58 Orange Recipes That Will Brighten Up Your Table
All the find citrus-packed recipes your heart desires.
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLIST: CHELSEA ZIMMER
Give us a citrus recipe any day of the week, any month of the year. There's just something about the bright, sweet flavor of oranges that lends itself to cocktails, cookies, cakes, salads, and more. From our roasted orange chicken recipe to a couple of over-the-top orange cakes, our favorite orange recipes are a zesty crew of must-haves. Try one of our fruity main courses like the Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges with a citrus-infused side like our Skillet Radishes with Orange Zest and Tarragon. Sip on a Basil Bourbon Orange Smash to wash it all down. Then, rise and shine the next morning to nibble on an orange-zested breakfast to start your day.
Here you'll find citrus-packed recipes that range from weeknight dinner options to holiday showstoppers. Grab a bag of oranges and scheme your meal plan with these bright and zippy recipes.
Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
This recipe makes two logs of dough that need to be chilled before slicing and baking. Alternatively, you can freeze one for later use. Just thaw it in the fridge before slicing. Bonus points for no egg in the dough, which means you (and your crew of happy helpers) can snag a taste before baking.
Orange Peel Pound Cake
Bright orange flavor is weaved throughout and atop this pound cake (take a gander at that citrus-packed glaze, friends). The batter calls for plain Greek yogurt to up the tangy flavor and keep each bite perfectly moist and delicious.
Homemade Orange Rolls
These rolls are the real deal—utterly decadent, with a zippy, orange-infused spin that you won't be able to resist. We recommend serving them with a sausage casserole and a bubbly mimosa.
Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas With Orange Zest And Buttery Almonds
This straightforward recipe gets a hefty dose of flavor from orange zest and fresh orange juice. It tames the Creole seasoning and adds a salty, sweet, and tangy finish.
Orange Meringue Pie
A citrus pie topped with a fluffy layer of meringue is a dessert that can hold its own on just about any occasion—Christmas dinner, a church potluck, you name it. The process we use for creating the meringue takes a bit of extra time, but it prevents the "weeping" effect that can sometimes plague an otherwise stunning meringue by allowing the sugar to fully dissolve into egg whites.
Cranberry-Orange Cake With Orange Buttercream
The fresh oranges garnishing the top of this decadent layer cake top off a citrus confection that practically begs for a second slice. Orange zest and fresh-squeezed juice add brightness and balance the tart cranberries.
Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken
This is a weeknight winner all cooked up on a single sheet pan. Potatoes, rosemary, chicken thighs, Kalamata and Castelvetrano olives, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and two naval oranges bring loads of flavor to the table.
Collard Green Salad With Oranges And Port-Soaked Cherries
This salad is a verifiable showstopper. Serve it alongside salmon during the week or a gorgeous roast for a holiday-worthy spread.
Strawberry Orange Juice
No sweeteners, no fizzy mix-ins—this juice recipe features just two ingredients with delicious results. If you love fresh-squeezed orange juice, you'll love this sweet and tangy twist.
Florida Orange Grove Pie
This recipe was originally published in 1961 in The Junior League of Tampa's The Gasparilla Cookbook. It features a candy-like crust of baked meringue and an angel-pie filling, all that take advantage of the bounty of Florida's iconic orange groves.
Basil Bourbon Orange Smash
Our Basil Simple Syrup goes a long way when it comes to this recipe. It gives the bourbon cocktail an edge of herbal flavor that plays off the citrus like a wonder.
Orange Cake
We've got orange in the cake layers, orange in the glaze, and—finally—candied orange slices garnishing the top of this showstopper. This recipe was published in our December 1995 issue and has been a holiday mainstay on tables across the South ever since.
Cranberry-Orange Bread
Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Homemade quick bread bursts with bright flavor thanks to orange zest in the batter. Even more zest and orange juice add to the icing on the cake.
Cranberry Orange Sauce
A classically elevated cranberry sauce, this Thanksgiving staple owes some of its holiday magic to freshly squeezed orange juice. Let it simmer on the stove while the rest of the meal comes together.
Blood Orange Holiday Punch
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Ruby red oranges guarantee a punch that's as vibrant as it is flavorful. This superb sipper is a good as reason as any to break out your punch bowl, and is soon to become your signature once everyone at the gathering catches an eyeful, then tastes a cup-full.
Spiced Orange Rolls
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Waking up to the tantalizing smell of Spiced Orange Rolls baking in the oven is a present for the whole household. Serve them with savory sides like bacon or quiche, and you'll have the whole breakfast crew singing your praises.
Orange Sherbet Salad
It's well past time to welcome this old-fashioned frozen treat back to your supper table. In the South, a "salad" doesn't have to include leafy greens, and this delicious recipe is the proof in he pudding.
Orange Sherbet Punch
Put your old punch bowl to use for this much-loved punch made with two kinds of sherbet, ginger ale, and fresh juices. Dress it up with orange sherbet and slices on top.
Luscious Orange Panna Cotta
This orange eggless custard is an impressive dessert that will earn you the title of dessert royalty. Toss orange sections with turbinado sugar, rather than granulated sugar, for richer flavor
White Cake With Cranberry Filling And Orange Buttercream
Cranberry and orange is a flavorful duo we can't get enough of, especially during the holiday season. This Christmas white cake sings merrily with the tart, citrus flavors of a cherry, orange, and cranberry filling.
Orange Chess Pie With Cranberry Gelée
Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
The citrus chess filling in this luscious layered dessert are utterly delightful, especially paired with tartness from another gelatinous cranberry layer. Be patient with this pie; it needs to be chilled completely before completing.
Sparkling Orange Wheels
Never underestimate the power a good garnish has to make or break a recipe. These orange wheels couldn't be easier to make but will instantly elevate a cocktail.
Spiffed-Up Orange-Rosé Spritzer
A light and fizzy drink made for Southern-signature hot and humid weather, this citrus spritzer will cool you right down. Make sure to save some orange slices for sophisticated garnish.
Lemon-Orange Pound Cake
This recipe, from the Stop and Smell the Rosemary cookbook, is simple as can be but gussied-up with two types of icing. Vanilla and lemon-orange icings dance together wonderfully on top of this Bundt cake classic made for bridal showers or spring tea.
Fresh Citrus Cupcakes With Orange Buttercream
These cupcakes offer tantalizing bright, citrus-filled bites all the way through. Orange zest and juice add vibrant flavor to adorable miniature sweet treats.
Lemon-Orange Buttercream Frosting
A few simple citrus additions send classic buttercream frosting over the edge. Use this smooth topping with orange and lemon juice and zest on your favorite cakes and cookies to instantly brighten them up.
Orange Rolls
Start your morning off right with a delectable pastry made with sunshine-y Florida citrus. The gooey orange marmalade center is the ideal solution for the most important meal of the day.
Dark Chocolate-Pistachio-Orange Kisses
The three-fold flavor combination of dark chocolate, pistachio, and orange will be like a flavor party for your eager taste buds. One bite of this rich, buttery, and bright treat will have you reaching for a second.
Blushing Mimosas
Classic mimosas with Champagne and orange juice are already delightful, but this rendition with pineapple juice and grenadine is downright delicious. Take care not to use orange juice from concentrate for the best results.
Cranberry-Orange Bundt Cake
What Southerner can say no to a scrumptious Bundt cake? We've yet to meet a one. This Bundt takes advantage of sweet and tart flavor from the classic flavor duet of cranberries and oranges.
Orange-Basil Yogurt Dip
Switch up your usual salty dip at your next tailgate for this sweet and tangy crowd-pleaser. We love it served with breadsticks and an assortment of grilled crudités like peppers and zucchini.
Bourbon-Orange Biscotti
If you love old-fashioned desserts, this spirited cookie is right up your alley. They're the perfect post-dinner treat and well-suited for an espresso dip.
Aperol And Blood Orange-Mint Spritz
Tart and sweet blood oranges are the stars of this bubbly cocktail, though navel oranges make for an easy swap. Pair oranges with Italian favorite aperitif, Aperol, along with Prosecco and a bit of mint for a sip that is sure to satisfy.
Blueberry-Citrus Rolls With Orange Glaze
We apologize in advance to your go-to blueberry muffin recipe, which will surely be put to rest after you try this delightful, fruity pastry. Jammy berries and orange zest stand in for cinnamon rolls' usual brown sugar filling and couldn't be more tasty.
Orange Cream Granita
A hot day calls for a refreshing, frozen treat, and this citrus granita is hear to answer your prayers. Freshly squeezed orange juice, not from concentrate, is the trick to the tastiest, tangiest, flavor.
Grand Marnier Cakes
These delightful miniature pound cakes look pretty enough for a tea party, but you can also bake the recipe in a standard-size tube pan. If you love rum cake, you'll go crazy for these orange liqueur confections.
Ginger-Orange Mocktails
This tasty non-alcoholic beverage has just four ingredients, including a dash of Angostura orange bitters. Of course, guests can punch it up with a shot of vodka or gin.
Lemon-Orange Chiffon Cake
This vibrant dessert is as tasty as it is pretty. We use both orange zest and juice for bountiful fresh flavor, while egg whites guarantee your fluffiest cake yet.
Coconut Panna Cotta With Blood Orange Granita
This impressive, dinner-party-worthy dessert is inspired by ambrosia. The icy orange shaved topping balances the rich and creamy panna cotta beneath. Plan ahead as the recipe requires at least eight hours of chill time.
Orange Infused Bourbon
If you love pure, old fashioned bourbon but are intrigued by other infused liquors like vodka, we encourage you to divert off the beaten path and try this tasty bourbon alternative. This recipe infuses subtle citrus notes that complements full-bodied bourbon beautifully.
Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie
Make your dough up to a month ahead, then bring in the fresh fruit for a tasty, crusty slab pie everyone will adore. This recipe uses orange zest and juice, in addition to sweet orange blossom honey.
Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake
This irresistible dessert has tangy orange curd between supple layers of cakes smothered in Pecan-Cream Cheese Frosting. The fresh orange curd needs to chill for eight hours, so be sure to bake this cake a day ahead.
Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy
Classic hot toddy cocktails receive a citrus spin in this recipe. We use orange pekoe tea bags to infuse fruity flavor throughout.
Nehi Orange Poke Cake
This intriguing recipe, inspired by Mama Dip's Family Cookbook, uses fresh orange zest and flavor from orange soda. Slice up even more orange for garnish.
Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle
This gorgeous trifle is concocted from frozen pound cake, orange buttercream, and cranberries. Garnish with fluffy whipped cream, white chocolate curls, and rosemary sprigs.
Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon With Veggies And Oranges
Roasting oranges with your salmon will enhance the dish's brightness and flavor. This quick citrus supper is ready in under half an hour.
Spicy Cranberry Orange Relish
A much more interesting take on Thanksgiving staple cranberry sauce, this spicy-sweet sauce packs in loads more flavor than the canned stuff. Juice from one orange adds brightness while a jalapeño brings heat and fresh flat-leaf parsley builds in depth.
Southern Sunrise Cocktail
This summertime favorite cocktail has a short ingredient list that features, you guessed it, oranges. Mix in some tequila and grenadine, and you've got a winning summer sipper.
Baked Ham With Brown Sugar-Citrus Glaze
A fresh and fruity finish is exactly what your holiday ham needs. Make sure to garnish with oranges too for a pretty presentation and temping, citrus aroma.
Best Ambrosia Ever
This best-ever take of Ambrosia isn't quite like you grandmother made it, but you just might like it better. We use multiple types of oranges (here, navel, Cara Cara, and blood oranges) for an array of bright, fresh colors.
Ambrosia Cinnamon Rolls
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
This playful spin on ambrosia is a citrus-filled breakfast winner. There's juicy oranges throughout this dish: juiced in the dough, zested in he filling, and split into pieces as delectable garnish.
Texas Margarita
Unlike a typical margarita, this recipe serves up Texas-sized flavor thanks to fresh orange juice. Juice one orange to combine with orange liqueur and other ingredients, lining the glass' rim with margarita salt if you please.
Radish, Avocado, And Citrus Salad
This fabulously bright salad satisfies for lunch or with dinner as a side. The crunch of peppery radishes and the creaminess of the avocado are balanced beautifully by the bite of sweet and tart citrus from orange and grapefruit.
Classic Cranberry Salad
Cranberry salad wouldn't be the holiday staple it is without the help of oranges. For this recipe, juice two oranges to complement other tasty fruits and nuts.
Cranberry-Orange Muffins
Molly Bolton
We love cranberry orange muffins for their cozy flavor profile—sweet, tart, citrusy, with a touch of warmth from ground spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. This recipe is made similarly to many butter-based cakes, which results in a lighter, softer, more tender muffin.
Fresh Fig, Pecan, And Orange Crostata
Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Store-bought pie dough makes a rustic pie-like dessert filled with jammy figs, tangy cream cheese, and crunchy pecans. The secret to success with this dessert is mounding the fruit in the middle so the pastry doesn’t leak.
Romaine Salad With Oranges And Radishes
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Crunchy yet tender romaine lettuce shares the spotlight with crisp, peppery radishes and sweet pops of juicy orange segments in this salad. This zesty recipe will stand out alongside a flavorful main like roasted lamb.
Orange Chiffon Cake
We thought that chiffon cake was as good as it got, but adding oranges to the mix is a game-changer. Delicate cake is light as air and tasty as can be with subtle notes of citrus.
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