesn't require standing over the pot for hours.  I hope to use some lovely madarins next batch.  I used my neighbors organic oranges last time cara cara oranges and they were very sweet pulped and a lovely rich orange color for the candied peel.  

Be cautious not to over cook the peel..or over boil..it will tend to loose it's color and chewiness.

I remember about the syrup after I finished the post and got a bit distracted and forgot about adding it in...thanks for reminding me.  I always save my syrup.  I'm thinking it would also make a nice paint for pastries this year, muffins, ect...oh, my sweet tooth : )  Happy Holidays to you and yours,

Sylvia

bnom's picture
bnom

I'll bet slices of young ginger treated in the same way as your orange rind and dipped in chocolate would be pretty wonderful.  I'm hoping Santa will leave a BT proofer under the tree this year.   Thanks for posting and Happy Holidays to you!

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Thanks, bnom!

I have some 'purchased' candied ginger sitting on my counter...hmmm...did dip one in the chocolate and was pretty tasty..saving it for some ginger bread cakes..now a chocolate one dipped would make a nice garnish :)

I hope you've been a good girl!

Happy Holidays to you also : )

Sylvia