spiced dried chocolate oranges
June 25, 2011 § 8 Comments
Beware, these chocolate oranges are deliciously addictive. This is the third time I have made them in the last week and finally I have had a chance to photograph them before they are gobbled up. I got the idea for dried chocolate oranges the other day when I visited a little florist in Thornbury. On a shelf in the middle of the shop, hard to miss, there were little bundles of all different dried fruit. I was admiring the apples, glistening with a drizzle of toffee, when I spied the dried orange segments each lovingly dipped in chocolate. I was just about to take a beautifully wrapped package up to the counter when I saw the price… $13! Needless to say that was enough to put the stingy student in me off, I went out and bought some green and blacks chocolate, picked some oranges off our very own tree, sliced them up, dried them in the oven, melted the chocolate, ‘lovingly dipped’ each orange segment, waited impatiently for them to set, and then sat down and nibbled and nibbled and nibbled until… I thought, I better make some more.
Recipe for spiced dried chocolate oranges
(Note, it may be a good idea to make double)
2 oranges
3 Tbsp raw organic sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch cloves
150 g very good quality dark chocolate
Pre-heat oven to 110°C/250°F. Cut the oranges in half lengthways and then slice thinly (about 3 mm thick) as bellow.
Toss the oranges in a bowl along with the sugar and spices until evenly covered. Carefully place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and pop in the pre-heated oven until the rind becomes brittle and dry. About 2 hours, however this will vary considerably depending on your oven.
Melt the chocolate in a bowl over boiling water. Dip each orange segment into the chocolate. Allow to set on a tray lined with baking paper before devouring.
the invisible cookbook 
Hi there Sophie. These oranges sound delicious and I can imagine they must smell amazing too as they dry in the oven. What is it about some foods that are just made to go together. I reckon yours would taste better than the $13.00 ones in the shop too. Cheers xx
Yes, they do fill the house with a lovely warm smell and thank you for your confidence in me… The shop ones did look pretty amazing.
Wow Sophie you are so lucky to have your own orange tree! Ill bet yours tasted even better than the ones in the florist! Well done 🙂
I know, having your very own orange tree, along with a lemon tree is possibly the best thing in the whole world. We just have to guard them from the watchful neighbours who also think its fabulous we have an orange and lemon tree, Ha ha.
Hej Sophie, all the way from Stockholm 🙂
Firstly, these look divine, and secondly, I just wanted you to know that I’ve put in an order for the book you suggested on Lucy’s blog (Wild Fermentation).
Thanks for the rec – I can’t wait to get reading!
x
Oh yay, I doubt you will regret it!! Glad I could be of assistance.
Hi there. I made these yesterday and I am not sure if they came out right. Are they suppose to be hard? If so, how are you suppose to eat them that way? Thanks. From a gal who needs to use up a box of oranges.
Hi there,
Yes they are meant to be hard and a little bit chewy. I always find there is a bit of variation depending on which part of the tray in the oven the segments were sitting in. However, whilst they are hard, they should not be so much so that you can’t bite into them.
I find they are best nibbled on bit by bit.
I hope that helps.
Good luck!