Almond Free Orange Marmalade
Bright, bittersweet, and deeply aromatic, this classic citrus preserve is the kind of thing that makes a plain piece of toast feel like a proper occasion. It comes together with just four ingredients — fresh oranges, lemons, water, and sugar — so there's nothing hidden, nothing processed, and absolutely no risk of sneaky nut-derived additives that can show up in store-bought spreads. The technique here is traditional and genuinely satisfying: you coax natural pectin from the pith and seeds using a cheesecloth bundle, which means the marmalade sets beautifully without any commercial thickeners or additives. Slicing the peel by hand gives you full control over texture, whether you want delicate, jewel-like shreds or bold, chunky ribbons running through the gel. The frozen-plate set test is a small but brilliant trick that takes the guesswork out of knowing when you're done. Once sealed and processed in a water bath, these jars keep on the shelf and make genuinely thoughtful gifts — or a very good reason to always have good bread on hand.
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Learn more →Ingredients
48 servings
- 2 lbs navel or seville oranges (about 4 medium), scrubbed
- 2 lemons, scrubbed
- 8 cups water
- 6 cups granulated sugar
Instructions
- 1
Halve all the oranges and lemons. Squeeze the juice from each half into a large heavy-bottomed pot (at least 8-quart), catching the seeds and any loose pulp in a fine-mesh strainer set over the pot. Transfer the seeds and strained pulp to a double layer of cheesecloth; set the squeezed halves aside.
- 2
Using a spoon, scrape the white pith and any remaining pulp from the inside of each squeezed orange and lemon half and add it to the cheesecloth bundle — this pith is rich in natural pectin and is essential for the set. Tie the cheesecloth into a secure bundle with kitchen twine, leaving a long tail to tie to the pot handle.
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