10 Blood Orange Recipes to Try

Here’s a refreshingly simple blood orange recipe that’s just begging to jump on your table: blood orange salad! It stars all the beautiful, vibrant citrus: tangy grapefruit, navel oranges, and sweet blood oranges. They’re drizzled with a zingy dressing, then topped crushed pistachios and fresh mint. It’s so gorgeous that you can’t help but eat it! This healthy side dish is perfect with salmon or to offset the richness of pasta.

When it’s blood orange season, we buy up all of this vibrant citrus we can find! Its vibrant red orange color and sweet flavor make it this fruit so special. And what better way to use it in recipes than…a margarita? Introducing…the best blood orange margarita! This tasty citrus makes a brilliant bright orange red drink that’s perfectly balanced and sweet tart. 

Here's a stunning, eye-catching blood orange recipe: upside down orange cake! Fennel and orange are a natural pairing, and here they're featured this upside down cake where the oranges are baked on the bottom. The savory, herbal fennel adds just the right amount of complexity and pairs well with the lightly moist cake. And the thin citrus slices come out beautifully sweet, almost like a candied orange.

Here’s a zingy cocktail that makes the most of this unique citrus fruit: a blood orange martini! Blood orange season is short, usually December through April depending on your location. So why not grab a bunch to mix up deliciously sweet tart cocktails? This drink matches the floral citrus from the blood orange with the tang of lime juice, making a balanced, drinkable flavor.

Here's a deliciously simple blood orange recipe: a blood orange granita! Juice the oranges, freeze for few hours, and then scrape with a fork into sparkling crystals. What results is bright pink snow, zesty and refreshing with no added sugar. For an added kick, serving the granita with a mix of cream and mascarpone cheese offsets it with a bit of richness.

Here’s arguably the easiest blood orange cocktail out there: the blood orange gin and tonic! There’s nothing better than a cocktail you can mix up right in the glass, right? Much as we love the blood orange margarita or blood orange martini…this one’s even easier to make. Here the botanicals from the gin mesh perfectly with the bright citrus of the blood orange. 

Another great blood orange recipe: sparkling blood orange rosemary water! It's the perfect way to liven up a drink recipe without adding calories! Try it for brunch or a mocktail. Blood orange juice has the most beautiful electric pink hue, which makes it look stunning in a tall pitcher.

Here's a unique classic cocktail that's also a blood orange recipe: the Blood and Sand! It’s one of the few classic cocktails with Scotch from the 1920’s and 30’s. It’s similar to a Manhattan or Martinez, but with with blood orange juice and cherry liqueur. Instead of spicy and boozy like most Scotch cocktails, it’s the exact opposite! It’s light and semi-sweet, with a balanced and cherry-forward flavor.

Want a simple makeover for your margarita? Try the Italian margarita! This drink is a fusion of the best of Italian and Mexican cuisines: but this time in cocktail form! This Mediterranean version of the classic cocktail swaps out orange liqueur for amaretto, and the almond essence adds a distinctly Italian vibe.

Last up in our blood orange recipes: the Garibaldi! It’s got only two ingredients, Campari and blood orange juice, which makes it supremely easy to mix up. There’s a little textural little flair with a foamy topping. And the flavor? It comes out balanced and refreshing, with bitter, sweet and tangy notes all intermingling in the perfect sip.