Simple Candied Ginger Recipe

Let's get creative in the kitchen, shall we? Surely, you've seen fresh ginger in the produce section before, but do you ever wonder what to do with them? We have a simple method to make homemade candied ginger, which is a perfect treat for a cold winter's day. If you love gingerbread, ginger ale, or ginger tea, then you'll adore this recipe. Susan Olayinka, recipe developer and food photog from The Flexible Fridge, assembled this sweet work of art. It's great the work-from-home Moms club and weekend chefs. You can set this on the stove and let it simmer on its own.

The benefits of eating ginger abound. From easing menstrual cramps and curing nausea to lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease, you really can't go wrong enjoying ginger. Olayinka explains even the UK is totally hip to the spicy plant. "It's super common in the UK but mostly in health food shops," she told us, "Also.. pregnant ladies have used these for nausea!" Healthline experts confirm that ginger is filled with antioxidants that also aid digestion (to ease an upset stomach) and releases hormones to regulate blood pressure. Naturally a bit spicy, this candied ginger recipe adds a wonderfully sweet balance — so let's dive right in!

Who knew making candy would be this easy! This recipe only require 6 ounces of fresh ginger, 4 cups water, and 2 ½ cups of white granulated sugar. Yes, we promise, that's absolutely it. Olayinka suggests divvying up your ingredients before you start. Take your water (spring, purified, or tap) and measure out the 4 cups in two even portions, as you'll add the water at different times in the recipe. You'll want to divide the white sugar as well, in one bowl measure out 2 cups and in another measure out ½ cup.

To begin the recipe, grab your trusty cutting board and peeler. Wash the ginger thoroughly first, then peel it. Once the pieces are de-skinned, use a sharp knife to slice the pieces width-wise into half inch rounds. Grab a large saucepan and fill it about halfway up with 2 cups of water. Set the heat to medium-high. Drop the disks into the plain water to boil. Let this cook for 1 hour, then drain the water.

Though you just got done boiling the ginger, get ready to do it all again — this time with a sweet twist. With the drained ginger still in the pot, go ahead and pour in the remaining 2 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar. Boil the ginger rounds for yet another hour. Olayinka told our team, the biggest challenge at this step is, "To not let the sugar burn and turn black!" So, simply make sure that the sugar dissolves and that you give everything a good stir once in a while.

You'll know the ginger in nearly done once you see a darkened syrup develop. From there, remove the pan from the heat and drain away the syrup (use at your discretion). Place the boiled ginger pieces onto a small serving plate. Pour your final ½ cup of white granulated sugar over the ginger pieces. You may then begin tossing them until they're fully coated with the granulated sugar. These decadent ginger bon-bons are almost ready!

It's the texture for us! This is one confection we you'll love, not only for the flavor, but also for the texture. "The texture is AMAZING! You wouldn't think so as ginger doesn't have a great texture," Olayinka says. "It's chewy from the sugar and all the boiling." Once the candies are covered in sugar, leave them out on a tray for one hour.

Now, you may be wondering how you'll store and share these goodies. Storing these in a glass is ideal. This would make a perfect personal gift, and, like all food, they taste the best when shared among family! When it comes time for serving, Olayinka advises to serve the candies "simply as is. But these can be put into biscuit, pies etc." We hope you enjoy this simple and sweet recipe!