Blood Orange Recipes

Blood oranges are probably my favourite citrus fruit. Their gorgeously tinted, juicy segments have a unique flavour – sweet orange spiked with a hint of tartness – making them perfect in both savoury and sweet dishes. There are so many blood orange recipes out there – from salads to roasted and grilled meat and poultry dishes to decadent desserts. I use them everywhere I use regular oranges, and of course you can always substitute regular oranges for the blood oranges in these recipes.

Blood oranges may look like regular oranges or they may be tinted with a streaks of red. They can also be a much darker red all over. Inside, you will find blood oranges may be merely tinted with a bit of pink or red, or they may be full on scarlet. Regardless of the hue, the pink or red tinge is caused by the presence of high concentrations of the pigment anthocyanin. Anthocyanin is a powerful antioxidant which may help neutralise the effects of free radicals, making blood oranges extra good for you too. Depending on where you live, blood oranges are in season somewhere around January to April, although this can vary year to year. A reader recently told me that in Florida they are in season all winter, which I know I would love.

Favourite Blood Orange Recipes

My pretty Chocolate Blood Orange Marble Cake looks complicated but it’s a breeze with my step by step instructions. Delicious served with a cup of tea or coffee, this loaf cake also makes a lovely gift.

Pressed for time? This Blood Orange Syllabub is the work of moments. Serve this luscious, creamy dessert in pretty glasses topped with fresh fruit and amaretti biscuit crumbs and you’ll be guaranteed to impress your guests.

This moist and flavourful Blood Orange Pound Cake recipe makes two loaves – one to keep and one to give away (or slice and freeze the second loaf for a treat anytime).

You don’t need an ice cream maker to make this No Churn Blood Orange Ice Cream. Creamy with a hint of tang, it’s the perfect dessert after a rich meal and no one will ever guess how simple it was to make!

The beauty of all these blood orange recipes is that they are so delicious and yet so simple. Most of them also work really well together. Both the Blood Orange Pound Cake and Chocolate Blood Orange Marble Cake are wonderful served à la mode with my Blood Orange Ice Cream.

So the next time you see blood oranges available, be sure to pick some up. And after you’ve finished enjoying a few of them and wiped the juice off your arms, try one – or more – of my delicious blood orange recipes!

Just a hint for my UK readers – if you are having any difficulty sourcing blood oranges, I use the organic delivery service Abel and Cole.

More Delicious Fruit Flavoured Treats

Lemon Drizzle Cake – a Traditional Teatime Treat

Blueberry Chia Muffins with Lemon and Ginger

Raspberry and Rose Jelly and Cream

Cranberry Orange and Ginger Cake