Christmas refined: Oranges in sweet and savory recipes
The Christmas season is a magical time of year, enchanting us with scents, aromas, and the magic of delicious treats. One ingredient that particularly enhances this season is the orange. Its sweet and tangy freshness and distinctive fragrance harmonize perfectly with traditional Christmas spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. In this blog post, we present some inspiring recipes featuring oranges . They're easy to prepare and will add a fruity touch to your Christmas celebration.
1. Orange and cinnamon cookies
Ingredients:
- 250 g flour
- 100 g sugar
- 150 g butter
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Zest of an untreated orange
- 1 pinch of salt
Preparation:
- Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, and salt in a bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and add it along with the egg.
- Knead everything into a smooth dough, wrap in cling film and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Roll out the dough, cut out cookies and bake at 180 °C (top/bottom heat) for 10-12 minutes.
- After cooling, the cookies can be decorated with a glaze made from powdered sugar and orange juice.
These cookies are wonderfully aromatic and an eye-catcher on every Christmas plate.
2. Christmas orange mulled wine
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of red wine
- 2 untreated oranges (sliced)
- 100 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
- 100 g sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 1 star anise
Preparation:
- Heat the red wine in a saucepan along with the orange juice, orange slices, sugar, and spices. Caution: Do not let it boil!
- Let the mulled wine steep for about 20 minutes, then remove the spices and serve hot.
This mulled wine is perfect for convivial evenings and smells wonderfully of Christmas.
3. Orange-ginger jam
Ingredients:
- 1 kg oranges (peeled and filleted)
- 500 g gelling sugar (2:1)
- 1 piece of fresh ginger (approx. 3 cm, grated)
- Juice of one lemon
Preparation:
- Cut the orange segments into small pieces and place them in a large pot along with the sugar, lemon juice and ginger.
- Bring everything to a boil while stirring and let it simmer for about 4 minutes.
- Pour the hot jam into sterilized jars, seal, and turn upside down until it cools.
This jam is perfect as a gift or as a fruity addition to your Christmas breakfast.
4. Orange Chocolate Bundt Cake
Ingredients:
- 200 g butter
- 200 g sugar
- 4 eggs
- 250 g flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 50 g cocoa powder
- zest and juice of one orange
- 100 g dark chocolate (chopped)
Preparation:
- Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, add eggs one at a time.
- Combine flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder and stir in alternately with the orange juice. Add the orange zest and chopped chocolate.
- Pour the batter into a greased bundt pan and bake at 180 °C (top/bottom heat) for about 50 minutes.
- After cooling, cover with chocolate glaze and decorate with orange zest.
This cake is a highlight on every Christmas table!
5. Candied oranges
Ingredients:
- 3 untreated oranges
- 300 g sugar
- 200 ml water
- Dark chocolate for coating
Preparation:
- Cut the oranges into thin slices and blanch them in boiling water for 2 minutes. Then drain.
- Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the orange slices and simmer over low heat for about 1 hour.
- Place the slices on a wire rack and let them dry. Optional: Dip them in melted dark chocolate.
Candied oranges are a delicious treat and a great decoration for desserts.
6. Orange and Rosemary Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken legs
- 2 oranges (juice and slices)
- 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 2 garlic cloves (chopped)
- salt, pepper, olive oil
Preparation:
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Combine the orange juice, olive oil, garlic, and rosemary and marinate the meat.
- Place the chicken thighs in a baking dish, cover with orange slices and bake at 200 °C (top/bottom heat) for about 40 minutes.
- Brush with the marinade occasionally.
This dish is a festive meal that is guaranteed to impress.
7. Orange Panna Cotta
Ingredients:
- 500 ml cream
- 100 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
- 80 g sugar
- 1 vanilla pod
- 4 sheets of gelatin
Preparation:
- Heat the cream, sugar, and vanilla bean pulp in a saucepan, but do not let it boil. Dissolve the soaked gelatin in it.
- Add orange juice and pour the mixture into molds. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Garnish with orange zest and fresh orange segments before serving.
This dessert is the perfect end to a festive meal.
Conclusion
With these recipes, you'll bring the fresh flavor of oranges to your Christmas table. They add a fruity touch to traditional dishes and make your celebration even more unforgettable. Whether sweet or savory, oranges are a true all-rounder that shouldn't be missing from your Christmas cooking. Try these recipes and be enchanted by the combination of citrus freshness and Christmas warmth!
Why untreated oranges are perfect for Christmas cooking
Our oranges are completely untreated and natural. This means you can use the entire fruit – including the aromatic peel – without worry. The peel of an untreated orange is rich in essential oils that give your dishes a particularly intense and natural aroma.
Whether you want to incorporate the peel into cookie dough, use it for homemade jams, or candied orange slices as a decorative garnish, natural oranges bring full flavor and fruity freshness to your Christmas recipes.
