Soda Bread With Dark Chocolate And Candied Orange Peel Recipe Epicuriouscom

SODA BREAD WITH DARK CHOCOLATE AND CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; butter parchment. Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend. Add butter; rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in chocolate and orange peel. Whisk buttermilk and egg in medium bowl to blend; add to dry ingredients. Stir just until incorporated.
• Turn dough out onto floured work surface and knead gently just until dough comes together, about 5 turns. Form dough into 6 1/2-inch-diameter round, about 2 to 2 1/2 inches high. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Using sharp knife, cut 1-inch-deep, 3-inch-long slits in top of bread, forming sunburst pattern.
• Bake bread until well browned and very firm when pressed and tester inserted into center comes out clean, turning baking sheet halfway through baking, about 1 hour 10 minutes total. Transfer bread to rack and cool completely, at least 3 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in foil and store at room temperature.)

ORANGE PEEL BREAD

Steps:

• Place the orange zest into a saucepan and add water to cover; bring to a boil and cook 5 minutes. Strain the zest through a mesh strainer and return to the saucepan along with 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/4 cup of water. Return to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring constantly, until the water has evaporated. Allow to cool until lukewarm.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl; set aside. Whisk the egg and 1 cup of sugar in a bowl. Stir in the butter, milk, and cooled orange zest until blended; stir in the flour mixture until just moistened then pour into the prepared loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• Making the Candied Orange Peel
• Wash the oranges and remove the peel with a sharp vegetable peeler, avoiding any white pith. Put the orange peel in a saucepan with 4 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil for 5 Minutes. Drain. Repeat this process one more time.
• Put 1 cup of the sugar and 1 2/3 cups water in a clean saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the blanched orange peel to the boiling syrup, immediately remove from the heat, cover the pan, and set aside overnight at room temperature.
• The next day, drain the peel, reserving the syrup. Add 1/3 cup of the remaining sugar to the reserved syrup, bring to a boil, and return the peel to the syrup. Remove from the heat, cover, and set aside overnight at room temperature. Repeat this process three more times, over three nights, adding 1/3 cup sugar each time. Once the peel is candied, let drain at room temperature for 1 day, then cut into thin slivers. (The peel can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 month.)
• Dipping
• Temper the dark chocolate . Using a fork, dip each strip of candied orange peel in the chocolate, then lay it on an acetate sheet. Refrigerate the chocolate-dipped strips for 10 Minutes before detaching from the sheet. (Store in a cool place away from moisture for up to 1 month.)

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, score orange peel into four wedge-shaped sections. Loosen peel with a spoon and remove; save fruit for another use. , Place peel in a heavy saucepan and cover with cold water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain. Repeat process twice, draining well each time. Cool for 5 minutes. Carefully scrape off excess pulp from peel. Cut the peel into 1/4-in. strips. , In another saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium heat until clear. Add orange peel strips; boil gently until until all syrup is absorbed and peel is transparent, about 30-35 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer strips to wire racks for at least 3 hours or until dry. , Melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip each strip halfway into chocolate. Cool on wire racks coated with cooking spray.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, score orange peel into four wedge-shaped sections. Loosen peel with a spoon and remove; save fruit for another use.
• Place peel in a heavy saucepan and cover with cold water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain, then repeat process twice, draining well each time. Cool for 5 minutes.
• Carefully scrape off excess pulp from peel. Cut the peel into 1/4 inch strips.
• In another saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium heat until clear. Add orange peel strips; boil gently until all syrup is absorbed and peel is transparent, about 30-35 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer strips to wire racks for at least 3 hours or until dry.
• Melt the chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip each strip halfway into chocolate. Dip the other half in sugar if desired.
• Cool on racks that have been coated with nonstick cooking spray.
• Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Yield: about 3 cups.

DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED CANDIED ORANGE PEELS

Steps:

• Cut oranges in half. Juice the halves.
• "Gut" the orange halves of all pulp & pith.
• Slice the halves into strips or triangles (I do triangles).
• Blanch orange peels so they will retain their colour.
• Candie the orange peels: aproximately 1/2 cup water & 1 cup sugar per 3 oranges; bring all 3 to a boil then immediately reduce heat to a simmer; simmer until all liquid has been absorbed by the oranges; STIR FREQUENTLY!
• Toss the candied orange peels in sugar to lightly coat, then spread in one layer on a baking sheet.
• Bake in a low temperature oven (200 to 250F) until orange peels are sticky but not wet.
• COOL.
• Melt dark chocolate in a double-boiler and proceed to dip the candied orange peels in the chocolate and lay on waxed paper in a cool, dry place to set. A cold cellar is ideal. If you have a garage, there is good in colder climates.
• ***One of the best things about these candies is that you can spread out making them over a week or two! Refrigerate orange peels after each step in an airtight container.
• ***Use oranges with very thick peels. I find sunkist oranges are very good to use for that reason.