This blood orange simple syrup recipe is the perfect way to enjoy citrus season. It celebrates the sweet, floral, and tangy flavor of blood oranges while also putting their striking color in full focus.
I first made simple syrup when I was in baking and pastry school in the early 2000’s. Since then though, I’ve uncovered the glory of making homemade syrups to level up my beverage game.
This recipe was inspired by my lemon simple syrup and my key lime simple syrup. Both put the sweet-tart flavor of citrus in front and center. This syrup is also perfect to use in making seasonal cocktails and mocktails, like a homemade blood orange Italian soda, a blood orange old fashioned, or a blood orange mule.
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💕 why you'll love this blood orange simple syrup
🍊 bright & bold. Blood oranges are known for their sweet-tart flavor and their intense gorgeous color. They are reddish orange in color, which brings a bold hue to any drink you add this syrup to.
💥 flavor packed. Citrus simple syrups are perfect for adding intense flavor to any beverage, from morning to happy hour. Add a bit of this syrup to your morning Iced Americano, or serve up a pitcher of Blood Orange Margaritas!
⏱️ easy to make. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal preparation time, you can whip up this flavorful syrup in no time. No complicated techniques or lengthy cooking processes required. The most complex tool you’ll need is a Microplane zester.
🛒 ingredients
- blood oranges - For this recipe, you’ll be using the fresh blood orange juice and the orange zest, but not the entire orange rinds. If you are able to use organic oranges, that’s also a great option.
- granulated sugar - regular granulated sugar is perfect for simple syrups because it is light in flavor and allows the blood oranges to shine. However, you can definitely swap out the sugar for your favorite sweetener of choice. Check the substitutions and variations section for more information on using a different kind of sugar.
- lemon - the addition of lemon juice helps the blood orange flavor to really pop!
- filtered water - normally, simple syrups are made using equal parts water and sugar. This recipe uses orange juice in place of most of the water, but we are still going to add a bit of water. I’ve found that using filtered water really rounds out the flavor of the final syrup.
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
1: Wash, scrub, and dry your oranges to clean off the wax, dirt or pests. Zest your oranges using a microplane grater, a peeler, or a small pairing knife.
2: Slice and juice the oranges. Blood oranges are smaller than regular oranges, so it will take about 8-10 oranges to get 1 cup of juice.
3: Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir the sugar water mix until dissolved.
4: Once the sugar dissolves, add in the blood orange juice and allow the mix to simmer at a low heat for 15-20 minutes.
5: Leave the saucepan on the burner, but turn the heat off, and add in the orange zest or peel. Allow the mix to infuse for 15-30 minutes.
6: Add in the lemon juice.
7: Strain the mix through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the zest.
8: Store your finished syrup in an clean container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Hint: If you can't get ½ cup of juice from your oranges, you can substitute tangerines or cara cara oranges.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
How and when to serve your blood orange simple syrup:
Simple syrups are best used in beverages because of their thin consistency. This allows them to easily mix into hot and cold drinks, without pooling at the bottom of the glass like thicker syrups tend to do. They are also a bit too thin to use for topping foods like pancakes or ice cream.
cocktails
You can use this zesty syrup in any of your favorite cocktail recipe, from gimlets to old fashioneds. The citrus flavor plays well with nearly any type of liquor, from gin to bourbon.
- blood orange mule - use this syrup to make a striking variation on a classic Moscow mule.
- blood orange daiquiri - daiquiris are one of my favorite cocktails to use simple syrups in. They’re simple and straightforward to make, while also letting the flavor of the syrup shine.
- blood orange liqueur - blood orange liqueur is called arancello in Italy, and it's very similar to limoncello! I love using this syrup to flavor the liqueur to give it a double-dose of orange flavor.
mocktails
Zero-proof doesn’t mean zero flavor thanks to this syrup! You can create some stunning alcohol-free options using this simple syrup like:
- blood orange soda - homemade sodas are super simple to make, and this recipe for a homemade blood orange soda is perfect for any gathering, but particularly fun around Halloween time.
- blood orange mule mocktail - use this syrup in place of classic demerara syrup in this easy Moscow mule mocktail recipe for a blood orange twist!
- blood orange iced tea - add this simple syrup to your iced tea for a pop of citrus flavor!
- blood orange lemonade - this syrup is also fantastic in lemonade! You can use ½ lemon juice and ½ blood orange juice, and use this simple syrup in place of the sugar!
cooking, baking and gifting
While simple syrups are best used in beverages, not topping ice cream or pancakes, you can use them on food and baked goods. Just keep in mind that they will soak into pourous foods quickly.
- keep cakes moist - use this syrup to keep the layers of a cake moist between frosting. It also adds a punch of flavor! You can glaze loaf cakes too, and this would work especially well on a citrus loaf cake.
- pies, tarts, and pastries - you can use this syrup to glaze storebought pies, tarts, or pastries to add a layer of flavor for a semi-homemade treat.
- gifting - show up to your next party invitation with a bottle of homemade simple syrup and watch the reaction of your friends and fellow party goers! There’s just something fun about experimenting with the fun flavors of a homemade simple syrup infusion!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
While simple syrups are indeed simple to make, things can still go wrong flavor-wise. Try these troubleshooting tips if your syrup ends up tasting subpar.
- bitter - if your syrup is bitter, you may have accidentally grated some of the pith or rind from the oranges, instead of only the zest or orange peels. Add a ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to balance out the flavor.
- too thick - if you allow your syrup to cook for longer, it will be thicker, like a rich syrup, and the flavor will be more intense. It will also be considerably sweeter and may not mix as easily into beverages with just a spoon. Thicker syrups are great for using on food and desserts, though!
⚖️ scaling tips
It’s super easy to make a double batch of this syrup, just make sure to use a large enough pot to make it!
All you need to do is double each of the ingredients, and you’ve got plenty of syrup to use or share!
🔆 top tip
When you are grating the zest off of your blood oranges, be sure to only get the zest and not the pitch. All of the essential oils from the oranges are only in the zest, and the pith can add a bitter taste to your finished syrup.
♻️ substitutions & variations
♻️ substitutions
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- use other oranges - blood oranges are highly seasonal and usually they’re only available in peak citrus season. If you can’t find enough blood oranges to get 1 cup of juice, you can use a variety of more conventional oranges to make a mixed orange juice. Be sure to get the zest from the blood oranges though to really amp up the flavor.
- use a different sugar - you can use a darker, less refined, or other natural sweetener like brown sugar, turbinado sugar, or even coconut sugar. If you use a darker sugar, your syrup will have a more caramelized or toasty flavor, and it will be darker in color.
- honey, agave, or maple syrup - you can use a liquid sweetener like maple syrup, agave or honey in this syrup, but use about ⅛th less than you would granulated sugar. Honey makes wonderful simple syrups, and orange blossom honey would be a great way to play up the orange flavor.
🎛️ variations
Feeling like a rebel?! 😈 Feel free to stray from the recipe card using these variations, or leave me a comment with your own!
- herbs & spices - try adding in herbs or spices like thyme, basil, or even cinnamon, star anise, or vanilla while infusing your syrup! This is a really fun way to totally customize the flavor of your syrup.
- berries - add in your favorite berries, like raspberries or strawberries. It’s a great way to add a burst of berry flavor!
- use a different citrus - try this recipe for key lime simple syrup or this one for grapefruit simple syrup if you want to use another citrus fruit! You can also add a bit of lemon juice or lime juice to the recipe to give it a blended citrus taste!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
Check out this post for a complete list of my favorite tools to use when making homemade simple syrups.
- 1.5 quart saucepan - you can use whatever saucepan you have on hand, I love this 1.5-quart saucepan from All-Clad. The heavy bottom ensures even heating throughout the cooking time! Use a non-reactive metal, because the acidity of the oranges can cause metals like aluminum to impart a metallic flavor to this recipe.
- non-reactive mesh strainer a fine mesh strainer helps you to remove the sage leaves from the liquid after simmering the mixture. Make sure to use a non-reactive metal, like stainless steel or enameled cast iron.
- measuring cups - if you don’t have a kitchen scale, you’ll likely need some measuring cups. I love using these glass measuring cups from Anchor Hocking because they can tolerate the quick temperature changes that happen when I’m making simple syrups. I also love this set of measuring cups from King Arthur Baking because they are sturdy, nest well, and include any size you’ll ever need!
- airtight storage container - you can use any storage container you like, as long as its airtight. These OXO squeeze bottles are a favorite of mine for storing simple syrups. You can also stash them in the freezer. These glass bottles are great for gifting simple syrups to friends and family. You can also use a mason jar!
Optional Ingredients:
- kitchen scale - using a kitchen scale has so many benefits, from being more precise to helping you do less dishes! If you use a scale, you can simply put everything right in the pot as you measure it, no need to dirty up a bunch of extra dishes! I have and love this OXO kitchen scale.
- juicer - while you do not need a fancy electric juicer, they do make the job a LOT easier, especially when you are juicing so many oranges. I finally splurged for a citrus juicer. If you want a more economical manual juicer, you can use a handheld citrus press.
🫙 storage tips
Store your finished syrup in an airtight container for up to two weeks in the fridge. You can also freeze your syrup for longer-term storage.
💬 q+a
Are blood oranges sweeter than regular oranges?
Blood oranges tend to be higher in sugar than traditional oranges. Because of this they tend to be sweeter and less acidic in taste.
How many blood oranges do you need for one cup of juice?
Blood oranges tend to be smaller than conventional juicing oranges like navel oranges or Valencia oranges. To get one cup of juice, you’ll need about 10 oranges.
Can you buy blood oranges year round?
Unfortunately, no. Blood oranges are one of the more highly seasonal varieties of orange. They are only available in peak citrus season. Usually this runs from about December to April.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!
🥣 recipe
Blood Orange Simple Syrup
Equipment
- 1 1.5-quart saucepan non-reactive metal, such as stainless steel or cast iron
- 1 citrus juicer electric or manual
- 1 microplane zester
- 1 fine mesh strainer non-reactive metal, such as stainless steel
- 1 measuring glass heat-proof
- 1 spatula or spoon silicone
- 1 airtight storage container
- 1 cutting board
- 1 pairing knife
Ingredients
- 220 g Blood Orange Juice 1 cup, from about 8-10 medium-sized oranges (measuring about 2-3 inches around)
- 8 g Blood Orange Zest 2 TBSP, from 4-6 oranges
- 200 g Granulated Sugar 1 cup
- 120 g Filtered Water ½ cup
- ½ Lemon 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed juice
Instructions
- Wash your blood oranges with warm water and scrub them to remove any wax or residue. Alternatively, you can blanch them by submerging them in boiling water for 15-30 seconds, then plunging them in cold water.*
- Zest 4 to 6 blood oranges to get 8 g of zest (2 TBSP).
- Juice 8 to 10 oranges to get 220 g juice (1 cup).
- Pour 120 g water (½ cup) into a 1.5 quart saucepan and heat over medium heat.
- Once the water is hot, add in 200 g of sugar (1 cup).
- Stir until dissolved.
- Add in blood orange juice and allow the syrup to infuse at medium-low heat for up to 15 minutes. Don’t let it simmer at too high of a heat or you can alter the taste.
- Turn the heat off and add in the 8 g of blood orange zest (2 TBSP) and lemon juice. Allow the zest to continue to infuse while the syrup cools.
- Strain the zest and juice pulp out of the syrup by pouring it through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheese cloth.
- Pour the syrup into an airtight storage bottle and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze it for longer-term storage.
Notes
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
🧯food safety & other information
Food safety is an important ingredient in any recipe for success! Here are some tips to keep you safe in the kitchen!
- While you can allow this syrup to sit at room temperature, don’t leave it out for longer than 4 hours at a time. This helps to inhibit bacteria growth that can happen from the sugars in the syrup. Read more about the temperature danger zone here.
- Use sterilized containers whenever possible. You can sterilize your containers by boiling them briefly, running them through your dishwasher with the sterilize feature activated, or pouring boiling water into the containers.
- While you may be able to use your simple syrup longer than 2 weeks in the fridge, if you see any sort of cloudiness or dark spots in the syrup, throw it out. This is mold growth and is not a recipe for fun.
- Never leave simmering syrup unattended on the stove.
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