Sweet Orange Marmalade
There's just something about orange marmalade that says sunshine to me! Maybe it's because of it's sunny color....or maybe it's because I just returned from sunny Arizona where we picked loads of oranges! 
We didn't just pick oranges. We also picked grapefruit and lemons! My parents have a few trees but for the real picking we head to my sister's house. Her neighborhood was built on an old citrus orchard. She has eight mature orange trees in her backyard.
All the residential streets around her are lined with citrus trees and since everyone there already has all the citrus they could possibly ever need growing in their own yards, those trees just don't get picked!
We did our fair share of picking! I always bring home as much as possible!
You know how I tend to overdo it just a teensy bit! Remember the apricot sweet rolls and the apple cider?
Citrus is no different. I packed one whole suitcase full with as many oranges and grapefruits as would fit. I also had a whole duffel bag just for those round fruits. But I didn't stop there! Nope, I stuffed every nook and cranny with an orange or a grapefruit.
Once we got to the airport we weighed the biggest suitcases first. They both were over the 50 pound limit. I quickly unzipped and pulled out 4-5 grapefruit and placed them in the smaller bags (I couldn't even believe there was still room!) I'm not sure what the airline staff thought, but Rod just shook his head at me!
Everything made it home safely. No lost baggage, and no squished fruit! The morning after we arrived home, it was two degrees outside! TWO!!! Brrrr Chilly Brrrr!!! A fresh grapefruit brought a little comfort to me!
When I got everything unpacked, I realized I had a ton of fresh citrus! I decided to make orange marmalade to use up some of those oranges.
This marmalade only uses two ingredients; oranges (peel and all) and sugar. That's it! Be prepared though. It does take some time to make, so plan ahead.
What is the difference between marmalade and jam?
Marmalade is a lot like jam, but are usually made with citrus fruits and includes the pulp and juice. Marmalade also contains bits of the peel.
Jam is made with fruit like berries, and stone fruits and includes the pulp and juice of the fruit.
How do you use orange marmalade?
Orange marmalade can be used on toast or an English Muffin.
It can also be added to chicken dishes or even used in cocktail meatballs with barbecue sauce. The meatballs are traditionally made with apricot jam, but orange marmalade would be great too.
How do you store orange marmalade?
I froze my marmalade after making. You can also process the jars in a boiling water canner. Details on preserving jam can be found on my blackberry jam recipe.
Other Great Recipes
If you are looking for other homemade jam recipes, you'll want to try my apricot jam, small batch strawberry jam and my plum jam.
Orange Marmalade
Ingredients
- 2 cups orange peel (cut into thin strips)
- 4 cups orange pulp (chopped)
- 4-6 cups sugar
Instructions
- Place peel in a sauce pan along with 6 cups of water. Boil for 5 minutes.
- Drain water and repeat: Boil for 5 minutes with 6 cups of water.
- Drain water.
- Add pulp and 6 cups water. Boil for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let stand for 12-18 hours.
- Bring mixture back to a boil and boil for 30-45 minutes until peel has softened.
- Turn heat to low and add sugar one cup at a time, stirring while adding to help dissolve.
- Continue cooking, stirring often to avoid scorching, until mixture reaches the gelling point (30-45 minutes)
- Remove from heat and ladle hot marmalade into clean, sterilized half-pint jars.
- Freeze jam until needed, or process jars in boiling water canner for 10 minutes (adjust for altitude.)
Notes
Nutrition
Fred G says
Great use of oranges
Vanessa Cato says
I really miss the bitter Seville oranges one makes marmalade with in the UK. They are usually available for just a few weeks in January and February, so you have to buy them and make the marmalade as soon as you see them in the stores. But they make the best marmalade. I like mine chunky, and you can make it in the pressure cooker. People don't 'can' jams and marmalades in the UK. They last a long time in a cool pantry without canning them, a couple of years even (though they taste better if you don't leave them that long).
Kathy says
I like my marmalade a bit chunky too. Interesting about not canning the jams in the UK...
Jesseira says
Hi, when it says 4 pint servings, you mean a actual 16oz pint or 4 jars?? I am willing to do this for a orange festival in Puerto Rico and i need to increase the recepie. Thank you!
Kathy says
Hello! This recipe makes 8 measuring cups altogether. Good luck at the festival!
Jenna says
Haha I bet that was an interesting trip to the airport with all that citrus! This is beautiful! Perfect way to enjoy all those oranges!
Kathy says
Thanks, Jenna! Yep....traveling with me is always an adventure!
michele says
I have never made marmalade! I think I can totally do this! Thanks
Kathy says
You can do it! It's not tough....just takes a bit of time.
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
The idea of your suitcases filled with oranges and grapefruit made me smile so big - wonder what the airport people thought! Happy New Year! 🙂
Kathy says
I'm sure they see plenty of crazy things....I just give them something to talk about!
Monica Stevens Le says
This sounds so wonderful. I could use a marmalade recipe... thank you for this!
Kathy says
You're welcome! Let me know if you give it a try. 🙂
Rahul @samosastreet.com says
Home-made marmalade tastes so much better, Wishing you a Happy New Year, Kathy
Kathy says
Thanks, Rahul! Happy New Year to you!
[email protected] says
There really is something about orange marmalade! So happy and bright! I need to try making it myself!
Kathy says
The color is amazing!
GiGi Eats says
Would it be weird to just eat the marmalade straight from the jar? 😉
Kathy says
Nope! Just grab a spoon and dig right in!