22 Blood Orange Recipes: How To Use This Dramatic Coloured Citrus
Blood oranges are a popular seasonal ingredient, loved for their brilliant pink red colour and tart but sweet taste. The unique flavour is ideal for both sweet and savoury dishes. Explore this collection of blood orange recipes for sweet cakes and baked goods, sumptuous sides and salads and tasty condiments to flavour and garnish your favourite dishes.
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may be paid a commission if you use these links to make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What is a blood orange and what does it taste like?
Blood oranges are a natural orange variety, aptly named after the colour of the brilliant deep crimson coloured flesh. The skin often also has patches of red. Blood oranges are one of the most popular orange varieties for cooking. Apart from the wonderful colour of the flesh and juice, they are also easy to peel and have few seeds.
For cooking and baking, blood oranges add not just colour but also a unique flavour. They taste sweet but slightly tart, with a hint of berries, making them ideal for sweet and savoury dishes. Find out more about the unique qualities of blood oranges in our post about orange varieties.
Usually considered a winter citrus, you can find fresh blood oranges in store in the US between December and April, and from late July through to early October in Australia. enjoy the unique colour and flavour of blood orange all year round in dried citrus slices and preserves – you’ll find some good ideas in this recipe collection.
Blood orange cakes, sweets treats and desserts
I love baking with citrus, but using blood oranges really takes things up a level. The pink red colour is ideal for creating vibrant iced treats, pink frosting and glazes. And the hint of sweet berry taste lends itself perfectly to desserts.
Blood Orange Loaf Cake With Orange Icing
This simple recipe for blood orange loaf cake (or pound cake) is so easy to make but sureto impress. Top this tasty cake with naturally pink icing falvoured with blood orange juice and add dried blood orange slices for garnish.
Blood Orange Cookies With Citrus Icing
Perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft and rich on the inside, these blood orange cookies are just delicious. These citrus treats are flavoured with blood orange zest and juice, and topped with pink blood orange icing.
Blood Orange Upside Down Cake
This blood orange upside down cake is so quick and easy to prepare. It also looks amazing when turned out of the pan, showing the vibrant blood orange slices caramelised with brown sugar.
Glazed Blood Orange & Poppy Seed Loaf Cake
Orange goes beautifully with poppy seeds, and this easy blood orange and poppy seed loaf cake is no exception. This tasty cake is falvoured with blood orange zest and juice and topped with a delicious sweet glaze and blood orange slices.
Vegan Orange Muffins With Fresh Orange Glaze
These easy vegan orange muffins can be made with any orange variety, but using blood oranges gives them a wonderful colour and flavour. Deliciously moist, these orange muffins are topped with a buttery crumb topping and orange icing. .
Blood Orange Cake
This blood orange cake recipe uses not just the juice, but whole blood oranges – skin and all. The result is a moist cake that’s full of flavour. Top with blood orange icing that’s naturally pink, this cake is easy and delicious.
Pear Crisp With Blood Orange Sauce
For a warming dessert, you can’t go past this pear crisp with blood orange sauce. It’s full of delicious spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. The tart blood oranges are the ingredient that makes this dessert recipe stand out in the buttery citrus caramel sauce.
Blood Orange Hazelnut Cupcakes
Citrus flavour goes well with lots of sweet desserts, Try decorating chocolate or vanilla cupcakes with delicious blood orange flavoured frosting and hazelnuts coated in butter and cinamon.
Salads and sides with blood oranges
Blood oranges are ideal for bright citrus flavour to salads and vegetable dishes, whether as part of the dish or in a tangy dressing.
Blood Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing With Fresh Thyme
Pair blood oranges with a generous amount of fresh thyme in this tangy blood orange vinaigrette salad dressing. The sweet tart taste of blood oranges goes perfectly with the mustard vinaigrette and the juice gives this salad dressing a wonderful colour.
Grilled Baby Bok Choy Salad With Miso Dressing
For a salad that looks amazing and tastes delicious, try this baked bok choy salad with miso dressing. It’s packed with colourful vegetables and green edamame beans, and topped with brilliant red blood orange slices and a tasty ginger and miso dressing.
Blood Orange Salad With Fennel, Pistachios & Poppyseed Dressing
Another bright and tasty winter salad, you’ll love this blood orange salad with fennel, pistachios and poppyseed dressing. This delicious salad also features leafy greens and red onion for a wonderful flavour combination.
English Asparagus With Sauce Maltaise
Pair fresh spring asparagus with blood oranges in this recipe for English asparagus with sauce Mailtaise. The classic Hollandaise sauce is flavoured with the juice and zest of blood oranges with fresh blood orange segments for garnish.
Blood Orange And Avocado Salad with Nam Jim Dressing
Thai inspired flavours make this blood orange and avocado salad with nam jim dressing a favourite. Blood orange, navel orange and avocado slices are topped with a delicious citrus dressing made with ingredients like tamarind paste, soy and fish sauce, with a generous amount of spring onion.
Roasted Parsnip And Orange Salad
This roasted parsnip and orange salad can be made with regular navel oranges, but looks and tastes even better with fresh blood oranges. The sweetness of the parsnips goes perfectly with sweet tart blood orange, topped with crunchy pecans and a creamy tahini dressing.
Citrus Salad With Blackberries
Blood oranges give a burst of colour and flavour to this citrus salad. It features oranges and grapefruit with tart balckberries and a delicious honey lime dressing.
Mediterranean Diet Blood Orange And Fennel Salad
For a different take on an orange and fennel salad, try this Mediterranean diet blood orange and fennel salad. This tasty vegan salad or side dish pairs the blood orange and fennel with olives and radish, topped with nuts and an olive oil and vinegar dressing.
Blood Orange And Fennel Salad
This simple blood orange and fennel salad combines delicious slices of blood orange with aromatic fennel and lettuce, topped with a mixed citrus vinaigrette dressing.
Blood Orange Mint Salad
Blood oranges are the star of this simple blood orange mint salad. It’s made with blood orange and navel orange slices with blood orange and honey marinade, perfectly seasoned and topped with fresh mint.
Blood orange jams, sauces, spreads and garnishes
Condiments and garnishes are a great way to use blood orange to add vibrant colour and flavour to your dishes.
Dried blood orange slices
Capture the brilliant red color of blood oranges to enjoy later by making your own dried citrus slices in the oven. Use dried blood orange slices to decroate cakes, garnish drinks or even dip in chocolate, Dried blood oranges also make a great gift.
Blood Orange Curd
Another way to make the most of in-season blood oranges is with this easy recipe for vibrant blood orange curd. Serve with scones or pancakes, or use to fill tarts or between cake layers – there are so many ways to enjoy this tasty spread.
Blood Orange & Rhubarb Jam
Make your own blood orange and rhubarb jam with this easy small batch recipe. These two fresh winter ingredients are perfect together in this zesty spread that’s prefect for your morning toast.
Blood Orange Marmalade
Making marmalade is a wonderful way to preserve in season citrus fruits. This blood orange marmalade has the beautiful tart berry flavour of blood oranges and a wonderful colour to match. Enjoy on toast or muffins for breakfast or use in baking or as base for a delicious glaze.
More citrus recipes and inspiration
If you love blood oranges, be sure to explore our collection of blood orange drink recipes for cocktails, mocktails and more. Or for another blood red citrus with a completely different flavour, check out Australian blood limes, used in our spicy blood lime pickle.
For more citrus recipes, you’ll love our collections of orange salads, grapefruit salads. and citrus fruit salads.
Our recipe page has more ideas for cooking with all different types of citrus. You’ll find everything from our sweet lemon macadamia cookies to homemade small batch preserved limes.
For more citrus inspiration for your kitchen, home and garden, don’t forget to subscribe.
Free goodies!
Subscribe and receive our citrus themed weekly planner and to do list
