Sweet Citrus Success: Ina Garten’s Orange Marmalade Recipe

Citrus lovers rejoice as this orange marmalade recipe by Ina Garten bursts with vibrant, sun-kissed flavors that dance on your palate.

Bright, tangy, and wonderfully aromatic, the marmalade captures the essence of fresh oranges in every spoonful.

The recipe balances sweetness and zest with remarkable precision, creating a spread that elevates morning toast or pastry.

Each carefully crafted batch promises a delightful preserve that speaks to classic culinary technique.

The ingredients blend seamlessly, transforming simple oranges into a luxurious condiment that feels both rustic and refined.

Homemade marmalade becomes a delectable testament to the magic of simple, quality ingredients.

Get ready to savor a preserve that will become your new breakfast favorite.

How to Serve Orange Marmalade with Other Dishes

• Serve Alongside Breakfast Delights: Spread this zesty orange marmalade on warm, buttered toast, English muffins, or freshly baked croissants for a delightful morning treat.
• Elevate Baked Goods: Use the marmalade as a glaze for pound cakes, drizzle over scones, or fill delicate pastry tarts to add a burst of citrusy sweetness.
• Pair with Cheese and Charcuterie: Create a gourmet appetizer by serving the marmalade alongside creamy brie, sharp cheddar, or as a companion to cured meats on a charcuterie board.
• Enhance Savory Dishes: Brush the marmalade onto roasted chicken, use as a glaze for ham, or mix into salad dressings for an unexpected tangy kick.

Store Your Marmalade with a Long Shelf Life

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store sealed jars in a dark, cool pantry away from direct sunlight for up to 12 months, ensuring maximum flavor preservation.
• Store and Protect: Refrigerate opened marmalade jars immediately, consuming within 4-6 weeks for optimal taste and texture quality.
• Seal and Safeguard: Use sterilized glass containers with tight-fitting lids to maintain freshness and prevent potential bacterial contamination.
• Track Freshness: Label each jar with the preparation date, helping you monitor storage duration and enjoy the marmalade at its peak deliciousness.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Calories: 218 kcal

Servings: 16

Gather These for Ina Garten Orange Marmalade

• Oranges: Juicy and vibrant citrus that provides the marmalade's bright, tangy core with zesty flavor and natural pectin for setting.
• Lemon: Adds sharp acidity and helps the marmalade set by contributing extra pectin and balancing the sweetness.

• Granulated Sugar: Transforms the fruit into a glossy, spreadable preserve while adding deep, rich sweetness that complements the citrus.

• Water: Helps soften the fruit and create the initial cooking liquid, allowing the peels to become tender and release their natural flavors.

Tools That Help Make Orange Marmalade Easily

• Large Pot: Heavy-bottomed, wide pot for boiling and cooking fruit mixture.
• Sharp Knife: For finely chopping oranges and lemon.
• Cutting Board: Sturdy surface for preparing fruit.
• Wooden Spoon: For stirring fruit mixture and preventing sticking.
• Canning Funnel: Helps pour marmalade into jars cleanly.
• Candy Thermometer: Ensures precise temperature for setting point.
• Clean Towel: For draining and drying jars.
• Sterilized Glass Jars: For storing finished marmalade.
• Small Cold Plate: Used to test marmalade's gel consistency.
• Large Ladle: For transferring hot marmalade into jars.
• Water Bath Canner (optional): For longer preservation.

Step-by-Step Guide to Ina’s Marmalade Recipe

Citrus Symphony

• Fruit Preparation Fresh, vibrant oranges and lemons become the stars of this marmalade adventure. Thoroughly scrub each citrus fruit, removing any surface dirt or wax.
• Chopping Ritual Slice oranges into small wedges, carefully removing seeds. Chop the entire fruit – peel, pulp, and all – creating a rustic, textured base for your marmalade.
• Slow Simmering Combine chopped fruit with water in a large pot. Let the mixture gently simmer, allowing the rinds to soften and release their intense flavors. This slow process takes about two hours.
• Sweet Transformation Introduce sugar to the softened fruit mixture. Stir lovingly until the crystals completely dissolve, creating a harmonious blend of citrusy brightness and sweet richness.
• Boiling Point Crank up the heat, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil. Watch for the magical moment when the liquid transforms, reaching exactly 220 degrees Fahrenheit – the perfect setting point for a luscious marmalade.
• The Setting Test Drop a small amount on a chilled plate. When the mixture wrinkles and holds its shape, you've achieved marmalade perfection.
• Jarring Elegance Carefully transfer the hot, golden mixture into clean jars. Wipe jar rims clean, seal with precision, and let the marmalade cool completely.
• Storage Bliss Store your creation in a cool, dark space. Once opened, keep refrigerated and enjoy the vibrant taste of homemade citrus magic.

Add Zest to Your Marmalade with These Ideas

• Experiment with different citrus fruits like grapefruits, tangerines, or blood oranges to create unique marmalade variations with distinct flavor profiles.
• Control the chunkiness by adjusting how finely you chop the fruit. Coarse chunks provide a rustic feel, while fine grinding creates a smoother spread with more delicate texture.
• Enhance the marmalade by adding warming spices like cinnamon, star anise, or ginger during the cooking process. A splash of bourbon or Grand Marnier can introduce sophisticated depth to the preserve.
• Properly sealed jars can last up to a year in a cool, dark pantry. Once opened, enjoy the marmalade within 3-4 weeks when refrigerated. Always use clean utensils to prevent contamination and extend shelf life.
• Transform this marmalade beyond toast by using it as a glaze for roasted meats, a topping for yogurt, or a sweet filling for pastries and thumbprint cookies.

Vibrant Ina Garten Orange Marmalade Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s orange marmalade recipe brings classic British citrus preserve to American kitchens with elegant simplicity. Home cooks can easily craft this zesty spread using fresh oranges, sugar, and water for a delightful homemade condiment you’ll savor on toast or in baking.

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Ingredients

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• 3 pounds 12 ounces (1.7 kg) sugar
• 6 cups (1.4 L) water
• 1 ¾ pounds (794 g) oranges, 4 to 5 medium
• 1 lemon, zest finely grated and juiced

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Instructions

1. Fruit Preparation: Wash oranges and lemon thoroughly. Quarter the fruits, remove seeds, and finely mince the entire fruit, including peels, ensuring complete incorporation of all components.
2. Initial Cooking: Transfer chopped fruit to a heavy-bottomed pot. Add water and bring to a vigorous boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for approximately 2 hours until citrus rinds become tender and soft.
3. Sugar Integration: Introduce granulated sugar, stirring continuously until completely dissolved into the fruit mixture. Gradually increase heat to maximum, creating a robust rolling boil.
4. Marmalade Refinement: Maintain constant stirring to prevent scorching. Cook until the mixture reaches exactly 220 degrees Fahrenheit (104 degrees Celsius), which typically takes about 30 minutes of careful monitoring.
5. Setting Verification: Conduct the gel test by placing a small amount of marmalade on a chilled plate. Push the sample with your fingertip – if it wrinkles and maintains shape, the marmalade has reached the perfect consistency.
6. Jarring Process: Sanitize glass jars by immersing in boiling water and draining on clean towels. Use a canning funnel to fill jars with hot marmalade, leaving minimal headspace below the threading. Wipe jar rims with a clean, damp cloth to ensure proper sealing.
7. Preservation and Storage: Secure lids firmly and optionally process in a water bath. Allow jars to cool completely at room temperature. Verify lid seals by pressing the center – it should remain stationary. Store in a cool, dark pantry, and refrigerate after opening.

Notes

• Fruit Prep Precision: Thoroughly clean oranges and lemon, ensuring no dirt remains. Finely mince the entire fruit, including peel, to maximize flavor extraction and texture.
• Cooking Patience: Simmer fruit for 2 hours until rinds become tender, allowing natural pectin to develop and intensify citrus essence.
• Sugar Dissolution Technique: Stir sugar gradually and continuously, guaranteeing complete melting without crystallization for smooth, silky marmalade.
• Setting Point Perfection: Use the gel test by placing a small amount on a chilled plate – if it wrinkles when pushed, the marmalade has reached ideal consistency.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 218
• Sugar: 34 g
• Sodium: 2 mg
• Fat: 0 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 57 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg