Orange Marmalade

Looking for a simple yet wonderful homemade Orange Marmalade Recipe? You’ve found it!

Orange Marmalade is the perfect spread for toast, croissants and other breakfast favourites. This recipe includes plenty of rind to highlight that bitter and sweet balance that makes marmalade so wonderful.

Best of all, this recipe is suitable for home cooks who have absolutely zero jam-making experience. And you’ll have your two medium jars of marmalade in under an hour!

Making Orange Marmalade (the easy way!)

Making jams and marmalades can be tricky, and I’ve ended in a hot and sticky mess several times following the “traditional” methods.

While I love “traditional” I also love “easy”, and I love having more time to do other things. Because there is always so much to do!

And who wants to spend hours making jam only to end up with toffee? Not me.

So I’ve cut all the corners here to make this recipe as simple as possible while still achieving that unbeatable homemade taste.

You’ll end up with about 700-800 mls of marmalade which will fill about two medium jars.

The ingredient list

To make this marmalade you’ll need one 500 gram packet of jam setting sugar, vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract) and two large oranges.

You’ll also add water to these ingredients.

Which oranges make the best marmalade jam?

The answer to this question really depends on your own preferences.

If you prefer your marmalade more sweet than bitter, use a sweet orange variety such as Navel, Valencia or a blood orange.

For those who love a more bitter marmalade, choose Seville oranges.

Orange Marmalade: the method

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve attempted to make this recipe a real breeze with guaranteed results.

Some of the simple steps include:

• using the dishwasher to sterilise the jars (if you have one, of course – otherwise boil and allow to air dry)
• using jam-setting sugar (available at most supermarkets)
• cutting the oranges into quarters, removing the middle pith and ends (along with any stray seeds) and then simply slicing finely.

The trickiest part is knowing when the marmalade reaches setting point. It should be around the 20 to 30 minute mark after you add the sugar. You’ll see it change from watery to a more glossy, thick consistency. 

Be sure to carefully observe the consistency as it cooks, as the best way of getting to know when it’s ready is knowing what it should look like.

If you take the marmalade off the heat a little early and it doesn’t set properly, remember that you can simply put it back in the saucepan and cook a little longer. 

The result: citrus bliss!

By following this recipe you should end up with two medium jars of wonderfully chunky Orange Marmalade.

Every time I enjoy some chunky Orange Marmalade, I think of Melbourne.

I wasn’t really a fan of marmalade until I tried homemade-style marmalade at a bakery in Melbourne about 15 or so years ago.

Before the kids came along, my husband and I loved to visit Melbourne for the weekend. Who doesn’t love Melbourne, with its laneways, brilliant coffee, eclectic shopping options and overall vibe.

And the food! 

I may not get to venture as frequently or far these days with the kids in tow, but this homemade Orange Marmalade takes me on an adventure every time I sit down to enjoy it.

Enjoying and storing your marmalade

Your marmalade should last a few months in the pantry until opened, or even longer if stored in the fridge.

It’s a great spread for toast, crumpets, croissants and more.

It’s also an ingredient in Orange Marmalade Cookies and Orange and Poppy Seed Muffins.