24 Orange Dessert Recipes To Make The Most Of Citrus Season

By

Alana Al-Hatlani

Updated on August 28, 2024

Southern Living Million Dollar Cake on a cake plate ready to serve — Photo:
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

We're always baking with fresh citrus, whether lemons, limes, or sweet and tart oranges. If you're looking for fresh orange dessert inspiration, you've come to the right place. Although oranges are available at the grocery store year-round, they come into season in the winter, when we're especially in need of a bit of their Florida sunshine.

Oranges are also an essential part of baking. The zest of an orange can be the subtle floral note that makes a buttercream frosting sing, and the juice of an orange can easily brighten otherwise dull cookies and cakes. See for yourself in one of these delightful orange dessert recipes.

01 of 24

Cranberry-Orange Bread

Cranberry-Orange Bread — Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Orange zest in both the cake batter and glaze give this cranberry loaf lovely citrus notes, and beautiful orange flecks throughout.

02 of 24

Orange-Roll Coffee Cake

Southern Living Orange Roll Coffee Cake sliced on a plate to serve with a cup of coffee — Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Senior Editorial Producer Ivy Odom infuses a classic coffee cake with the brightness of fresh orange in this decadent recipe.

03 of 24

Million Dollar Cake

Southern Living Million Dollar Cake on a cake plate ready to serve — Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This cake is infused with tropical flavor thanks to both canned pineapple and mandarin oranges. A tangy cream cheese frosting helps to ensure the cake isn't too sweet.

04 of 24

Cranberry Orange Muffins

Southern Living Cranberry Orange Muffins after baking — Molly Bolton

A five-star review of this muffin recipe notes that it's, "easy to follow and the fresh orange zest and juice really add an extra delicious aroma and taste."

05 of 24

Homemade Orange Rolls

Homemade Orange Rolls — GREG DUPREE; PROP STYLING: HEATHER CHADDUCK HILLEGAS; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Sure, you can always buy the store-bought orange rolls that are ready-to-bake, but if you have the time, these homemade rolls are so much better and well worth the effort.

06 of 24

Pig Pickin' Cake

Pig Pickin' Cake on a blue plate — Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This cake goes by many names (Mandarin Orange Cake, Mandarin Pineapple Cake, Pea Pickin’ Cake, Sunshine Cake, or Pineapple Orange Cake) but no matter what you call it, it's downright delicious.

07 of 24

Strawberry-Orange Fools

Southern Living Strawberry-Orange Fools in the glasses to serve — Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Both fresh orange segments and orange liqueur (if desired), brighten up these sunny spring desserts.

08 of 24

Fresh Fig, Pecan, And Orange Crostata

Southern Living Fresh Fig, Pecan, And Orange Crostata — Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Grand Marnier and orange zest bring a fresh citrus note to this rustic fig tart.

09 of 24

Orange Chiffon Cake

Southern Living Orange Chiffon Cake on a cake plate, with slices out to serve and cups of coffee alongside — Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Light and airy, there's a reason this classic cake has stood the test of time.

10 of 24

Orange Rolls

Southern Living Orange Rolls in the dish to serve — Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Ditch the canned rolls and make these breakfast buns with better orange flavor instead.

11 of 24

Orange Cream Granita

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

Granitas sound fancy and sophisticated, but they're actually one of the easiest desserts to pull-off. Don't believe us? Give this super simple but refreshing recipe a try.

12 of 24

Orange-Roll Muffins

Southern Living Orange Roll Muffins on a plate ready to serve — Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Micah Morton

Thanks to store-bought cinnamon roll dough, this sweet breakfast comes together extra fast. An orange-infused glaze adds just the right amount of tang to cut through the sweetness.

13 of 24

Luscious Orange Panna Cotta

Luscious Orange Panna Cotta — Photo: Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell, Food Styling: Angela Sellers

Wow guests with this dessert made from a silky custard topped with homemade orange curd and fresh orange segments.

14 of 24

Fresh Citrus Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream

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

These mini cupcakes pack a ton of citrus flavor into a two-bite dessert.

15 of 24

Cranberry- Orange Butter Cookies

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

We can't think of a better holiday gift to share with friends and family than these orange butter cookies.

16 of 24

Cranberry- Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream

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

Our favorite thing about this cake is the contrast of tart cranberries and tender sweet layers of cake, which is made even better by the fresh orange flavor in the beautiful homemade buttercream.

17 of 24

Spiced Orange Rolls

Spiced orange rolls in green casserole dish — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Cinnamon rolls get a citrus twist thanks to the orange marmalade in these breakfast buns.

18 of 24

White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

White Cake With Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream — Courtney West

This white cake is anything but boring vanilla. With a tart cranberry filling and luscious orange buttercream, you'll wow guests with this dessert that tastes as impressive as it looks.

19 of 24

Orange Chess Pie with Cranberry Gelée

Orange chess pie with cranberry gelÃ©e on white plate — Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

You might be reading the recipe title thinking, "what the heck is a gelée?” It's basically a fancy form of Jell-O and happens to be the perfect sweet and tart topping for this orange pie.

20 of 24

Cranberry- Orange Bundt Cake

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

This tender, super moist cake marries tart cranberries and sweet oranges to create a slice that's hard to turn down.

21 of 24

Bourbon- Orange Biscotti

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

Bourbon and orange are a pretty perfect pairing, especially when combined in this buttery and sweet biscotti recipe.

22 of 24

Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake

Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake — Southern Living

You don't have to be celebrating something to make this impressive, orange-flavored layer cake.

23 of 24

Ambrosia Cinnamon Rolls

Ambrosia Cinnamon Rolls — Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Turn your favorite holiday salad into a breakfast fit for the gods.

24 of 24

Florida Citrus Cake

Florida Citrus Cake — Courtesy of Rizzoli USA

Jacksonville chef Kenny Gilbert infuses this beautiful cake with three types of Florida citrus, including the zest and juice of oranges.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

Related Articles

seville orange illusration

A Guide To 9 Common Types Of Oranges

orange slices and whole orange

Can You Freeze Oranges?

tangerines

What's The Difference Between Mandarins, Clementines, And Tangerines?

Oranges in Fridge Drawer

Should Oranges Be Refrigerated?

Southern Living Orange Chiffon Cake on a cake plate, with slices out to serve and cups of coffee alongside

Orange Chiffon Cake

cranberry-orange cake on a pedestal

Cranberry-Orange Cake With Orange Buttercream

Orange Cream Granita

Orange Cream Granita

Ginger-Orange Mocktails

42 Orange Recipes That Will Brighten Up Your Table

Cranberry-citrus parfaits in glass stemware

Cranberry-Citrus Parfaits

Ambrosia

Southern Living Million Dollar Cake on a cake plate ready to serve

Million Dollar Cake

Orange chess pie with cranberry gelÃ©e on white plate

Orange Chess Pie With Cranberry Gelée

Cranberry Orange Sauce - Southern Living

Cranberry Orange Sauce

cranberry orange bundt cake

Cranberry-Orange Bundt Cake

Southern Living Orange Rolls in the dish to serve

Cranberry-Orange Bread

Cranberry-Orange Bread