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    Home » All Recipes

    Author: Donna | Published: Feb 26, 2021 |

    Easy Orange Marmalade Recipe

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    Orange marmalade

    This Easy Orange Marmalade Recipe is a great way to use up some fresh oranges if your tree is in overdrive. A simple combination of oranges, chia seeds, and maple syrup, make up a couple of batches and freeze in small portions so you have some on hand for the rest of the year.

    Homemade orange marmalade in a small glass mason jar with more jars of marmalade in the background

    Easy Orange Marmalade Recipe

    If you are lucky enough to have an orange tree on your property, then I am sure you know the struggle is real when it comes to making sure all that citrusy goodness gets used up before it turns.

    I make it a personal goal every season to leave no orange behind and have been throwing them into everything I can think of, like this Whole Orange and Thyme Vinaigrette and this Garlicky Orange Spinach Salad.

    And of course this Easy Orange Marmalade with chia seeds.

    Overhead shot of halved oranges, maple syrup and chia seeds

    A Quick and Easy Homemade Marmalade Using The Whole Orange

    I really do love a good marmalade but can't handle the sickly sweet varieties available at the store anymore (5yo me would be dumb-founded).

    This Easy Orange Marmalade Recipe uses the whole orange, is set using chia seeds, and is sweetened using just a little bit of maple syrup.

    So it's nothing like the traditional marmalade you are probably used to.

    There's no pectin involved either, which means it's super easy to put together!

    Simply boil, blend and bottle. 

    overhead shot of 4 orange halves covered in water in a small stainless steel saucepan
    You want the oranges to be just covered with water.

    Marmalades and jams made with chia seeds instead of pectin and sugar only last a week or so in the fridge before spoiling, so I tend to make up a couple of batches and freeze in smaller portions.

    If you like to have jams and marmalades ready to go, then this is the perfect recipe for you as it freezes well.

    Overhead shot of oranges, chia seeds and maple syrup in a blender jug
    You may need to use a tamper to ensure even blending of the ingredients.

    Ingredients, Tips, and Substitutions

    Please note this is not a super sweet marmalade.

    Sweetener

    Personally, I enjoy that zesty-bitter taste you get with normal marmalade but I don't like it to be offset with too much sweetness. 

    If you find that you prefer more sweetness then you can always add more maple syrup to the recipe until it reaches your preferred level of sweetness.

    You could also swap out the maple syrup for some honey for a less subtle level of sweetness.

    Orange Skin

    This recipe calls for the whole orange to be used.

    This means the skin is added as well.

    If you aren't used to the taste of the orange skin, or you aren't a huge fan of that zesty-bitterness, then I would start off with just adding a little bit to the mixture after it has been boiled.

    Optional Extras

    Homemade orange marmalade is a super versatile recipe just perfect for changing up and making your own.

    I usually add some freshly grated ginger to mine for a bit of a kick.

    More optional extras to try:

    • grated turmeric
    • fresh orange zest
    • fresh lemon zest
    Overhead shot of Homemade orange jam in a blender jug
    The orange should be well blended but not completely smooth.

    How To Serve Up Homemade Marmalade

    Whole orange marmalade is delicious served as a big dollop atop fresh bread and ricotta.

    Or you could:

    • go traditional and add it to some hot toast
    • use as a great dipping sauce for some breaded shrimp.
    • stir through some yogurt for homemade fruit flavoured yogurt
    • add some to a pan sauce to serve with chicken thighs
    • add on top of fresh scones with cream
    • add a little spoonful to a crostini or cracker with some brie
    • add a dollop to your next bowl of oatmeal
    • add to a cheese plate in place of a quince paste

    Use your imagination and you will find the perfect way to serve up this delicious easy orange marmalade recipe.

    Homemade orange marmalade in a small glass mason jar with more jars of marmalade in the background

    If you love homemade fruit butters and preserves then be sure to check out these others:

    Cranberry and Vanilla Bean Butter
    3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Apple Sauce
    3 Ingredient Peach Butter

    Recipe

    Orange marmalade

    Whole Orange Chia Marmalade

    Whole Food Bellies
    This is a great way to use up some fresh oranges if your tree is in overdrive at the moment. Make up a couple batches and freeze in small portions so you have some on hand for the rest of the year.
    3.84 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipes!
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 32 minutes mins
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine Anytime
    Servings 16 serves
    Calories 25 kcal

    Clicking any equipment link above will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 fresh oranges
    • 3 tablespoon chia seeds (preferably white)
    • 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Wash the oranges and place in a pan. Cover with hot water and bring to the boil.
    • Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 1 ½ hours.
    • Drain and discard the water. Chop the oranges, remove any seeds and pop the chopped oranges into a blender with the maple syrup. Check for sweetness and add more maple syrup as required. (*see notes re bitter and sweet balancing.)
    • Throw in the chia seeds and give a quick pulse (make sure you leave some chunks in there).
    • Transfer to a glass gar and refrigerate for a couple of hours. By now it should have thickened up, give it a quick stir and serve as required.

    Notes

    If you prefer a sweeter marmalade then add more maple syrup until the desired level of sweetness is reached.
    If you are opposed to bitter flavors, scoop the fruit out of the cooked orange and just use that. Dispose of the skin and pith.
    You can also add fresh grated orange zest.
    I use white chia seeds purely for aesthetics, as they are a lot less noticeable than black seeds.
    This should store in a glass jar in the fridge for about a week.
    It also freezes well.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 25kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 44mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 38IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment HERE and let us know how it was!

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anthony says

      August 24, 2020 at 11:01 am

      Hi Donna, Can I use the pressure cooker to shorten the cooking time of the oranges? Like half an hour?
      Great recipe. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Donna says

        August 24, 2020 at 3:37 pm

        I am sure you could, but I haven't tried making this in a pressure cooker, so would have no idea of timing. Would love to hear how it goes if you give it a try!

        Reply
        • Anthony says

          August 24, 2020 at 5:59 pm

          Will do. Thank you

          Reply
    2. nixter says

      October 22, 2019 at 7:47 am

      so boil the oranges whole with skin on and then chop up with skin on too?

      Reply
      • Donna says

        October 22, 2019 at 3:14 pm

        Yep, that's the way I do it. If you are sensitive to bitter flavours, leaving the skin on might be too intense for you, in which case I would suggest removing it before boiling the orange.

        Reply
    3. Glynis Scott says

      October 14, 2019 at 1:22 pm

      Hi Donna, This is a great recipe which I have made a few times. But today I made a batch of uncooked orange chia marmalade, it has turned out well and tastes great. I thinly sliced the oranges and then used my hand blender to chop, then stirred in ground chia seeds instead of whole which I find works better for our tastes. I have successfully made several batches of different berry jams using this method too. No more store bought sugar laden jams for us.

      Reply
      • Donna says

        October 14, 2019 at 1:43 pm

        Ooh I will have to try it out, I make my berry jams like this but have only ever made a cooked version when using orange! Thanks for sharing 🙂

        Reply
    4. Juanita says

      June 02, 2019 at 10:48 am

      Do you mean boil the oranges whole?

      Reply
      • Donna says

        June 05, 2019 at 4:15 pm

        Yes the oranges are boiled whole. This makes for a less sweet more orangey marmalade.

        Reply
    5. Rosemary Grieve says

      February 14, 2017 at 10:45 am

      I LOVE marmalade! ! I wonder though, does the white pith between the juicy fruit + exterior fragrant skin, not make this blend bitter? With thanks x

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        February 16, 2017 at 8:35 pm

        It isn't a particularly sweet blend Rosemary, but I find the bitterness of the pith disappears with being boiled for so long. I do prefer a slight bitter taste to my marmalade, so it may be a personal preference, but we have always enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply
    6. Rod says

      January 12, 2017 at 5:03 pm

      At what stage do you add the ginger?

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        January 13, 2017 at 7:50 am

        There's actually no ginger in this recipe Rod, but you can always pop some in if you like ginger in your marmalade 🙂 I would just put some fresh ginger in at the blending stage for a bit of a kick

        Reply
    7. Meredith says

      October 27, 2016 at 3:24 pm

      Does the water get blended too, or is it discarded?thanks.

      Reply
      • Donna1 says

        October 27, 2016 at 10:47 pm

        Thanks for the question Meredith - I will need to clarify that in the recipe. The water gets discarded. Hope you enjoy

        Reply
    8. Detox Girl says

      May 16, 2015 at 3:36 pm

      Very nice article, thanks 🙂

      Reply
      • Whole Food Bellies says

        May 17, 2015 at 6:57 pm

        You are very welcome detox girl 🙂

        Reply
    3.84 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

    I am so glad you are here!

    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

    Forget about hunting down weird ingredients and making trips to specialty shops.

    We are going to make the most of what is available at the store and farmer's markets all whilst enjoying some delicious meals the whole family (hopefully...if you have fussy eaters I guarantee nothing) will enjoy.

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