What Is Orange marmalade and How Can I Use It?

If orange marmalade has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 135 recipes to try it in.

What is orange marmalade?

Orange marmalade is a citrus preserve made from the whole fruit, peel and all, simmered with sugar until it sets into a glistening, bittersweet jelly studded with shreds of rind. That bitter edge from the peel is what separates it from sweet orange jam, and it is the whole appeal.

Classic British marmalade uses tart Seville oranges, but most jars are made from regular sweet oranges.

The peel does more than flavor it. Citrus peel and pith carry plenty of natural pectin, which is what lets marmalade gel with nothing but fruit and sugar plus water.

Ways to Use It

The morning job is toast or a buttered scone, where the bitterness cuts the richness. It also bakes beautifully into cakes and quick breads. Marmalade Cake builds its whole flavor on it, and it threads through Barm Brack, the traditional Irish tea bread.

Marmalade really earns its place as a glaze. Warmed until loose, it brushes onto ham, pork, chicken wings, or duck and caramelizes into a sticky, citrusy lacquer in the oven.

Microwave Glazed Pork Loin Roast and Beau's Sweet-Sour Chicken Wings both put it to work this way.

It is also a quick dessert shortcut. Orange Marmalade Cream Cheese Spread whips it with cream cheese, and a spoonful fills thumbprint cookies or tops Orange Marmalade Vanilla Bean Bread Pudding.

Cooking and Pairing

Marmalade loves rich, fatty partners that its bitterness can cut: pork, duck, ham, and sharp cheese. On the sweet side it plays with vanilla, almond, and warm spices.

As a glaze, the trap is heat. Marmalade is mostly sugar, so it burns fast under a broiler or on a grill.

Brush it on in the last 10 to 15 minutes of roasting and watch it, or thin it with a splash of water or juice so it coats evenly instead of scorching in spots.

In baking, fold it in gently rather than beating it through the batter. Overworked, the rind shreds break down and you lose the little bursts of peel that make it interesting.

Substitutes

Apricot jam is the standard glaze stand-in. It melts smooth and sets sticky, and it brushes onto pastries and meats the same way, though it loses the citrus bitterness, so add a strip of orange zest or a squeeze of juice.

For spreading and baking, sweet orange jam or a good lemon or three-fruit marmalade swaps in one for one. If you only need the orange note in a sauce, a mix of orange juice and zest with a little honey gets close.

To fake the signature bitter edge in any of these, grate in a bit of orange zest, where most of the bitterness and aroma live.

Buying and Storage

Jars range from thin-cut "breakfast" marmalade with delicate shreds to thick-cut, peel-heavy versions with a stronger bitter punch. For glazing, thin-cut melts more smoothly; for toast, pick the cut you like to chew. Seville or "bitter orange" on the label signals the traditional, more bracing style.

An unopened jar keeps in the pantry for a year or more thanks to its high sugar content. Once opened, refrigerate it and use within about six months, always dipping with a clean spoon.

The sugar resists spoilage, but crumbs invite mold. If you spot any fuzz on the surface, discard the whole jar rather than scooping around it.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find orange marmalade: Orange marmalade is usually found in the condiments section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Orange marmalade is a member of the Sweets US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

橘子果酱

British (UK) term

Orange marmalade

en français

marmelade d'orange

en español

naranja mermelada

How much does orange marmalade weigh?

Related

Sweets

Recipes using orange marmalade

There are 135 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Christmas Plum Pudding

A buttery, breadcrumb-based Christmas plum pudding rich with two kinds of raisins, currants, bitter orange marmalade, and warm spice. Steamed, aged, then flamed at the table and served with silky zabaione.

Beau's Sweet-Sour Chicken Wings

Sweet-sour chicken wings pressure cooked for tenderness, then glazed with a tomato, orange marmalade, ginger, and garlic sauce and broiled until sticky and caramelized. A hot sauce finish adds adjustable heat.

Mrs. Picky's Pig Pickin Cake

When you want to take a wonderful cake to any social event, make a pig pickin cake.

Mrs Picky Fanicky's Bread Pudding

Delicious and a great way to use up your bread or biscuits.

Orange Marmalade Vanilla Bean Bread Pudding

Just like the name, this bread pudding is buttery, creamy and it looks beautiful as well. I adapted this recipe from Donna Hay magazine. If you love bread pudding, give it a try and you will love it.

Kiwi-Lemon Pie

Kiwi lemon pie with a tangy lemon custard filling in a graham cracker crust, topped with fresh kiwi slices and a glossy marmalade glaze. Bright, tart, and gorgeous.

Maple-dill Roasted Salmon

Quick and easy roasted salmon with a sweet and slightly citrus glaze.

Beets Glazed with Orange Vinaigrette

Steamed fresh beets match perfectly with this balance of orange and balsamic vinegar.

Orange-Hoisin Glazed Roasted Chicken & Vegetables

The chicken breasts came out juicy, tender and tasty. Sweet, sour and salty orange marmalade - hoisin glaze added a layer of great flavor. Sugar snap peas and carrots were a perfect side dish that went deliciously well with the chicken.

Alpine Peppered Pineapple with Wild Fruit Yoghurt

A dessert made from pineapple with Alpine Pepper, and served with a side of wild fruit yoghurt.

Velvety Coconut & Spice Cake, Part 1

Warm spices meet shredded coconut and molasses in this richly layered cake, topped with a tangy cream cheese orange frosting and a candied orange rose garnish that steals the show.

Orange Spice Bread

Orange spice bread machine recipe with whole wheat flour, cinnamon, orange juice, and marmalade. A warmly spiced, lightly sweet loaf with citrus flavor baked right into the crumb.

Chocolate Walnut Cake

A light, spongy chocolate walnut cake with ground toasted walnuts, cocoa, and cinnamon, split and filled with orange marmalade. No butter needed in this elegant European-style torte.

Meat Loaf Tropicale

Meat loaf tropicale with mashed banana and quick oats in the mix, topped with crisscrossed bacon and orange marmalade glaze. A fruity, island-inspired twist on classic American meatloaf.

Orange Chicken From Loren

Breaded chicken breasts simmered in a tangy orange marmalade sauce with Dijon mustard, lemon zest, and garlic. A sweet-savory citrus glaze that clings to every crispy bite.

Cranberry-Orange Butter

Whipped cranberry orange butter made with just three ingredients in 15 minutes. Cranberry sauce and orange marmalade beaten into fluffy butter for rolls, toast, and holiday breads.

Best Sweet & Hot Corned Beef

Sweet and hot corned beef brisket simmered with cloves, garlic, and chilies, then glazed with bitter orange marmalade and baked until burnished. The piquant cousin to the classic St. Patrick's Day boil.

Lobster Dome

Lobster dome with lobster meat, new potatoes, haricots verts, and Roma tomatoes in lobster American sauce, sealed under golden puff pastry and finished with truffle oil.

Chicken Breasts with Curried Stuffing

Pounded chicken breasts stuffed with a curry-spiced filling of carrots, raisins, and bread crumbs, then baked until tender and topped with a tangy yogurt-marmalade sauce. Low-calorie comfort with bold flavor.

Sweet & Hot Corned Beef

Corned beef simmered with garlic, cloves, and dried chilies, then glazed with bitter orange marmalade and roasted. Sweet heat meets briny, fork-tender beef in every slice.

Mile-High Celebration Cake for a Crowd

Mile-high three-layer chocolate celebration cake for a crowd, filled with raspberry jam and orange marmalade, frosted with mocha cream cheese buttercream. Party show-stopper.

Glazed Corned Beef

Glazed corned beef finished with a crisp orange marmalade, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar crust. Simmered tender, then oven-baked for a sticky, caramelized top.

Meat Loaf Tropical

Tropical meatloaf with mashed banana, bacon lattice, and orange marmalade glaze. The banana adds moisture and a subtle sweetness you won't expect in a savory loaf.

Cheesy Fruity & Crunchy Bran Toast

Spread with light cream cheese and orange marmalade, dipped into crunchy bran cereal, toasted on the hot pan, simple way to make these delicious toasts!

Curried Shrimp Topping

Curried shrimp in a creamy sauce with golden raisins, orange marmalade, and half-and-half, spooned over split baked potatoes and topped with cucumber and mint.

Tropical Kabobs

Grilled chicken and pineapple kabobs brushed with soy sauce, served with a curried orange marmalade yogurt dip. A tropical-meets-Indian skewer dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Rhubarb/Strawberry Pie

Rhubarb strawberry pie with fresh orange juice, orange zest, and marmalade in a lattice-topped deep dish crust, thickened with instant tapioca. A spring classic with a bright citrus twist.

Joan's Cranberry-Orange Bread

This is an excellent holiday bread: very pretty and festive looking.

Ginger Beef Stir Fry

Ginger beef stir fry with sirloin, water chestnuts, carrots, and lettuce in a sweet soy-marmalade sauce. A fast weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Orange Pepper Steaks

Orange pepper steaks are beef tenderloin crusted in coarse black pepper and broiled with an orange marmalade, ginger, and vinegar glaze. Five ingredients, big flavor.

Crumb-Topped Jam Coffeecake

Almond coffeecake with orange marmalade or raspberry jam baked right into the batter, topped with a buttery brown sugar and slivered almond crumb. A brunch showstopper.

Ginger Orange Cream Cheese Spread

Whipped cream cheese spread with ginger marmalade, orange juice, honey, and fresh zest. A five-minute no-cook spread for bagels, scones, or toast.

Horns

Butter horn pastries with orange marmalade filling, made from a tender yeast dough with cream. Shaped into crescents and baked to a delicate golden brown.

Surprise Breakfast Puffers

Whole wheat surprise breakfast puffers with a hidden orange marmalade center, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, sweetened with honey. Bakery-style breakfast muffins ready in 45 minutes.

Orange-Poppy Seed Muffies

Orange poppy seed muffies, a drop cookie-muffin hybrid made with orange sugar, buttermilk, whole wheat pastry flour, and allspice. Lightly crisp edges with a soft, citrusy center.

Orange Marmalade Pears

Microwave poached pears glazed with orange marmalade, brown sugar, and citrus zest, served chilled with a creamy yogurt sauce. A light, elegant fruit dessert.

Hardtack

Sweet, chewy bar cookies loaded with walnuts, dates, and orange marmalade. Despite the name, these hardtack bars are soft, fruity, and utterly addictive.

Marmalade Biscuit Squares

Marmalade biscuit squares with orange marmalade and butter baked under a Bisquick biscuit dough, then flipped upside down. A sticky-sweet treat in 30 minutes.

English Orange Trifle

English orange trifle layered with liqueur-soaked quick bread, vanilla pudding with orange zest, and marmalade, frosted with sweetened whipped cream. A make-ahead showstopper dessert.

Spicy Orange Beef Stir Fry

Quick orange beef stir-fry with marmalade glaze, ginger, carrots, and green onions served over rice. Uses leftover cooked beef for a glossy, citrusy 30-minute dinner.

Chicken in Pearadise

Golden chicken breasts smothered in a blended pear sauce with orange, soy, and ginger, then plated with red pepper strips and sliced pears. An elegant, fruit-forward dinner that looks as stunning as it tastes.

Poached Orange Roughy with Hot Tomato Orange Marmalade

Poached orange roughy topped with a spiced tomato-orange marmalade sauce with brandy, coriander, cinnamon, and cayenne. A light, elegant fish dish with sweet-heat complexity.

Mort's French Toast with Cream Cheese

Baked French toast casserole with cream cheese, orange marmalade, and challah bread. A make-ahead overnight breakfast bake thats rich, custardy, and effortless.

Blueberry & Lemon Bread-And-Butter Pudding

Blueberry and Lemon Bread-And-Butter Pudding recipe

Irish Whiskey & Ginger Cream

Irish whiskey and ginger cream: a cloud-light dessert of whipped cream folded with whiskey, ginger marmalade, lemon zest, and stiff egg whites. Spooned into wine glasses for an old-school Irish supper finish.

Green Tomato & Apple Pie

Green tomato and apple pie with golden raisins, orange zest, and warm spices in a double crust. A classic end-of-season Southern way to use up the last unripe tomatoes from the garden.

Coconut Beer Shrimp

A nice appetizer, though very caloric. The dipping sauce is great for other things as well.

Brandy-Orange Barbecued Hens

Brandy-orange barbecued Cornish hens: grilled game hens glazed with orange marmalade, brandy, and ginger. An elegant two-bird dinner built for the backyard grill.

Crockpot Orange Glazed Carrots

Try this tasty dish that can be used as a light lunch or as a side to take to your next dinner party.

Orange 'N Chicken Breasts

Grilled chicken breasts marinated in lemon-garlic butter, then brushed with orange marmalade for a sticky, citrus-sweet glaze and golden char. Bright, simple grilling with pantry staples.

All 135 recipes