60 Orange Recipes That Will Brighten Up Your Table

All the find citrus-packed recipes your heart desires.

Orange Chiffon Cake
Photo:

PHOTOGRAPHER: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLIST: CHELSEA ZIMMER

Give us a citrus recipe any day of the week, any month of the year, and we'll be happy as clams. There's just something about that bright, sweet flavor that perfectly lends itself to cocktails, cookies, cakes, main dishes, and more. From our roasted orange chicken recipe to a dressed-up orange juice recipe with a dash of added sweetness from strawberries, our orange recipes collection is a fine crew of must-haves. Try one of our fruity main courses like the Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges with a citrus infused side like our Skillet Radishes with Orange Zest and Tarragon and a Basil Bourbon Orange Smash to wash it all down. Then, rise and shine the next morning to nibble on an orange zested breakfast to start your day. 

Here you'll find citrus-packed recipes that range from weeknight dinner options to holiday showstoppers like our slice-and-bake orange cookie recipe and our over-the-top orange cake recipe (actually, we've got a couple of those). Grab a bag of citrus and get to scheming your meal plan with these bright and zippy recipes.

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Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies

Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This recipe makes two logs of dough that need to be chilled before slicing and baking. Alternatively, you can freeze one for later use. Just thaw it in the fridge before slicing. Bonus points for no egg in the dough, which means you (and your crew of happy helpers) can snag a taste before baking.

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Orange Peel Pound Cake

Orange Peel Pound Cake
Jerrelle Guy

Bright orange flavor is weaved throughout and atop this pound cake (take a gander at that citrus-packed glaze, friends). The batter calls for plain Greek yogurt to up the tangy flavor and keep each bite perfectly moist and delicious.

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Homemade Orange Rolls

Homemade Orange Rolls
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

These rolls are the real deal—utterly decadent, with a zippy, orange-infused spin that you won't be able to resist.

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Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds

Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This straightforward recipe gets a hefty dose of flavor from orange zest and fresh orange juice. It tames the Creole seasoning, leaving behind a perfect salty, sweet, and tangy finish.

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Orange Meringue Pie

Orange Meringue Pie
Micah Leal

A citrus pie topped with a fluffy layer of meringue is a show-stopping dessert that can hold its own on just about any occasion—Christmas dinner, a church potluck, you name it. The process we use for creating the meringue takes a bit of extra time, but it prevents the "weeping" effect that can sometimes plague an otherwise stunning meringue by allowing the sugar to fully dissolve into egg whites.

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Blueberry-Orange-Ginger Cobblers

Blueberry-Orange-Ginger Cobblers
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Citrus and blueberries go together like peas and carrots—and our individually portioned cobblers prove it. Spicy ginger and a chilly scoop of ice cream are the perfect counterpoints.

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Orange-Carrot Smoothie

Smoothies
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Craving orange flavor, but want it served up in a flash? Try our sunset-hued smoothie that packs in the vitamins with help from mango, carrots, and—of course—fresh orange juice.

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Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream

Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Orange zest, orange juice, and fresh oranges garnishing the top of this decadent layer cake create a citrus confection that practically begs for a second slice.

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Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken

Orange-Rosemary Roast Chicken
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This is a weeknight winner—all cooked up on a single sheet pan. Potatoes, rosemary, chicken thighs, Kalamata and Castelvetrano olives, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and two naval oranges bring loads of flavor to the table.

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Collard Green Salad with Oranges and Port-Soaked Cherries

Collard Green Salad with Oranges and Port-Soaked Cherries
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

This is no simple salad. It's a verifiable showstopper. Serve it alongside salmon during the week or a gorgeous roast for a holiday-worthy spread.

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Skillet Radishes with Orange Zest and Tarragon

Skillet Radishes with Orange Zest and Tarragon
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Gorgeous radishes are livened up with a short browning in the skillet where they'll get nice and tender. Deglaze the pan with orange juice and sherry vinegar to produce a gorgeous, syrupy pan sauce. A sprinkling of grated orange zest and chopped fresh tarragon just before serving are not to be missed.

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Strawberry Orange Juice

Strawberry Orange Juice
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

No sweeteners, no fizzy mix-ins—this juice recipe features just two ingredients with delicious results. If you love fresh-squeezed orange juice, you'll love this sweet and tangy twist.

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Florida Orange Grove Pie

Florida Orange Grove Pie
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly

This recipe was originally published in 1961 in The Junior League of Tampa's The Gasparilla Cookbook. It features a candy-like crust of baked meringue and an angel-pie filling, all that take advantage of the bounty of Florida's iconic orange groves.

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Basil Bourbon Orange Smash

Basil Bourbon Orange Smash
Becky Luigart Stayner

Our Basil Simple Syrup goes a long way when it comes to this recipe. It gives the bourbon cocktail an edge of herby flavor that plays off the citrus like a wonder.

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Orange Cake

Orange Cake Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez

We've got orange in the cake layers, orange in the glaze, and—finally—candied orange slices garnishing the top of this showstopper. This recipe was published in our December 1995 issue and has been a holiday mainstay on tables across the South ever since.

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Cranberry-Orange Bread

Cranberry-Orange Bread

Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Homemade bread bursts with bright flavor thanks to orange zest in the batter. Even more zest and orange juice add to the icing on the cake.

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Cranberry Orange Sauce

Cranberry Orange Sauce
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

A classically elevated cranberry sauce, this Thanksgiving staple owes some of its holiday magic to freshly squeezed orange juice. Let it simmer on the stove while the rest of the meal comes together.

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Blood Orange Holiday Punch

Blood Orange Holiday Punch

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Ruby red oranges guarantee a punch that's as vibrant as it is flavorful. This superb sipper is a good as reason as any to break out your punch bowl, and is soon to become your signature once everyone at the gathering catches an eyeful, then tastes a cup-full.

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Spiced Orange Rolls

Spiced orange rolls in green casserole dish

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Waking up to the tantalizing smell of Spiced Orange Rolls baking in the oven is a present for the whole household. Serve them with savory sides like bacon or quiche, and you'll have the whole breakfast crew singing your praises.

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Orange Sherbet Salad

Orange Sherbet Salad
Jennifer Causey

It's well past time to welcome this old-fashioned frozen treat back to your supper table. In the South, a "salad" doesn't have to include leafy greens, and this delicious recipe is the proof in he pudding.

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Orange Sherbet Punch

Orange Sherbet Punch
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Put your old punch bowl to use for this much-loved sherbet punch. Don't skimp on the orange sherbet and slices on top!

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Luscious Orange Panna Cotta

Luscious Orange Panna Cotta
Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Orange eggless custard is the impressive dessert that will earn you the title of dessert royalty. Toss orange sections with turbinado sugar, rather than granulated sugar, for rich flavor that's unable to be replicated.

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White Cake With Cranberry Filling And Orange Buttercream

White Cake With Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream
Courtney West

Cranberry and orange is a flavorful duo we can't get enough of, especially during the holiday season. This Christmas white cake sings merrily with tart, citrus flavors.

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Orange Chess Pie With Cranberry Gelée

Orange chess pie with cranberry gelée on white plate

Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

The citrus chess filling in this luscious layered dessert are utterly delightful, especially paired with tartness from another gelatinous cranberry layer. Be patient with this pie; it needs to be chilled completely before completing.

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Sparkling Orange Wheels

Southern Sunrise
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Thom Driver; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos

Never underestimate the power a good garnish has to make or break a recipe. These orange wheels couldn't be easier to make but will instantly elevate a cocktail.

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Spiffed-Up Orange-Rosé Spritzer

Spiffed-Up Spritzer
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

A light and fizzy drink made for Southern-signature hot and humid weather, this citrus spritzer will cool you right down. Make sure to save some orange slices for sophisticated garnish.

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Lemon-Orange Pound Cake

Lemon-Orange Pound Cake
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly

This recipe, from the Stop and Smell the Rosemary cookbook, is simple as can be, but gussied-up to perfection with two types of icing. Vanilla and lemon-orange icings dance together wonderfully on top of this Bundt cake classic made for bridal showers or spring tea.

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Fresh Citrus Cupcakes With Orange Buttercream

Fresh Citrus Cupcakes With Orange Buttercream
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

These cupcakes offer tantalizing bright, citrus-filled bites all the way through. Orange zest and juice add vibrant flavor to adorable miniature sweet treats.

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Orange-Basil Baked Brie

Orange-Basil Baked Brie
Alison Miksch

No Southern gathering would be complete without a baked brie. This one uses sweet orange marmalade, phyllo pastry, and fresh basil for a toasty warm appetizer all your guests won't be able to get enough of.

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Lemon-Orange Buttercream Frosting

Lemon-Orange Buttercream Frosting
Jennifer Davick

A few simple citrus additions send classic buttercream frosting over the edge. Use this smooth topping with orange and lemon juice and zest on your favorite cakes and cookies to instantly brighten them up.

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Orange Rolls

Orange Rolls
Southern Living

Start your morning off right with a delectable pastry made with sunshine-y Florida citrus, It's the ideal solution for the most important meal of the day.

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Dark Chocolate-Pistachio-Orange Kisses

Dark Chocolate-Pistachio-Orange Kisses
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

The three-fold flavor combination of dark chocolate, pistachio, and orange will be like a flavor party for your eager taste buds. One bite of this rich, buttery, and bright treat will have you reaching for a second.

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Blushing Mimosas

Blushing Mimosas
Ralph Anderson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Classic mimosas with Champagne and orange juice are already delightful, but this rendition with pineapple juice and grenadine is downright delicious. Take care not to use orange juice from concentrate for the best results.

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Cranberry-Orange Bundt Cake

cranberry orange bundt cake
Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

What Southerner can say no to a scrumptious Bundt cake? We've yet to meet a one. This Bundt takes advantage of sweet and tart flavor from the classic flavor duet of cranberries and oranges.

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Orange-Basil Yogurt Dip

Orange-Basil Yogurt Dip
Iain Bagwell

Switch up your usual salty dip at your next tailgate for this sweet and tangy crowd-pleaser. We love it served with breadsticks and an assortment of grilled crudités like peppers and zucchini.

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Bourbon-Orange Biscotti

Bourbon-Orange Biscotti
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

If you love old fashioned, this inspired cookie is right up your alley. They're the perfect post-dinner treat and well suited for a spirit espresso dip.

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Aperol and Blood Orange-Mint Spritz

Aperol and Blood Orange-Mint Spritz
Peter Frank Edwards

Tart and sweet blood oranges are the stars of this bubbly cocktail, though navel oranges make for an easy swap. Pair oranges with Italian favorite aperitif, Aperol, along with Prosecco and a bit of mint for a sip that is sure to satisfy.

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Blueberry-Citrus Rolls with Orange Glaze

Blueberry-Citrus Rolls with Orange Glaze
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

We apologize in advance to your go-to blueberry muffin recipe which will surely be put to rest after you try this delightful, fruity pastry. Jammy berries and orange zest stand in for cinnamon rolls' usual brown sugar filling and couldn't be more tasty.

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Orange Cream Granita

Orange Cream Granita
Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

A hot day calls for a refreshing, frozen treat, and this citrus granita is hear to answer your prayers. Freshly squeezed orange juice, not from concentrate, is the trick to the tastiest, tangiest, flavor.

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Grand Marnier Cakes

Grand Marnier Cakes
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly

Your crew won't be able to get enough of these delightful miniature pound cakes. If you love rum cake, you'll go crazy for these orange liqueur confections.

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Ginger-Orange Mocktails

Ginger-Orange Mocktails
Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

This tasty zero-proof beverage couldn't be simpler. Use orange juice or lemonade for your refreshing main ingredient,

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Lemon-Orange Chiffon Cake

Orange Chiffon Cakes
Jennifer Davick

This vibrant dessert is as tasty as it is pretty. We use both orange zest and juice for bountiful fresh flavor, while egg whites guarantee your fluffiest cake yet.

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Coconut Panna Cotta with Blood Orange Granita

Coconut Panna Cotta with Blood Orange Granita
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Giulietta Pinna; Food Styling: Ali Ramee

This impressive dessert is inspired by ambrosia and is endlessly elegant. Our tangy and icy orange topping perfectly balances the rich and creamy treat beneath.

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Orange Infused Bourbon

Orange Infused Bourbon
Becky Luigart Stayner

If you love pure, old fashioned bourbon but are intrigued by other infused liquors like vodka, we encourage you to divert off the beaten path and try this tasty bourbon alternative. This recipe infuses subtle citrus notes that complements full-bodied bourbon beautifully.

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Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie

Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Make your dough up to a month ahead, then bring in the fresh fruit for a tasty, crusty slab pie everyone will adore. This recipe uses orange zest and juice, in addition to delicious orange blossom honey.

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Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake

Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake
Southern Living

Tangy orange curd between supple layers of cake make this dessert irresistible. The fresh orange curd needs to chill for eight hours, so be sure to bake this cake a day ahead.

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Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy

Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Classic Hot Toddy cocktails receive a citrus spin in this recipe. We use orange pekoe tea bags to infuse fruity flavor throughout.

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Nehi Orange Poke Cake

Nehi Orange Poke Cake
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

This intriguing recipe, inspired by Mama Dip's Family Cookbook, uses fresh orange zest and flavor from orange soda. Slice up even more orange for garnish.

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Strawberry-Orange Trifle

Strawberry-Orange Trifle
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Oranges and strawberries are a delightful duo in this fruity trifle. A little orange liqueur in there certainly won't hurt, but orange juice can easily be substituted for zero-proof dessert.

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Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges

Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges
Alison Miksch

Add oranges to your fish dinner to enhance the dish's brightness and flavor. This quick citrus supper is ready in under half an hour.

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Spicy Cranberry Orange Relish

Spicy Cranberry Orange Relish
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

A much more interesting take on Thanksgiving staple cranberry sauce, this spicy-sweet sauce packs in loads more flavor than the canned stuff. Juice from one orange adds brightness while a jalapeño brings heat and fresh flat-leaf parsley builds in depth.

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Southern Sunrise Cocktail

Southern Sunrise
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Thom Driver; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos

This summertime favorite cocktail has a short ingredient list that features, you guessed it, oranges. Mix in some tequila and grenadine, and you've got a winning summer sipper.

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Baked Ham with Brown Sugar-Citrus Glaze

Baked Ham with Brown Sugar-Citrus Glaze
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

A fresh and fruit finish is exactly what your holiday ham needs. Make sure to garnish with oranges too for a pretty presentation and temping, citrus aroma.

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Ambrosia

a plate of ambrosia salad
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

This best-ever take of Ambrosia isn't quite like you grandmother made it, but you just might like it better. We use multiple types of oranges (here, navel, Cara Cara, and blood oranges) for an array of bright, fresh colors.

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Ambrosia Cinnamon Rolls

Ambrosia Cinnamon Rolls

Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

This playful spin on Ambrosia is a citrus-filled breakfast winner. There's juicy oranges throughout this dish: juiced in the dough, zested in he filling, and split into pieces as delectable garnish.

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Easy Orange Rolls

Easy Orange Rolls
John O'Hagan

Our easiest orange rolls will have the whole family up and at 'em in time for breakfast when they wake up to this recipe's sweet aromas wafting from the kitchen. Best of all, they come together in just 45 minutes.

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Texas Margarita

glasses of texas margarita with orange half moons and salt
Will Dickey

Unlike a typical margarita, this recipe serves up Texas-sized flavor thanks to fresh orange juice. Juice one orange to combine with orange liqueur and other ingredients, lining the glass' rim with margarita salt if you please.

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Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad

Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad with Orange-Poppy Seed Dressing
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This fabulously bright salad satisfies for lunch or with dinner as a side. The crunch of peppery radishes and the creaminess of the avocado are balanced beautifully by the bite of sweet and tart citrus from orange and grapefruit.

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Classic Cranberry Salad

Classic Cranberry Salad
Emily Laurae

Cranberry salad wouldn't be the holiday staple it is without the help of oranges. For this recipe, juice two oranges to complement other tasty fruits and nuts.

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Orange Chiffon Cake

orange chiffon cake on a cake stand with coffee around
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

We thought that chiffon cake was as good as it got, but adding oranges to the mix is a game-changer. Delicate cake is light as air and tasty as can be with subtle notes of citrus.

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