Easy Homemade Candied Lemon Slices
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Easy Homemade Candied Lemon Slices
Candied lemon slices are one of those simple homemade treats that feel special without much effort. If you love lemon, these sweet and tart slices are perfect for topping desserts, stirring into tea, or snacking. As they dry, the lemon flavor becomes more concentrated, giving you a bright citrus punch in every bite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients you already have at home.
- Budget friendly and a great way to use up lemons.
- Versatile for baking, tea, cocktails, or snacking.
- Naturally flavored with no dyes or additives.
- Easy drying options whether you air dry or use the oven.
What You’ll Learn
- How to slice lemons for the best texture.
- How to simmer lemons in syrup without turning them mushy.
- How to dry candied lemon slices using two different methods.
- How to store them so they stay fresh.
- How to use the leftover lemon syrup instead of wasting it.
Ingredients
- Water
- Lemons
- Sugar
Instructions
- Prep the Lemons: Wash the lemons in warm water since you will be eating the peel. Slice them evenly. A mandolin works, but a sharp knife is perfectly fine. Remove all seeds. Check again while drying because a few can hide.
- Make the Simple Syrup: Simmer equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves.
- Cook the Lemon Slices: Add the lemon slices to the syrup and simmer until the rinds soften and turn translucent.
- Dry the Candied Lemons: Place the slices on parchment paper. Do not overlap them.
You can dry them two ways:
Air dry: Let them sit on a parchment‑lined baking sheet for 2 days.
Oven dry: Bake at 200F for about 1 hour, then let them cool.
Turn the slices occasionally so they dry evenly. - Save the Syrup:Do not throw out the lemon syrup. It is liquid gold. Use it to sweeten tea, glaze muffins, flavor cocktails, or add to cake batter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use regular lemons?
Yes. Regular lemons work great. Meyer lemons are sweeter, but they are not easy to find in our region.
Do you need a mandolin?
No. A mandolin helps with consistent slices, but a sharp knife works just fine.
How do you store candied lemon slices?
Once fully dried, store them in a resealable jar.
How do you dry candied lemons?
Air dry for 2 days or bake at 200F for an hour and let them cool.
What do you do with leftover lemon syrup?
Use it as a glaze, stir it into tea, add it to cake batter, lemon glaze for muffins, or make candy with it.
Candy Tips
- Wash lemons well since you will be eating the peel.
- Remove seeds before cooking and check again while drying.
- Turn slices while drying for even results.
- Do not overlap slices on the baking sheet.
- Save the sugar water for tea, cocktails, lemon cake, or glaze.
Candied Lemon Slices
These homemade candied lemon slices are sweet, tart, and full of bright citrus flavor. They are easy to make with simple ingredients and work perfectly for topping desserts, stirring into tea, or snacking. As the slices dry, the lemon flavor becomes more concentrated, giving you a delicious treat that stores well and adds a pop of lemon to anything you make.
Servings: 1 jar
Equipment
- 1 Pot with lid
- spoon
Ingredients
- 4 each lemons
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Wash and cut lemons 1/4" slices, discarding ends & removing seeds.
- Mix the water and sugar together in a pot.
- Place the pot on heat to dissolve sugar & add lemons.
- Cover the pot and cook on low heat.
- Stir occasionally to keep from burning. The last 10-15 minutes, stir often, turning down heat of the lemons start to boil a lot.
- Remove from heat and use tongs to place the lemons on parchment paper on a baking sheet
- Allow the lemons to cool, removing any missed seeds.
- Take lemon sugar water and pour into jar for tea.
- Allow lemons to sit for 2 days on tray to dry. Flip the lemons after first day
Video
Notes
- Wash the lemons in warm water as you will be eating them
- Make sure to remove the seeds and inspect when they are drying for seeds again, some can be missed
- As the lemon slices dry, turn them over to promote even drying
- Do not throw out the sugar water that was used to make the lemons, use this to sweeten your tea, cocktails, cakes and make a delicious glaze
