Orange Slices in Honey Syrup

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Honey-orange slices are gently simmered until tender, then glazed in a spiced honey syrup and water bath canned into small jars. Spoon them into tea, tuck them onto a cheese board, or use them to dress up salads and desserts with bright citrus flavor and a cozy, warming finish.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Canning Time10

Total Time1 10

Course: Preserve

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Orange Canning Recipes, Oranges in Syrup, Preserved Oranges

Servings: servings, Makes 3 half pint jars

Equipment

Water Bath Canner

Ingredients

Oranges in Syrup

2 ½ lbs oranges thinly sliced (discard ends and seeds)
1/2 cup water plus more for pre-simmering
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups liquid honey
3 tbsp bottled lemon juice

Optional Spice Bag

3 whole cinnamon sticks about 4 inches, broken
1 tsp whole cloves
1 tsp whole allspice
Cheesecloth and Kitchen String

Instructions

Optional spice bag: Place cinnamon, cloves, and allspice in cheesecloth and tie into a secure bundle.
Tenderize oranges: Put orange slices in a large saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer gently 15 minutes, until peel is tender. Drain, discarding the liquid and set aside.
Make syrup: In a clean saucepan, combine sugar, honey, water and bottled lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
Glaze slices: Add drained oranges and spice bag (if using). Return to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently about 40 minutes, until slices are glossy and well glazed. Remove and discard spice bag.
Prep canner/jars: Meanwhile, prepare boiling-water canner, jars, and lids. Keep jars hot.
Fill jars: Using a slotted spoon, pack hot orange slices into hot jars, leaving a little more than ½ inch headspace. Ladle hot syrup over oranges, maintaining ½ inch headspace. Debubble, adjust headspace, wipe rims, and apply lids and bands fingertip-tight.
Process: Water-bath process 10 minutes (for pint or half-pint jars), adjusting for altitude as needed. Cool 12–24 hours and check seals.

Notes

Start with firm, fresh oranges, as softer fruit tends to break down more during the long simmer. Thin, uniform slices candy more consistently. If some slices are much thicker than others, the thick ones can stay chewy while the thin ones turn overly soft. Discard ends and seeds as you go. Seeds can add bitterness, and the end pieces don’t pack as neatly in jars.

Simmering the oranges in water helps soften the peel and reduce bitterness from the pith. It also pre-cooks the slices so they hold their shape better in the syrup. Don't skip this step.

When you first bring the honey, sugar, and lemon juice to a simmer, stir only enough to dissolve the sugar. After the oranges are added, keep stirring minimal so slices stay intact.

Keep it at a gentle boil/simmer. A hard boil can break up slices and create excess foam.

Altitude Adjustments

The altitude adjustments for water bath canning Orange Slices are as follows:

For Under 1,000 Feet in Elevation - 10 minutes for Pints and Half Pints.
For 1,001 to 6,000 Feet in Elevation - 15 minutes for Pints and Half Pints.
Over 6,000 Feet in Elevation - 20 minutes for Pints and Half Pints.

Nutrition