This blood orange ice cubes recipe is perfect for adding a dose of fun to all of your beverages throughout citrus season. All you need is fresh oranges and filtered water, and if you want to make sure your ice is crystal clear, check out my recommended tools for the best clear ice at home!
These cubes are also ideal to use in any drink recipe that contains blood orange juice or blood orange simple syrup, because they serve as a garnish and flavor cue. I love using them in Aperol spritzes, too, because they look beautiful against the bright orange cocktail!
If you’re new here, you miiiiight be rolling your eyes at an ice cube recipe. Trust me though, I’ve been making homemade beverages for over a decade now, and this recipe post has essential instructions for making sure your bespoke ice cubes turn out right every time. You see, many added ingredients will either float or sink in an ice cube tray, so there’s a bit of a trick to getting the final cubes looking just right!
why this blood orange recipe works:
🍊 seasonal. Blood oranges are one of the most coveted varieties of citrus fruits because they are SO seasonal. In general, blood orange season runs from about November or December to April or May. Once the season is over, it’s very difficult to find fresh oranges!
🧊 refreshing. When you’re serving drinks at home, little extras can take your presentation over the top. One of the easiest ways to add a little extra flavor and oomph is by making custom ice cubes!
🙌 easy to make. Making homemade ice cubes is super easy, the only thing you need is ingredients, water, and time!
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
1: Wash your blood oranges, making sure to really scrub them to remove any wax or debris.
2: Choose your ice cube tray and slice your oranges a little bigger than the openings of the tray. This will help the oranges to stay put.
3: Fill the tray with water, leaving a little space at the top to accommodate for the expanded water when it freezes.
4: Place orange slices into each empty compartment of your ice cube tray.
5: Place in the freezer until frozen solid, about 8 hours or overnight. Remove the cubes from the tray once they’re frozen.
6: Store finished ice cubes in a zip-top bag in the freezer until you’re ready to use them!
Hint: If you freeze clear ice cubes for too long, you can end up with cloudy ice all over again! Make sure to follow the specific freezing instructions for your ice cube tray to get perfectly clear cubes!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
Use these seasonal citrus ice cubes in any drink that contains orange juice, blood orange juice, or blood orange simple syrup! Bespoke ice cubes are great because they serve doubly duty as a garnish while also keeping the optimal temperature of your drinks! Here are a few ideas for drinks to serve with these ice cubes:
- Italian blood orange soda – this blood orange soda is so fun and easy to make, and it is made even more special when you add these ice cubes to the glass!
- blood orange old fashioned – a classic cocktail gets a seasonal citrus spin. Make your ice cubes into large spheres or cubes for the perfect whiskey drink!
- blood orange margarita – take your taco Tuesday to the next level with this variation on a classic margarita, and make it even more spectacular with these orange ice cubes!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
Ice is a critical ingredient in any beverage, especially when those beverages must be served cold! While making your own ice is pretty straightforward, things can still go wrong. Try these troubleshooting tips if your ice cubes don’t come out quite right.
- cloudy ice – if your ice didn’t come out perfectly clear, that’s okay. Once it’s in a drink it’ll look much better, even if it’s cloudy. If you want to improve the chances of making clear ice cubes that show off the oranges in the middle, use a special clear ice cube maker. My favorite brands are True Cubes and Clearly Frozen, both can be purchased on Amazon!
- oranges floated or sank – to make sure to get your orange slices perfectly placed, make sure to slice your oranges a liiiittle bit bigger than the ice cube size of your tray. Slicing them larger means you can squish them into the cube tray, allowing the slices to be pressed between the walls of the cavity. This means the slices will not sink or float once you add water to the trays.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 storage tips
Store your ice cubes in the freezer in a zip top bag or other airtight container. Storing them in an airtight container means they won’t absorb any other odors or flavors from the freezer.
You can use a variety of ice molds, like spheres, cubes, and more!
Specialty clear ice trays make for stunning presentations, too!
💬 q+a
Where can I find blood oranges?
Blood oranges are in season from about November or December through April or May. You can usually find them at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. Alternatively, you can special order them online.
How can I make clear ice at home?
Clear ice takes a little more work to make, but the results are worth it! You’ll need a special ice mold to make clear ice, and you’ll also need additional space in your freezer. The molds used to make clear ice tend to be larger than traditional ice cube trays, so they take up more space.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Blood Orange Ice Cubes (Seasonal Orange Ice Cubes)
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Equipment
- 1 ice cube tray
- 1 knife
- 1 cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 blood oranges medium-sized
- 24 ounces water filtered
Instructions
- Wash your blood oranges, making sure to really scrub them to remove any wax or debris.
- Choose your ice cube tray and slice your oranges a little bigger than the openings of the tray. This will help the oranges to stay put.
- Place orange slices into each empty compartment of your ice cube tray.
- Fill the tray with water, leaving a little space at the top to accommodate for the expanded water when it freezes.
- Place in the freezer until frozen solid, about 8 hours or overnight. If you are using a special clear ice tray, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you don’t under-freeze or over freeze the cubes.
- Remove the cubes from the tray and store them in a zip-top bag in the freezer until you’re ready to use them!
Notes
- cloudy ice – if your ice didn’t come out perfectly clear, that’s okay. Once it’s in a drink it’ll look much better, even if it’s cloudy. If you want to improve the chances of making clear ice cubes that show off the oranges in the middle, use a special clear ice cube maker. My favorite brands are True Cubes and Clearly Frozen, both can be purchased on Amazon!
- oranges floated or sank – to make sure to get your orange slices perfectly placed, make sure to slice your oranges a liiiittle bit bigger than the ice cube size of your tray. Slicing them larger means you can squish them into the cube tray, allowing the slices to be pressed between the walls of the cavity. This means the slices will not sink or float once you add water to the trays.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
