Are you making some recipe that calls for candied citron but you cannot find them? We are sharing the candied citron substitutes for you. Candied citron can be hard to find, but there are some alternate options. So, let’s have a look!
Candied Citron Substitutes
To be honest, the majority of people don’t even know what candied citron is since it’s not common. Contrary to usual belief, it is not candied grapefruit peel or lemon. This is because citron is the fruit (it’s a semitropical fruit) that has a higher similarity to lemon, but the skin will be much thicker. The candied citron is made by blanching citrons in water and boiled in the sugar syrup.
After boiling, these citrons are dried. The candied citron is used for adding the floral and mildly sweet flavor to panettone, fruitcakes, and other confections. There are different options available in candied citrus fruits, and all of them can be interchanged with each other. So, let’s see which substitutes can be used.
1) Orange Slices
Yes, you read that right! The orange slices might not be candied, but they can be added to the top of desserts. The candied citrons are often added to the top of the desserts to improve the presentation. So, if you just want to decorate the dessert, orange slices will do fine. In addition, it will add a citrus-like fragrance to the desserts.
2) Citron Peel
In case you don’t want to add orange slices or need something to add to the recipe, you can opt for the citron peel. The citron fruit has a sour pulp. On the contrary, you can opt for the candied peel. The candied peel is suitable for baking the desserts. It can also be stirred into granola to add a refreshing flavor with hints of sweet flavor. Also, the candied citron peel is readily available in supermarkets.
3) Lemon Rind
If you want to make the pancakes and muffins and need candied citron, you can opt for the lemon rind. The best thing about lemon rind is that it adds a refreshing and bright flavor to the recipe. To illustrate, the lemon rind is the peel of lemon. The exterior part of the rind has a yellow color which can be used for flavoring salads, cakes, and tarts.
For the most part, the lemon rind is grated for adding flavor to the recipes (mostly desserts). When grated, the lemon rind will make lemon zest. So, you can use the lemon rind as well as lemon zest!
4) Orange Peel
Oranges are the readily available citrus fruits out there, and their peel can perfectly replace candied citron. The candied citrons have a sweet and tangy flavor which makes orange peel a fine substitute. The orange peel can be grated, so you can add it to desserts. In case you have time, you can boil the orange peel in sugar syrup, and it will become a perfect replacement for candied citron.
5) Citron Slices
For everyone who is looking for a healthy substitute of candied citrons for grazing boards and cheese boards, they can opt for citron slices. This is because citron slices will have a real citron flavor. However, it won’t have added sugar like candied citron. When using citron slices, you’ve to understand that they cannot be added to desserts because of the juicy texture.
6) Clementine Slices
Clementine is another citrus fruit that is extremely sweet with a hint of tanginess. It is easy to peel skin. That being said, if you want to replace candied citron on cheese boards, you can opt for clementine slices. The clementine slices will have a juicy texture and shiny appearance. Also, the refreshing flavor is amazing (you won’t even miss the high sugar content).
7) Candied Pineapple
If your recipe demands candied fruit, you can opt for candied pineapple. Pineapple might not be the citrus fruit, but it still goes fine as a substitute for candied citron. The candied pineapple has a fine balance of sweet and sour taste which is why it’s a good substitute. The candied pineapple can be bought from the grocery store.
In addition, you can opt for canned pineapple because it’s cooked in sugar syrup. All in all, these substitutes can be used in cheese boards, glazing boards, and desserts!