Homemade orange paste is one of those little kitchen secrets that make you feel instantly at home.
Fragrant, colorful and full of flavor, it’s perfect for giving your desserts a natural and genuine orange aroma, without having to rely on industrial flavorings or preservatives.
It is an easy preparation, yet capable of transforming even a seemingly simple dessert into something special.
This orange cream is made using whole oranges, sugar and a bit of patience: nothing complicated, but the result is surprising.
Making it brings all the scent of fresh citrus into the kitchen, capturing the essence of Italian pastry tradition, especially Sicilian, where oranges have always been protagonists.
One of the reasons I love homemade orange paste so much is its versatility.
You can use it to flavor cakes, muffins, cookies, creams and enriched doughs such as brioche or panettone.
The great thing is that it blends easily, distributing the flavor evenly, and every bite truly smells of fresh orange.
In addition, preparing it at home lets you reduce waste: you use every part of the orange, peel included, transforming it into a precious ingredient.
Once ready, you can store it in the refrigerator, or freeze it in small portions so you always have it on hand.
This makes it perfect both for those who like to cook on the spot and for those who prepare their kitchen bases in advance.
The bright color, intense aroma and full, natural flavor make this preparation irresistible.
It’s one of those recipes that, once tried, becomes a must… easy to prepare, incredibly satisfying and always ready to give you a small moment of pleasure.
Keep reading to discover how to make homemade orange paste step by step, with all the tips for a perfect and very fragrant result.
Calories 300 per 100 grams
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Rest time: 15 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cooking time: 20 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Slow cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Autumn, Winter
Ingredients to make Homemade Orange Paste
- 21 oz oranges (about 3 medium oranges; approximately 1.3 lb / 21 oz)
- 1.5 cups granulated sugar
- juice of 1/2 lemon (about 1 1/2 tbsp)
Tools
- 2 Jars Small Glass Jars
Preparation of Homemade Orange Paste –
First, prepare the oranges, preferably organic: wash them well, then trim the ends and cut them first into segments and then into pieces.
The weight of the oranges should be calculated after trimming the ends, and the sugar should always be half the weight of the oranges.
Place the orange pieces in a saucepan, then squeeze 1/2 lemon and add the juice, add the sugar and mix everything.
Let everything rest in the pan for about 15 minutes.
At this point, put the pan on the stove and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring.
When you see the mixture has reduced, blend everything with an immersion blender directly in the pan.
Return to the heat and cook for another 2-3 minutes, just enough to reduce a bit more if necessary; otherwise remove from the heat.
Pour the hot mixture into already sterilized jars, close them well and turn them upside down, leaving them like this until they have cooled completely.
Once cooled, they can be stored in the pantry for future use.
Once opened, jars should be kept in the refrigerator and will keep for a long time.
Homemade orange paste can be frozen by dividing it into small portions, so you can use only the amount needed when required.
